The Vale Niseko

First time in Niseko, but this hotel seems to check all the boxes. Essentially ski in ski out, the onsen was our favourite of the trip, all staff were lovely.

The staff were excellent. The room was fantastic. I think our hot tub but a bit dirty but other than that we loved it. Huge room, ski n ski out, incredibly help staff. The onsite restaurant food was terrible but the hotel itself was great.

Great staff, very friendly and knowledgeable

Great onsen and ski-in/ski-out access.

The property is about 50 yards from the ski lift. The room is spacious and well appointed. We had a kitchenette with fridge and microwave as well as flatware. The Onsen is smaller but nice and comfortable / relaxing.

The hotel itself is very nice—clean, spacious rooms with all the amenities you’d expect, including kimonos for the onsen. There’s a good restaurant, a ski rental shop, and the location is ideal as a true ski-in, ski-out hotel. However, I’m giving a low score due to the poor arrival experience. Before our trip, the guest experience team offered to help arrange rentals, transfers, and lift passes. After booking the airport transfer through them, they mentioned a complimentary shuttle from the drop-off point (5 minutes from the hotel). At the airport, we were early enough to catch an earlier transfer, but despite the bus being half empty, we were denied boarding. By the time another staff member offered to help, the bus had already left. Once we got to Hirafu, there was no hotel shuttle waiting for us as promised. We immediately emailed the guest experience employee who had arranged everything but never received a response. Without a Japanese SIM card and no WhatsApp contact, we were stuck outside in the snow with our luggage getting soaked until another hotel from the same group called on our behalf. Eventually, the shuttle arrived. On departure, the airport transfer also ran late, and we nearly missed our flight. We later found out there were more convenient transfer options, but the hotel likely promoted their affiliated company instead. Overall, the hotel is good, but service felt more like a push for their group’s packages rather than what was best for us.

View from the room and the distance to skii lift is fantastic. Hot water in bathroom hot for a while, cold for a while, very unpredictable and made showering not pleasant at all, and this happens in all the shower room in the unit I stayed in. Many bugs in the room, most of it dead, looks like house keeping didn't see underneath the sofa chairs. I stayed for 10 days, they only cleaned the room every 2 days, 1st and 3rd day they replenish the amenities for the facial lotion that comes in a small bag, after that, seems like they don't keep up the standard to replenish anymore. Concierge doesn't seems professional enough to know their maps well, each time I ask for nearby food, no particular brand, maybe just ask nearest ramen store, they have to take 20-30mins to see the map to give an answer.. dryer in unit is a very old model and old brand, you can smell the burnt smell on your hair after using it, for a 5 star hotel, I would really expected more on the standard. Feeling from this hotel.. everything is a no, there's no leeway, should be more accommodating and more open to customers to provide a better service and happy customers so that they will come back again in future.

Modern comfort with convenience. Great location and easily accessible to many shops and restaurants.

This hotel is conveniently located. Rooms are generous and suite had a small though useable kitchenette. Staff were most helpful. My partner had a ski accident and staff were exceptional in accommodating her requests for transport to hospital, crutches etc. we are most grateful. Thoroughly recommend this hotel.

The worst hotel experience, rude and

The Vale is a well run clean , and located in a convenient location. Staffs are always willing to help.

Ski in ski out

The restaurant let the property down , the staff were not as professional as they should have been and neither was the chef

It was amazing for my daughter and me. Everything fell into place. Keep up the good work!

It was opened in 2009 but it looks younger because it is in excellent condition and is very clean. With good amenties eg microwave and kettle. I also like it because it is right next to one of the lift and ski school, you wouldnt want to walk back to hotel after skiing for one whole day! Overall good value for money!

Our stay at the Vale Niseko was wonderful. The staff was friendly, attentive and went above and beyond to make our vacation as smooth and easy as possible. They even recommended places for us to watch the Superbowl! Only negatives are that our room smelled of mildew when we checked in (they thoroughly cleaned it the next day when we asked) and the "heated pool" was not warm enough to comfortably swim in. Otherwise a lovely hotel with a lovely staff.

Fantastic hotel that is so convenient to the ski slopes in Niseko. We were a group of 4 adults and 2 children and the apartment suited us perfectly. It is a truly ski in - ski out hotel. The apartment is extremely well appointed and the included lockers in the basement are perfect for storing ski gear.

The ski in & ski out is very convenient for family with kids.

Great hotel and super helpful staff. They organized everything from ski rentals to transfers from Sapporo which is what we would expect given the price point. The room was comfortable with great amenities. It was always just very hot in the room and we couldn’t control the temperature. Otherwise super convenient location right next to a ski lift with rentals on site.. II would definitely stay there again.

If you're looking for a hotel on par with the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton, the Vale Niseko is NOT it. The Vale leaves a lot to be desired. First of all, the front reception desk isn't even open 24 hrs a day. They go home at 10 pm. This isn't really a ski-in, ski-out facility either. You have to climb a rather slippery slope to actually get up to the lift. It would have been very helpful to have a ski valet, but don't be looking for the ski valet. There isn't one. You have to self-serve your own skis and boots from your cramped, dingy locker. The locker room is dark and spartan. There aren't even padded seats. They only have a few scattered very hard, very tiny stools on which for you to precariously balance while you try to stuff your feet into your stiff boots. The rooms are clean but dated. The beds are comfortable. The Vale touts its onsite onsen, but it wasn't at all relaxing. Every afternoon, loud and obnoxious tourists would come in and totally ruin the tranquility. It was disappointing that the Vale staff didn't enforce the rules. It was quite disgusting to see these people in the onsen with bikinis and underwear on. Unfortunately, there isn't much choice in Niseko in terms of luxury accommodations. It does seem though that there is much new construction happening. The Maples appears to be truly a ski-in, ski out facility. Hopefully it will be available by the time we visit again.