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With villas scattered along Phuket’s stunning beaches, Bali’s famous rice paddies and the turquoise lagoons of the Maldives, it’s little secret that the Ministry of Villas team loves the sun and exotic tropical destinations. But once a year, even the most die-hard beach bums among us can’t resist the siren call of pure powder snow. And for that, we head to Niseko. During the past decade, this mountainside retreat in northern Japan has grown into a real cosmopolitan playground for style savvy powder hounds. For our latest excursion, Foxwood worked as the perfect home base for sniffing out the latest trends in Niseko.   

Foxwood Style

The Foxwood chalets make an impression right on arrival. Nestled amidst swirls of snow, each chalet is a cool and contemporary structure combining rugged cement with beautifully angled light timber. The artfully placed windows give the chalets a unique look that feels very of the moment.

Located on our chalet’s upper floor, the open-plan living and dining room is decorated using the same tones of timber and grey. The muted décor has a Scandinavian feel to it, but a huge panel of glass overlooking Mount Yotei works as a constant reminder of our Japanese surroundings. True to Foxwood’s cool contemporary edge, the chalet comes complete with Apple TV and a trendy dining area where a casual bar takes the place of a more traditional dining table.

Nseko Foxwood Dining Room
Foxwood Living Area with Views | Hirafu, Niseko

Families at Foxwood

The whole of Niseko is going through a metamorphosis and today, the area is not the exclusive territory of single minded powder junkies. The way Foxwood is designed is the perfect example of how Niseko is attracting more and more families.

Our four-bedroom chalet included a designated bunk room which can sleep two kids. The room is located on the ground floor with a parents’ double room right next door, so keeping an eye on the kids and spending time together as a family is made easy. There’s also a park and walking trails darting across the Foxwood estate. And that’s not even mentioning all the activities waiting beyond the chalets. 

Foxwood Bedroom with Views | Hirafu, Niseko
Niseko Girls

Foxwood Location

Foxwood is located in Higashiyama, near Niseko Village. Higashiyama is an up and coming area where Foxwood’s cutting-edge design feels right at home.

But what actually makes an area “up and coming”? Interesting architecture is one of the key traits of any emerging destination, and new chalets like Foxwood certainly bring that to the table. Another tell-tale sign are new hotels opening in the area and Niseko Village definitely has this going on with a brand-new Ritz-Carlton Reserve scheduled for completion in 2020. This will be the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Northern Asia and that it’s being built nowhere but here in Niseko Village speaks volumes.

But you really don’t have to wait until 2020 to enjoy Niseko Village to the fullest. Foxwood is located within a five-minute drive from the ski lifts. Next door from the Hilton, you’ll find PURE at Niseko Village, a nature activity centre which offers great family-friendly activities during Niseko’s summer season: head out for a mountain bike ride or go all out on a hot air balloon excursion. In fact, summer season seems to be Niseko’s best kept secret.

When it comes to dining, the Hilton offers plenty of bars and restaurants, but you don’t have to settle for just one resort’s offerings when staying at Foxwood. Milk Kobo dairy farm which is famous for its farm fresh ice cream is located within a few hundred metres from Foxwood. There’s also a small cluster of restaurants around Milk Kobo, so you’ll never go hungry.

Foxwood Building Area | Hirafu, Niseko

Final Verdict

Staying in Foxwood gave us a great introduction into what’s hip and happening in Niseko. From the chalet’s cool design to its surprisingly family friendly surroundings, Foxwood is proof that Niseko’s future is as bright as the area’s fresh powder snow.

Ready for a powder getaway? Read more about Foxwood or contact our team. When you book with Ministry of Villas, our concierge team can help you with everything from airport transfers to arranging lift passes and ski rentals.

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