Forest Estate

We stayed in Forest Estate 2 in December, a group of five with three teenagers, and had a fantastic week. The beds and pillows were comfy, and it was great to have warm bathrooms in winter. There was plenty of room for all of us around the huge sofa and dining table, plus a good amount of fridge space. The microwave and steam oven and little washing machine were useful, and the ski locker room had a bench for putting on boots. The main bathroom is large and has a bath, with a good-sized ensuite and a separate toilet by the entrance, which worked well for five. There are English TV channels, including BBC news and a movie channel. Most movies were in English, though some blockbusters were dubbed into Japanese with no way to change the audio. We still found something to watch most nights. It’s a short walk uphill to 7-Eleven and other shops, and the property managers are nearby if you need them. Since we arrived in the second week of the season, the local shuttle hadn’t started running yet, so the managers kindly drove us uphill to the main ski lift. Rhythm Ski hire also came to collect all our gear on checkout day, which was convenient. The lift passes included with the accommodation were a good deal. Bar Moon is one minute away and highly recommended for ramen, while Bar Gyu (Fridge Bar) is a five-minute walk and opened during our stay.

We were a group of five and were really impressed with the staff. They handled everything professionally from check-in to checkout and made sure we were comfortable. The property is close enough to walk to the Grand Hirafu welcome centre and .Base ski lifts, which made early trips to the slopes easy. On a clear day, you can see Mt.Yotei from several rooms, and the views were breathtaking. The place has everything you could want, including a large kitchen by Japanese standards with a toaster, coffee maker, microwave oven, and nabe pot. The living room is spacious, with a wood stove that adds a nice feel in the evening. The ski room was a real help for drying everyone’s gear, with enough hangers for all five of us. There are three clean bathrooms, two with showers and bathtubs, and they have good heating. I can’t recommend it enough for a stay in Niseko, and I can’t wait to come back!

My family really enjoyed staying here, and we’re looking forward to coming back. It’s a huge place in a great location near Grand Hirafu and Hirafu town, with spacious bathrooms and a kitchen stocked with all the cookware you need.

The shuttle runs every 20-30 minutes from 8am to 8:30pm, depending on where you’re headed, and the apartment is close to the ski bases and rentals like Aya Hirafu. Shops including Lawson, Seicomart, and Hirafu 188 are nearby, along with restaurants and Hirafu-zaka. We had a three-bedroom loft with a nice view of Mount Yoti and excellent amenities. The internet was sometimes slow.