tl;dr – The hotel will open right in the heart of Niseko Village.
Marriott recently announced the upcoming debut of its newest ski-in/ski-out property – the Moxy Niseko Village. Located on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, Niseko Village sits at the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri, one of four interconnected ski areas that make up the world-famous Niseko United.
The 310 room property is expected to debut ahead of this upcoming winter slope season, likely in Q4. It’s unclear what amenities will be available at the property. The Moxy brand is typically much less ‘giving’, choosing hipness over substance, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the focus is on gathering space and encouraging guests to go discover what’s outside, as opposed to say having an onsite onsen or fitness center.
That said, one huge amenity is the resort’s brand-new ski-lift. This December, the resort will boast a brand new gondola, making it easy for those wanting to hit the slopes to get to the top of the mountain.
In the past, I’ve profiled both other recently-opened Niseko Village properties as well as upcoming luxury resorts, and I do have to say Marriott’s footprint in the region is bizarre.
There’s the often-lambasted Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve whose days may be numbered. Then there’s the Westin Rusutsu Resort, but that’s a good half hour away from Niseko Village. Being such a behemoth, it’s a bit curious that Marriott hasn’t been more aggressive, particularly in pursuing conversions or soft-brand properties in the popular ski region. And just as I was writing this article, I discovered Marriott’s adding a new property to its Design Hotels portfolio. Go figure!
Though I’ve visited the area, I’ve never stayed for the ski season. Last August, I stayed a few nights at the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, where I essentially had the entire property to myself. Though Niseko is very much a seasonal area, there are fun off-the-beaten-path adventures nearby, like wine tasting, and even during off-season, there’s still great food to be had (Japan).
Marriott will also open a Moxy in Matsumoto, Japan, in 2027.
