APA Hotels - accommodation in Niseko

We have visited Niseko several times and have always appreciated the high standard of hospitality in Japan. Unfortunately, this stay was the most disappointing service experience we have had so far. We arrived around midnight to check in, and there was only one front desk staff member on duty. From the beginning, his attitude felt quite unfriendly and unwelcoming. There was no greeting, and when I asked if we could check in, he immediately asked for everyone’s passports in a rather abrupt manner. At that moment I didn’t have all of my friends’ passports with me, so I told him I could wait. Meanwhile, one of my friends asked about where we should park our cars. Although he explained twice, my friend still didn’t fully understand. Instead of helping further, he simply said, “I don’t think there is any point explaining it to you a third time.” Another friend then politely asked if he could show us on a map, but he appeared impatient and reluctant to assist. What surprised us even more was that during check-out, there was also no assistance offered with luggage or loading bags into the car. For a property in Niseko, where hospitality is typically excellent, this level of service was quite unexpected. We truly hope the management team will take this feedback seriously and provide better staff training, as the location itself has great potential but the service experience left us disappointed.

It’s tucked deep in the mountains, with the nearest convenience store about a 12-minute drive away, so having a car is highly recommended. That said, the resort itself offers a wide range of amenities -including breakfast, onsen, and massage services - covering most of your needs during the stay. The highlight of this experience was being able to enjoy snowy scenery even in the third week of March.

Stunning ski in ski out resort. Very new rooms with great breakfast.