The Green Leaf Niseko Village, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

The snow on the mountain was average, but my five nights at the green leaf by Hilton were magical. From the snowy entrance on, the staff made me feel like part of their family all week. I’ve spent over a decade in hospitality, and that kind of welcome means a lot, especially coming from someone from Hawaii’s aloha state. I checked in with Mr. bun, and with my Hilton honors gold status he found me the perfect room. Breakfast was fresh, fully stocked every morning and had a great variety. I ended up eating at the fondue station almost every night, lol. Each day came with smiles, and anything I needed was sorted without hassle. I made friends with several people at the green leaf and was sad to leave. Thanks, Eranda, Bendara, Bun and everyone else for the kind hospitality and lovely spirits. I hope you get the same love when you visit Hawaii. ALOHA, I’ll be back!! I highly recommend a visit to niseko and a stay at the green leaf.

Alice turned our check-in problems into a distant memory. She was the most incredible concierge I’ve dealt with, helping each day with restaurant bookings, transport, returning our skis and whatever else we needed. At first, check-in was rocky: we had to change rooms after unpacking everything, and the refrigerator in the new room didn’t work. Once I could enjoy what Green Leaf offered, the location was a real plus, right on the mountain and just steps from the lift. The rooms are a bit dated, but the big picture window and beautiful view made up for that. The outdoor onsen is a must, and so is the massage. It was also very quiet and peaceful.

The staff made our stay memorable, with so many people going out of their way to help. Tarl checked us in, shared food and transport recommendations and the best spots on the mountain, and turned out to be a magnificent bartender. He went above and beyond in every part of hospitality. We’ll make a point of staying at Green Leaf again when we return to Japan, just to see him. The location is great for the mountain, with ski-in, ski-out access. There’s a free shuttle into town basically every half hour, lockers for ski gear, and an amazing spa and onsen.

The outdoor onsen was one of the best parts for me. Surrounded by trees and snow, it was so peaceful and a lifesaver after a full day on the slopes. Perfect before bed, and I got some seriously good sleep. The ski-in, ski-out access was another big win, and the boot room was clean, tidy, dry and warm, with none of the weird smells I’ve experienced at other resorts, especially in Europe. We came as six for a ski and snowboard holiday, and the stay at The green leaf was extremely nice all in all. Check-in was easy and informative, and reception were always happy to answer questions and give us the best information they could. Our standard room wasn’t fancy, but it had a huge window with lovely views of falling snow and trees, a big comfortable bed and great heating. It was -11 outside most of the time, but we never felt cold. Breakfast had plenty of choice, and staff kept the area tidy and cleared plates promptly. We had a mix-up about where our transfer into Hirafu would pick us up for the bus to the airport. The driver called reception, and when we went out to meet him, he’d already left. Back inside, we tried to call the bus company, but they refused to help. One of the managers then chose to drive us to the Hirafu welcome centre himself so we wouldn’t miss the airport bus. He calmly and quickly loaded about 12 suitcases and got us there in time to catch it. A real gentleman, and a great example of the hotel’s hospitality.