5 Resort Hotels in Hokkaido With Kid-Friendly Snow Activities

1. Hilton Niseko Village (Niseko): Skiing for the entire family!

Vast slopes expand before the hotel, with Mt. Yotei looming in the background (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

Niseko is a world-famous ski area full of resort hotels, located about 2 hours and 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport by car. Amongst the many facilities is the Hilton Niseko Village, one that we especially recommend for families for its convenience.

The hotel directly connects to the Niseko Village Ski Resort slopes, one of the four vast ski resorts at the foot of Mt. Niseko-Annupuri (1,308m). As you can imagine, it’s quite a popular ski spot!

Perfect, powdery snow! (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

Niseko Village Ski Resort is a large snow resort with a total of 27 courses that anyone from beginner to pro can enjoy. There’s a gondola platform in front of the hotel, and you can also book private skiing and snowboarding lessons for beginners and families! (Skiing: Ages 3+ /Snowboarding: 7+ / Price: 21,000 yen per group).

Adults can get a head start on the slopes or take a rest in their room while their kids are in class with the instructors. Lessons are available in Japanese and English, and some instructors may speak other languages, too!

Skis, snowboards, and shoes are available for rent, so don’t worry about dragging around your own equipment! (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

This resort offers more than just skiing and snowboarding. Feel free to check out some of the other winter activities, too! Snow rafting is a fun experience for the entire family (4,200 yen for ages 13+ / 3,000 yen for ages 3-12), where you’ll dash through the snow on a boat normally used for river rafting!

Snow rafting is an exciting activity where you ride through the snow on a rafting boat, pulled along by a snowmobile (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

There are several types of hotel rooms. For families, we recommend the popular Deluxe Family Room, a large, single-room suite that can accommodate up to four guests.

There are also twin-bed and double-bed rooms with views of the Niseko mountains, and twin-bed rooms with views of Mt. Yotei, also known as Ezo Fuji (‘Mt. Fuji of the North’). Bed guards, baby beds, and room amenities for children (yukata, toothbrush, body sponge) are also available upon request, so don’t hesitate to bring your little ones along!

The Deluxe Twin Room, perfect for a laid-back family trip (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

Children will never get bored with the Kids’ Space, located on the 2F restaurant floor (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

There are several restaurants in the hotel, including Japanese restaurants and teppanyaki. For families, we recommend the Bar & Grill Melt. Meals are buffet style and include both main and side dishes, prepared with local meats and seafood from Hokkaido.

In the winter, a children’s corner is set up on one side of the buffet with special, kid-friendly dishes. Inside seating consists of plenty of spacious booths so you can enjoy your meal comfortably with the whole family.

There’s also a live kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare meals right before your eyes! (Image: Hilton Niseko Village)

Multilingual support
・Hotel signage: Japanese, English, some Chinese and Korean
・Language supported by staff: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian

Facility Information
・Hours: Check-in at 3:00 p.m. / Check-out at 11:00 a.m.
・Rates: 11,812 – 32,610 yen (per room, per person / up to 4 guests per room / includes 2 meals / includes tax and service fees)

2. Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention (Rusutsu): Family time with peace of mind (and daycare!)

Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention is a large resort at the foot of the mountain (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

Rusutsu is Hokkaido’s largest resort hotel, with a total of 37 skiing and snowboarding courses across three different mountains. It’s about 2 hours by car from New Chitose Airport and 30 minutes from Niseko.

Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention is the town’s main resort hotel and is directly connected to one of the three mountains, West Mountain. There’s also an amusement park and swimming pool, both popular with locals and tourists alike, not only during the winter, but all year round!

Even beginners and children will love these slopes for their powder snow and amazing views. (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

Guests can also access some facilities at the neighboring hotel, The Westin Rusutsu Resort, such as the restaurants and hot springs (fitness studio not included). A free, unlimited, guest-exclusive monorail connects both hotels (approx. 5 min ride), so if you find yourself with extra time on your hands, why not take a ride and check it out? Customers of both hotels rate this as one of the best deals, with the chance to enjoy two resorts for the price of one!

The high-rise hotel in the foreground is the Westin Rusutsu Resort. To the back are the nighttime ski slopes of West Mountain, with the Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention facilities at the foot. (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

West Mountain, located right in front of the hotel, has everything from family courses to beginner- and child-friendly courses, to ones for more advanced visitors. All guests can rest assured that regardless of experience or level, there’s bound to be a course for you, too!

At one corner of the slopes, you’ll find the kid-friendly Crayon Shin-chan Square (1,300 yen per person/ages 3+). Here, your children will enjoy activities such as sledding, tubing, and the ‘Crayon Shin-chan Kids Tree Run,’ which takes you on a slow-paced skiing adventure through the forest. The park also has its own dedicated indoor and outdoor slopes.

Kids will also enjoy the ‘Crayon Shin-chan Kids School’ (ages 3-12 / 11,000 yen for 2 hours), which offers skiing lessons perfect for first-timers. There are also English-speaking instructors on the premises, as well as Japanese, which international visitors are sure to appreciate. There are also stables next to the family course, where you and your kids will have fun feeding and interacting with the adorable ponies and sheep!

Snow-running bikes are just another way to have fun here! (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

The hotel has a variety of guest rooms, but for those traveling with children, we recommend the Western-style ‘Kids-Friendly Room,’ which accommodates up to three guests. The wide king bed is comfortable enough for parents to sleep together with a small child. There is also a single/sofa bed. The rugs are also cozy enough to walk around barefoot. This guest room is sure to provide a comfortable stay to adults and small kids alike!

The Kid-Friendly Room is very limited (only 5 rooms per day), so be sure to book early! (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

The hotel has more than ten restaurants on the premises, so you’ll have plenty of options. Our recommendation is The Oktoberfest, a buffet style, is a family-friendly restaurant that offers a variety of seasonal Hokkaido dishes. Of course, they also provide chairs and tableware for children, as well as food allergy information, so you and your child can dine with peace of mind.

The Daniel Express is a shop that sells custom plates in which you select your preferred rice and side dishes, and Daniel Street Salad & Deli serves set meals of your favorite soups, salads, and sandwiches. Both popular shops allow you to bring your meals back to your room, which is perfect for those who prefer to dine in private. Both shops also serve vegan options.

Can’t decide what to eat? Oktoberfest is the best! (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

One uncommon service you won’t find at many other hotels is the daycare center, a temporary childcare facility. Children from one year old to preschool age can play with kids of the hotel staff and other guests of all ages and nationalities!

The team will happily look after your child in increments of one hour (2,000 yen/hr). This convenient option is perfect for parents who want to hit the advanced slopes, go shopping, or just need a little me (or we) time!

Parents can drop their kids off at the daycare for some much-needed me (or we) time! (Image: Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention)

Multilingual support
・Hotel signage: Japanese, English, some Chinese and Korean
・Languages supported by staff: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean

3. The Westin Rusutsu Resort (Rusutsu): Maisonette rooms for every guest!

There’s dog ​​sledding right next to The Westin Rusutsu Resort! (Image: The Westin Rusutsu Resort)

The Westin Rusutsu Resort is a resort hotel located at the foot of two of the three Rusutsu mountains, East Mountain and Mount Isola. Each slope is accessible via a two-person lift.

There’s also ‘Snow Activity Land,’ a fun place with exciting snow activities you’ll probably only experience here in snow country. Another perk is that you can easily travel back and forth between Rusutsu Resort Hotel & Convention, which is directly connected to West Mountain.

The ski lift is about 5 minutes on foot from the hotel. (Image: The Westin Rusutsu Resort)

Both East and Isola Mountains have beginner slopes, as well as high-difficulty courses with uncompacted snow for expert skiers. Two of the most popular family programs at Snow Activity Land are the Dog Sledding Experience (ages 3+ / 4,400 yen per person) and the Kamakura BBQ (5,800 yen per person).

At the Dog Sledding Experience, you’ll ride through a 400-meter snow lap on an actual dog sled! The Kamakura BBQ lets you enjoy a delicious dish of lamb from inside a kamakura, an igloo-like dome made entirely of snow!

The kamakura is surprisingly warm inside! (Image: The Westin Rusutsu Resort)

All guest rooms are two-story, maisonette-type rooms, with a spacious living room on the first floor and a separate bedroom on the second. Some rooms are equipped with king-sized beds, for those who want to sleep in comfort together with their little one. Another perk for parents is that kids under elementary school age who share a bed with their parents stay for free!

A rather spacious living room (Image: The Westin Rusutsu Resort)

Kick back and relax with the entire family (Image: The Westin Rusutsu Resort)

There are several restaurants in the hotel, but we recommend the ‘All Day Dining Atrium’ on the first floor. This shop serves buffet-style breakfast and dinner dishes made with local Hokkaido ingredients. You can order children’s dishes from the à la carte menu for lunchtime. Also, at the buffet, babies eat for free!

At certain times, children of Marriott Bonvoy members can even get free ice cream! (It also applies to new members.)

Children’s lunches and coloring books are available to keep your kids entertained while you wait for your meal (Image: The Westin Rusutsu Resort)

Multilingual Support
・Hotel signage: Japanese, English
・Languages supported by staff: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean

Facility Information
・Hours: Check-in at 3:00 p.m. / Check-out at 11:00 a.m.
・Rates: 34,000 yen & up (per person / 2 guests per room / includes 2 meals / includes tax / service fees not included)

4. Hotel Naturwald Furano (Furano): A popular family resort right near the ski slopes!

A gorgeous winter night (Image: booking.com)

Hotel Naturwald Furano is a popular resort hotel in Furano that families love. Located at the foot of the Furano Ski Resort’s Kitanomine Zone, it offers a wide range of services and activities for children.

The Furano Ski Resort, located near this hotel, has a vast slope with courses for skiers, beginners to advanced, and children of elementary age and younger get to ride the lift for free! It’s the perfect slope for families and also offers children’s skiing and snowboarding lessons (in Japanese and English).

Kids love playing in the Kids Corner! (Image: booking.com)

Hotel Naturwald Furano also has a ‘Welcome Baby’ theme, as well as various other children’s services throughout the hotel. In addition to affordable accommodation options for those with kids, there’s also a nice selection of amenities and goods. On the second floor is the Kids Corner, full of fun toys your kids will love! Located on the same floor as the Family Twin Rooms, it’s easy and convenient for families to use.

Family Twin Rooms are decorated with brightly-colored carpets and have low beds that are comfortable for children to sleep on. Various convenience items and amenities for children and babies are also available, making this room the perfect choice for parents.

The buffet offers a wide variety of dishes made with vegetables and meat from Furano and other local areas. (Image: booking.com)

Meal options include buffet-style dishes made with seasonal Hokkaido ingredients. There are plenty of kid-friendly dishes, as well, including meals for 0-2 years, for 3-5 years, and for kids elementary school age and up. Adults and children alike are sure to find a dish that suits their palate, regardless of age!

Multilingual support
・Hotel signage: Japanese, English
・Languages supported by staff: Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean

Facility Information
・Hours: Check-in at 3:00 p.m. / Check-out at 11:00 a.m.
・Rates: Twin Room Standard Course: 35,200 – 39,600 yen (2 guests per room / includes 2 meals per guest / includes tax and service fees)

5. Greenpia Onuma (Onuma Park): Tons of Activities For the Entire Family!

The vast Greenpia Onuma Ski Resort stretches out before the hotel (Image: Greenpia Onuma)

Greenpia Onuma is one of the few southern Hokkaido hotels with a ski resort. It’s just 10 minutes by car from Onuma Park, a famous scenic landmark, and about 40 minutes from Hakodate, famous for its gorgeous nighttime landscapes. A free shuttle bus for guests (reservations required) operates from JR Onuma Koen Station and JR Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, from which the Shinkansen also departs and arrives.

The ski slopes and hotel are located in an area where with a view of southern Hokkaido’s famous Mt. Komagatake (Image: Greenpia Onuma)

Greenpia Onuma Ski Resort has courses for beginner, intermediate, and advanced skiers, as well as ski and sledding slopes for children, making it the perfect place for a winter family trip. There’s also a ski school that offers private lessons for kids ages 4+ in both Japanese and English (4,500 yen for hotel guests / 5,000 yen for regular adult price / half-day lessons). It’s a great option for kids hitting the slopes for the first time!

There are also a variety of other winter activities, including sledding, tubing, banana boats, and snow buggies. It’s a winter wonderland of excitement for adults and kids alike!

Ride the Banana Boat as a snowmobile tows you all around the fields of snow (Image: Greenpia Onuma)

Tubing is super popular with children and adults alike! (Image: Greenpia Onuma)

For families, we recommend the 10-tatami Japanese-style room (approx. 39 m2 / 5 guest capacity) or the Western-style Twin or Triple Room (36 m2 / 3 guest capacity). The Japanese-style tatami room is one where you’ll want to take your shoes off before entering, so you and your kids can lie down in clean comfort. Also, please note that this room includes futons instead of Western-style beds.

A view of Mt. Komagatake in every room! (Image: Greenpia Onuma)

Meals are served at the on-site restaurant. During peak season, dinner is a set menu, while non-peak seasons offer a breakfast buffet. Both include kid- and baby-friendly meal options.

There’s also an indoor children’s corner with playground equipment, as well as a bowling alley, table tennis area, and an indoor heated pool, all of which are super popular with families and children. With so much to do both indoors and outdoors, your kids will never get bored!

Kaiseki dishes for kids! (Image: Greenpia Onuma)

Multilingual support
・Hotel signage: Japanese, English, Chinese
・Languages supported by staff: Japanese, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali

Facility Information
・Hours: Check-in at 3:00 p.m. / Check-out at 10:00 a.m.
・Rates: 11,500 yen (Weekdays / 2 guests per room / includes 2 meals per person / includes tax and service fees / From 12:50 p.m. on Saturdays)

Winters in Hokkaido are long, lasting from December to late March on average. But snow activities such as skiing and snowboarding are available in some areas from late November to early May. The mid-season powder in various areas makes for some of the best snow conditions and an even more satisfying winter trip.

All the Hokkaido resort hotels introduced here today are conveniently located near the ski slopes, and offer particularly great services for families with kids. So for a fun family trip this winter, grabs the kids and head to Hokkaido, where you’ll create spectacular winter memories surrounded by beautiful nature and soft, powdery snow!

Text by: Nobuka Kawashima
*Information in article as of November 2022. Please see official websites for the latest updates & information.

English translation by: Krys Suzuki