Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens with luxury spa at Japanese alpine ski resort
– Yasunari Kaji
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio has expanded, with the opening of a premium all-season alpine resort at one of Japan's top winter sports destinations in Hokkaido.
Owned by YTL Hotels, the 50-room Higashiyama Niseko Village resort is the first Japanese Ritz-Carlton Reserve and YTL's fifth destination in Niseko Village, residing at the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri with panoramic mountain views.
Niseko Village has been selected as the venue for some of the 2030 Winter Olympics’ events; slalom, giant slalom, super-giant slalom (super-G) and downhill.
Unfolding over a vast alpine landscape, the inspiration behind the luxury resort lies in the Japanese proverb “Kachou Fuugetsu” (flower, bird, wind, moon) that encourages reverence for the beauty of nature and wellbeing through self-discoveries.
"The experience at Niseko Village transforms with the seasons, using our breathtaking alpine setting to offer a connection to and exploration of nature,” explained resort GM Yasunari Kaji.
The ski-in/ski-out destination’s main attraction is its accessibility to 2,191 acres of skiable terrain and extensive backcountry skiing, alongside an international ski school, chairlifts and gondolas, a dining and retail venue, an outdoor activity park and two world-class golf courses.
Guests can complement their stay by visiting two restaurants offering traditional Japanese cuisine or taking part in a host of seasonal activities, including horse-back riding, mountain biking or experiencing the longest zip-line in Japan.
A resort highlight is a bespoke 161sq m spa, operated by luxury French product house Sothys, offering tailored treatments to provide respite for the body and soul.
Before every spa treatment, Sothys is incorporating a Ritual of The Earth which makes use of Hokkaido’s indigenous black silica, traditionally used as healing stones, to create an authentic Japanese wellness experience.
The spa marks a diversion from YTL’s traditional wellness approach, which typically involves a facility branded with its signature in-house spa concept, called Spa Village.
Named Spa Chasi La Sothys, the spa features three treatment rooms along with a selection of separate sex saunas and indoor and outdoor Japanese thermal bathing pools – onsen – powered by the mineral-rich waters of Niseko's underground hot springs.
Guests can also access a private onsen and a fitness centre equipped by Technogym.
YTL Hotels acquired Niseko Village for six billion yen (US$58m) in 2010 from PC One YK, a Japanese limited liability company.
Sothys Ritz-Carlton Reserve YTL Hotels Spa VillageNikken Sekki and Layan Architects + Designers design mountainside resort in Japan for Ritz-Carlton
Tracy Lee unveils Spa Alkemia at Zadún for Ritz Carlton Los Cabos
Ritz-Carlton Reserve set for Bermuda
Ritz-Carlton opening locations in Japan, Thailand
New Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali focuses on wellness, nature
Spa details revealed for Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali jungle
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Designing an eco hotel for the Galapagos Islands that allowed the stunning natural surroundings to take centre stage while minimising its impact on the land presented its own unique set of challenges, Ecuadorian architect Humberto Plaza tells Kathryn Hudson