Located on Japan’s northernmost island, Niseko has fast grown into a pulsating hotspot surrounded by mountains of powder snow. Today, visiting Niseko is not just about the epic skiing. The area is really asserting itself as a thriving destination for foodies and design junkies alike. Our stay in Yorokobi Lodge gave us the perfect taste of Niseko’s current swing.
Yorokobi Lodge Design
Cutting a striking shape amidst the fluffy snow, Yorokobi Lodge was inspired by Japanese minimalism but there’s also more than a hint of Scandi chic in the chalet’s design. The Danish concept of hygge (“a mood of coziness and a feeling of contentment”) and the Swedish idea of lagom (“enough, sufficient, just right”) have in recent years gained worldwide recognition. After our stay at Yorokobi Lodge, we’re partial to believe that the Scandinavian mentality has reached Japan as well.
Yorokobi Lodge is cosy and comfortable with just enough of everything – a place where everything is done just right.
Layout and Facilities
Yorokobi Lodge packs a lot of punch into its compact square metres and as far as facilities go, Yorokobi Lodge has everything you need. There’s a fully equipped kitchen with a huge fridge that was perfect for storing all of our groceries after stocking up in Hirafu Village. There’s also a compact ski room and a spacious car port which was more than enough to park our huge rental 4WD in.
Yorokobi Lodge has two bedrooms. The first one is a cosy unit located on the ground floor. With the second room located upstairs, the bedrooms are well spread apart which makes the set up perfect for couples. As both beds can be set up either as a double bed or two singles, you could easily stay here with a small group of friends as well.
As convenient and well thought out as the layout is, some features of Yorokobi Lodge are here simply to delight you. The living areas have huge windows which overlook beautiful snow-covered woods where we spotted baby foxes each morning. Not a bad way to start our day!
Location
Yorokobi Lodge is located in West Hirafu Village, with the main village and the ski lifts within a five-minute drive. As this brings you just outside the main action, we would recommend renting a car to get around the area, which is what we did. During the winter season, Yorokobi Lodge also offers a free shuttle service to take you to and from the lifts every morning and afternoon. Overall, the location is perfect if you want to be close to the action but also want a winter wonderland escape.
One of our favourite parts of staying at Yorokobi Lodge was the neighbourhood restaurant, La Villa Lupicia. What a hidden gem! We stopped in for a light bite and were treated to a huge feast instead. Everything is prepared using fresh local ingredients and the restaurant also has its own temperature controlled “wine cave.” If you don’t feel like driving or walking in the snow, Lupicia also offers a free pick-up and drop-off service within the Hirafu area. Trust us – this place is well worth the trip.
Final Verdict
Our stay in Yorokobi Lodge was the perfect combination of snow-covered views, funky modern design and exciting culinary discovery. Yorokobi Lodge gave us the perfect snapshot of present-day Niseko. Sure, the slopes are just as epic as ever – but these day, it’s not just the powder hounds who get to have all the fun.
Read more about Yorokobi Lodge or contact our team for personalised assistance. When you book with Ministry of Villas, our concierge team can help you with everything from arrival transfers to ski hire and organising ski lessons.
