Hokkaido - the second-largest island in Japan - is world-renowned for its powder skiing. Herald photojournalist George Heard checks out a new resort that brings the snow right to your door. Stepping out of your hotel room wearing your ski boots and stepping straight on to the chair lift is one of life’s true pleasures.
The new Club Med Kiroro Grand, which opened in December 2023, offers a luxury stay for the snow enthusiast who particularly enjoys a touch of luxury and comfort. Located 90 minutes from Sapparo on the northern island of Japan’s Hokkaido, it attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world. The ski field sits at an altitude of 520m, with its maximum run at 1180m and more than 30km of ski slopes.
READ MORE: Why everyone is booking an all-inclusive package holiday post-Covid With the all-inclusive resort Kiroro Grand catering more for families – and being the big brother of Kiroro Peak, which caters for a younger crowd – it also has a nice mix of runs – nine of the advanced, six medium, and eight green runs. It also once recorded a staggering snow base of 21m – a record for the area – and although the snow was light early in the season when we arrived, it still brought smiles. Each morning, we opened the curtain to new snow, stepped outside, and spent hours carving it up.
Skiing builds the appetite and there are no shortages of excellent eating options. The food on offer at Kiroro Grand itself is beyond amazing, featuring the finest of Japane.
