Midtown Niseko — Hotel in Kutchan

We stayed in a Triple Room for 3 nights from January 3-6, 2022. It was a good value, but it comes at the cost of spending almost an hour a day on buses and waiting for buses to ski and get to restaurants.

They have a courtesy van that will pick you up from the Grand Hirafu Welcome Center (where the airport buses drop off) IF you email in advance for a reservation. There were other guests checking in who were on our bus from the airport. Because they didn’t reserve the van, the driver would not take them to the hotel (even though there was plenty of room).

The room was very clean and comfortable, though the mattresses are quite thin. The restaurant is only open for breakfast and costs 2,200 yen for kids and adults. There are limited food options in the area, though Kanpai was a short walk (all-you-can eat hot pot) and very good. There is a convenience store in the hotel, but it doesn’t open until 11.

The bus service was about every 10 minutes getting back, once you factor in the Hanazono Bus that picks up and drops off in the parking lot, the public bus that picks up/drops off on the street, and the Niseko Shuttle Yellow Line that picks up/drops off at 7-11 (about a 5 minute walk). Since the stop locations are different, you have to pick one when leaving the hotel for the mountain.

When we come back to Niseko, I will pay the cost to stay in Upper Hirafu and avoid the need to bus everywhere.

None of the buses have outside ski racks, so you have to carry your skis with you.

Final Note: Midtown Niseko charges 3,000 yen for the lost key (which is crazy for a plastic key card and my son lost a glove with his key card on a...

Update Feb 2023:

Second stay. Kitchen is awesome and the buffet breakfast is decent (I’m liked it better then green leaf niseko lol). I have knocked off a star for these shortcomings.

I’m not impressed by the following:

bed is a bit too firm/hard for me.

room is too hot even with the heating turned off.

none of the cupboards are soft closing. It’s loud and annoying. Surely this would be standard??

the water saving showers here are horrendous. They provide even less water then I’m used to (I’m from a part of Australia where water saving showers are standard) and the height can’t be adjusted incrementally (only waist height or head height). It makes taking a shower after a long hard day skiing rather unpleasant and tedious.

Review Jan 2020: I would consider staying here again. The rooms are excellent. There is a small closet, the heated drying rack is a great touch, tv, bed and bathroom with a seperate toliet w sink. Other facilities include include a kitchen, gym, drying room and restaurant downstairs.

We got breakfast buffet included which I enjoyed. Only recommendation would be to include hotcakes/pancakes (not vegan ones they were terrible!) Everything was delicious.

Plenty of free parking and restaurant was a nice place for a drink. I wish the menu for the evening was a bit better, i.e lots of options were crossed out. However the burger I got was really good.

I did not use the gym and wish this place had an onsen instead which is why I would only consider staying here again rather then definitely stay here.

Also I enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and the fresh water fountain in our floor was...

Midtown Niseko|Pros:|- there is a shuttle bus running between midtown to Hirafu and Hanazono every 20 mins |- There is a modern and well equipped common room ( a big pantry with cooking utensils ), small oven and microwaves and dinning tables and chairs on every floor ( but no eating utensils ) |- Coined laundry and dryers on every floor ( but no detergents ) |- Rooms are warm and sound proof|- Gym opens 24 hours |- Rooms are small but storage is good |- pick up and drop off service on your arrival day and leaving day from Hirafu welcome center |Cons|- the rooms are too small |- Midtown diner breakfast selection is very limited, no cereal, not much fresh fruit ( only lychee ), no egg station. Mostly Japanese food on the buffet. Price is 2700 yen per person, not value for money|- Midtown diner dinner selection is even worse. Two types of hot pot, some a la cart but not sure what kind of cuisine they are trying to offer. Not even offering burger and pasta …..|- There is no locker in the ski storage . We have our ski poles stolen |- No tea bags and coffee in the room though they have a kettle|- No daily room cleaning, only every three days. And no bottled water given after room cleaning, only 1 per person on your arrival day||It is still very value for money for niseko standard, but this place is just very functional ||Suggestions:|- make the lobby area more vibrant by playing music, provide simple but wider menu at midtown diner include in g burger, pizza, sandwich, pasta. Make a mini chill area for apre ski drink and meet up would create more atmosphere for the...