Torifito Hotel And Pod Niseko

I didn’t book a capsule, just a “room,” though it wasn’t quite a regular room, as you can see in the photo. Still, I was impressed. I only wish I’d brought earphones, since I could make noise in there. This is the most luxurious “capsule hotel” I’ve stayed in so far. The front office and living room were especially nice, and everything was neat. Then I went into the onsen room and, daaamnnn, superb!

For budget travellers, I’d definitely recommend it. The room is quite big, and there’s a large parking area right in front. The location is handy, next to lawson and maxvalue, though it’s a 20 minute ride from hirafu. There’s a pink bus to and from Hirafu welcome center, along with several other bus lines. The common area has plenty of space. Staff are friendly and helpful, and the amenities are good too, including a microwave, hot water for noodles, and a pizza oven.

The pods are quiet, the shared area is pleasant, and breakfast has a generous, tasty spread. They run daily shuttles to hirafu and Hanazono, which makes this a nice alternative to staying in Niseko. I stayed here last year and for a few days this year as well.

There are plenty of shuttle buses to the Hirafu welcome centre, so getting to the ski and snowboard slopes is easy. The staff were excellent and breakfast was exceptional. The downside for me was how expensive it was.