Kimamaya by Odin
170-248 Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun 044-0081 Hokkaido
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About
5.0
#1 of 17 lodges in Kutchan-choLocation
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Even as the snowflakes start to fall, adding powder to the slopes outside, Kimamaya Boutique Hotel remains toasty-warm; a cocoon upon the mountainside. Kimamaya is the Japanese word for ‘be yourself’ and here, you can do just that. Jazz music floats through the homely Living Lounge as your bare feet press against the timber flooring, and all that’s left to worry about is which wine you’ll sip as you laze by the fireplace. The vintages served here come from a vineyard owned by the family of Nicolas Gontard, who renovated this nine-room retreat to help guests get closer to the beauty of Niseko, one of Japan’s most popular ski resorts. But Kimamaya Boutique Hotel’s mountain location isn’t only appealing in winter. In the summer and fall, pristine trails and mountain biking tracks snake through the surrounding pine forests.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Hot bath
Free breakfast
Skiing
Airport transportation
Spa
Baggage storage
Parking
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Shuttle bus service
Hot spring bath
Massage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Desk
Iron
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Modern
Trendy
Languages Spoken
English, Japanese
Location
170-248 Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun 044-0081 Hokkaido
Name/address in local language
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 99 out of 100
99
92 Restaurants
within 0.5 kilometers
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Detailed Reviews
We love the Kimamaya - it was out second time and we stayed in January 2017 and brought along another family with us this time - our friends were like " we can see why you go on about this place" it was yet again the best part of our visit to Japan - Peter, Osaka San and Miki are awesome and make the whole experience excellent - nothing is too much trouble and if you need to know anything, absolutely anything you ask Peter and he can point you in the right direction. My two youngest Alex and Charlotte just love them and often Alex would be heading down in the morning going "where's Peter, Peter where are you" so she could say good morning! Absolutely recommend this place and already trying to work out when we can visit next :-)
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Date of stay: January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first trip to the Niseko area & we could not have been happier with our choice of accommodation.
Location
It is perfectly situated in the heart of Hirafu village with everything in easy walking distance. They even give you a local mobile mobile so you can call to be picked up from the slopes in the afternoon & the driver is always ready to drop you there even though the bus stop is right outside the hotel. (you can walk to the closest lift but it is uphill about 10 mins) Grocery store 2 mins walk, ski hire 4mins. Plenty of good eateries withing a few min walk & your hosts are always ready to offer suggestions & make reservations for you
The Hotel
A stunningly renovated building with every detail thought of. Our room on the first floor was comfortable & stylish if not particularly large with beautiful linen & very comfy bed. A large walk in shower which we actually hardly used as you can book the 2 small private onsens for 45mins - lovely after a hard day on the slopes. Also great vertical radiator with hooks on in your room great for ski gear & jackets or washing smalls. Loved having windows that opened too. Only minor comment was rather dim lighting. The downstairs communal lounge is a lovely space which we used. There is a nespresso machine & a little bar area where you can keep your own drinks in the fridge ( have a fridge in room too) or sample the owners delicious french wines. Like being in a European style chalet. There is also a spacious drying & boot room & a ski storage area.
Breakfast
which was included in our package is taken in the equally stylish Barn restaurant next door which opens for breakfast exclusively for the in house guests. A connecting door means you don't have to go outside to get there A nice buffet selection plus hot menu cooked to order - we tried omelets, eggs benedict, etc & all were good. Top marks also for good expresso coffees included.
We took dinner here one night & desserts after a sushi train elsewhere one night & although it is quite expensive they offer a substantial discount to Kimamaya house guests making it actually quite good value & If you feel like a change from Japanese food a rather pleasant change
Staff
Our hosts Peter & Mikki were, as mentioned by many other reviewers, possibly the best asset a hotel could have. They truly understand the meaning of the word hospitality & seem to have perfected the fine balance between managing with efficiency & making you feel as though you are staying with friends in their rather lovely ski lodge.
Other points worth a mention
They also organised laundry for us at a very reasonable price per load & it was back on the same day.
The resident masseuse was absolutely excellent
Yes it is not the cheapest hotel in town but we wouldn't hesitate to stay again & in early march we thought it was great value.
Location
It is perfectly situated in the heart of Hirafu village with everything in easy walking distance. They even give you a local mobile mobile so you can call to be picked up from the slopes in the afternoon & the driver is always ready to drop you there even though the bus stop is right outside the hotel. (you can walk to the closest lift but it is uphill about 10 mins) Grocery store 2 mins walk, ski hire 4mins. Plenty of good eateries withing a few min walk & your hosts are always ready to offer suggestions & make reservations for you
The Hotel
A stunningly renovated building with every detail thought of. Our room on the first floor was comfortable & stylish if not particularly large with beautiful linen & very comfy bed. A large walk in shower which we actually hardly used as you can book the 2 small private onsens for 45mins - lovely after a hard day on the slopes. Also great vertical radiator with hooks on in your room great for ski gear & jackets or washing smalls. Loved having windows that opened too. Only minor comment was rather dim lighting. The downstairs communal lounge is a lovely space which we used. There is a nespresso machine & a little bar area where you can keep your own drinks in the fridge ( have a fridge in room too) or sample the owners delicious french wines. Like being in a European style chalet. There is also a spacious drying & boot room & a ski storage area.
Breakfast
which was included in our package is taken in the equally stylish Barn restaurant next door which opens for breakfast exclusively for the in house guests. A connecting door means you don't have to go outside to get there A nice buffet selection plus hot menu cooked to order - we tried omelets, eggs benedict, etc & all were good. Top marks also for good expresso coffees included.
We took dinner here one night & desserts after a sushi train elsewhere one night & although it is quite expensive they offer a substantial discount to Kimamaya house guests making it actually quite good value & If you feel like a change from Japanese food a rather pleasant change
Staff
Our hosts Peter & Mikki were, as mentioned by many other reviewers, possibly the best asset a hotel could have. They truly understand the meaning of the word hospitality & seem to have perfected the fine balance between managing with efficiency & making you feel as though you are staying with friends in their rather lovely ski lodge.
Other points worth a mention
They also organised laundry for us at a very reasonable price per load & it was back on the same day.
The resident masseuse was absolutely excellent
Yes it is not the cheapest hotel in town but we wouldn't hesitate to stay again & in early march we thought it was great value.
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Date of stay: March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We loved our stay at Kimamaya - not only because the place is beautiful, most comfortable and situated right in the heart of Grand Hirafu walking distance from the lifts, restaurants and bars. But even more so because of Peter who is the best hosts we could have imagined. His recommendations were 100% spot on, be it where to go for dinner, when to expect the next powder day, or how to best plan the trip. It's the small things that he pays attention to and that will make your stay a very special one.
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Date of stay: March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed in a loft apartment in February 2016, there were four of us. Not a huge amount of space, but really comfortable and all that we needed.
The friendliness and customer service at the Kimamaya is phenomenal - Paul and Kimomo are absolutely lovely and were so helpful with restaurant tips and bookings. They gave us a phone that we could use to call to be picked up from the ski fields and they were more than happy to drop us off in the mornings, even though the stop for the bus to the ski fields is directly opposite the hotel. We had breakfast at the BARN attached to the Kimamaya each morning, what a lovely way to start the day. You can soak in one their two small onsens at the end of the day - so relaxing. Paul and Kimomo host a welcome evening for guests each week - what an unexpected treat. I am not sure when I will get back to Niseko, but if I do I will certainly stay at the Kimamaya and have not hesitation in recommending it. One other tip from me - take the longish (30 minute) trip to the Onsen at the Hilton Hotel - Oh my goodness!!! Brilliant!!!! Just double check that your are on the correct bus on the way back as we went on a bit of a magical mystery tour on the way back I am jealous of anyone about to go to Niseko - you will have a ball!!!
The friendliness and customer service at the Kimamaya is phenomenal - Paul and Kimomo are absolutely lovely and were so helpful with restaurant tips and bookings. They gave us a phone that we could use to call to be picked up from the ski fields and they were more than happy to drop us off in the mornings, even though the stop for the bus to the ski fields is directly opposite the hotel. We had breakfast at the BARN attached to the Kimamaya each morning, what a lovely way to start the day. You can soak in one their two small onsens at the end of the day - so relaxing. Paul and Kimomo host a welcome evening for guests each week - what an unexpected treat. I am not sure when I will get back to Niseko, but if I do I will certainly stay at the Kimamaya and have not hesitation in recommending it. One other tip from me - take the longish (30 minute) trip to the Onsen at the Hilton Hotel - Oh my goodness!!! Brilliant!!!! Just double check that your are on the correct bus on the way back as we went on a bit of a magical mystery tour on the way back I am jealous of anyone about to go to Niseko - you will have a ball!!!
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Date of stay: February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We recently stayed at Kimamaya for a one-week ski holiday in Hirafu. Location: Kimamaya is a beautiful boutique hotel located a few minute's walk downhill from the "Hirafu Intersection", so you are very close to all the restaurants, bars and amenities, but can still enjoy some peace and quiet. Service: The hotel is run by a small team, but their service was truly outstanding. They emailed us several months before our arrival with detailed information about Niseko/Hirafu, including a complete list of restaurants in town, and helped us with advanced restaurant reservations (which were highly recommended because we stayed there during the Chinese New Year tourist period). Peter and Morino are two of the most professional and friendliest hotel managers I have ever met. Nothing seemed too much trouble for them, and they were always happy to have a chat about the village, life in Japan, food, and anything else. The hotel also provides a fantastic shuttle service to the Hirafu "base" or Hirafu Gondola for snow sports. Room: Remember, this is a small boutique hotel with 9 rooms - so yes, our room was quite small and we had to remember to respect other guests regarding noise. Having said that, the ensuite bathroom was surprisingly spacious, and you can put all your ski gear/clothes and suitcases in separate storage rooms. We were in Niseko during peak ski season, so we never actually spent much non-sleeping time in our room! Besides, there is a warm beautiful (and often unused) lounge/bar area where guests can relax with a book or glass of wine, if you ever want a quiet break from the activities in Hirafu. Other amenities/facilities: There are two very clean and tastefully decorated private hot tubs for guests to book (one bath in timber, one in stone, both heated to 40+ degrees Celsius) - highly recommended after a day on the slopes (as well as the massage services offered at the hotel). Each guestroom is equipped with a flatscreen connected to "Apple TV". You can use the hotel's (or even your own) Netflix or iTunes account to access music, movies and TV shows. You are also given a Japanese mobile phone for the duration of your stay - so you can easily contact the hotel if you need to be picked up after skiing or any other assistance. Food/drinks: You can access "The Barn" restaurant via a doorway in the hotel basement. The Barn is available to Kimamaya hotel guests only during breakfast hours (included in our room rate). There is a barista, a small continental buffet breakfast selection, and a separate menu for made-to-order dishes (eggs, pancakes, etc). Some dishes were better than others, and we recommend the "Japanese plate" if you would like to try a traditional breakfast. You can also order drinks (including a selection of good French wines) in the hotel lounge. Downside: The only downside I can think of is that you have to make a reservation very, very early to secure a room in this fabulous hotel ... and that shouldn't be surprising! We are so glad to have stayed at Kimamaya, and a big thank you, again, to the hotel team.
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Date of stay: February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are already planning our trip back to Kimamaya! This is how great our stay was! Peter and Morino-san are the best hosts you can ever ask for.
Being someone who likes to make sure that all my trips are well-planned, I had dropped Morino so many emails prior to my trip and she was extremely patient, prompt and helpful in all her replies! Morino-san is one of the most dedicated staff who will go the extra mile, out of her way, to make sure that our stay was the most memorable and comfortable one. Peter was also extremely helpful, ferrying us all over Niseko! Both Peter and Morino-san provided us with so many excellent restaurant suggstions and we enjoyed them all!
We are already planning our next ski trip back to Niseko and one thing for sure, we are definitely going back to Kimamaya without a doubt.
Thank you Peter and Morino-san!
Being someone who likes to make sure that all my trips are well-planned, I had dropped Morino so many emails prior to my trip and she was extremely patient, prompt and helpful in all her replies! Morino-san is one of the most dedicated staff who will go the extra mile, out of her way, to make sure that our stay was the most memorable and comfortable one. Peter was also extremely helpful, ferrying us all over Niseko! Both Peter and Morino-san provided us with so many excellent restaurant suggstions and we enjoyed them all!
We are already planning our next ski trip back to Niseko and one thing for sure, we are definitely going back to Kimamaya without a doubt.
Thank you Peter and Morino-san!
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Date of stay: December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my second stay at Kimamaya, the first being 4 years earlier. I tried to stay there three years ago, but alas they were already full.
Returned this year to find that the hotel is as excellently maintained and operated as always. The room was clean and cosy, and room amenities are topped up regularly (tea, toiletries, water). There is plenty of storage in the rooms, important as we were staying for 12 nights, and laundry returned within 24 hours (often the same day).
Peter and Morina helped us arrange dinner reservations, day trips (snowmobiling), lift passes, lessons and massages.
The massage therapist at Kimamaya (who should be back next year) is amazing, and finds all those tight spots you didn't know you had!
The provision of mobile phones to allow us to call for a ride, or help, is a great new feature.
Breakfast options have improved since four years ago. However, depending on which staff were serving, some continental breakfast options were either missing or provided late in the service (i.e. yogurt, croissants). And having a porridge option would be wonderful.
It was my partners first time and he loved the hotel, the town, and the ski hill as much as I do. We definitely plan to return next season!
Returned this year to find that the hotel is as excellently maintained and operated as always. The room was clean and cosy, and room amenities are topped up regularly (tea, toiletries, water). There is plenty of storage in the rooms, important as we were staying for 12 nights, and laundry returned within 24 hours (often the same day).
Peter and Morina helped us arrange dinner reservations, day trips (snowmobiling), lift passes, lessons and massages.
The massage therapist at Kimamaya (who should be back next year) is amazing, and finds all those tight spots you didn't know you had!
The provision of mobile phones to allow us to call for a ride, or help, is a great new feature.
Breakfast options have improved since four years ago. However, depending on which staff were serving, some continental breakfast options were either missing or provided late in the service (i.e. yogurt, croissants). And having a porridge option would be wonderful.
It was my partners first time and he loved the hotel, the town, and the ski hill as much as I do. We definitely plan to return next season!
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Date of stay: March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimamaya Hotel is a wonderful hotel in Niseko. Beautifully designed, warm and cozy. Perfect for families or couples. We stayed in their very spacious loft suite. The upstairs loft has tatami mats and futons - our son loved it.
The hotel itself has a lovely lounge area with a cozy fireplace and cafe bar. There is a great little room for the kids to play video games or watch TV. The adjoining restaurant serves guests a lovely breakfast every morning.
The hotel staff are all amazing. Peter and Morino San were the perfect hosts and were always available when needed. Osaka San was amazing, he dropped us off at the mountain lifts every morning, and then picked us up at the end of the day. We really couldn't have asked for better service.
Overall, there is nothing about the hotel or our experience at Kimamaya that we would change. Even the snow conditions exceeded our expectations!! We will definitely be back.
The hotel itself has a lovely lounge area with a cozy fireplace and cafe bar. There is a great little room for the kids to play video games or watch TV. The adjoining restaurant serves guests a lovely breakfast every morning.
The hotel staff are all amazing. Peter and Morino San were the perfect hosts and were always available when needed. Osaka San was amazing, he dropped us off at the mountain lifts every morning, and then picked us up at the end of the day. We really couldn't have asked for better service.
Overall, there is nothing about the hotel or our experience at Kimamaya that we would change. Even the snow conditions exceeded our expectations!! We will definitely be back.
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Date of stay: March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I recently had a fantastic stay at Kimamaya. The hotel is beautiful and luxurious but at the same time very relaxed. Management and staff are friendly and professional, always going out of their way to make sure that we were enjoying our stay. A special thanks to Peter and Morino for making our trip memorable and Kimamaya a place to which we will definitely return. We loved your restaurant recommendations and the various dining experiences that we were able to enjoy. From the hotel you can easily access Barn by Odin Restaurant which has great views and provides another excellent dining experience. We also enjoyed the spa and relaxation facilities available after a day out on the slopes. The cozy lounge downstairs provided a comfortable place to read and enjoy a glass of wine by the fire. Another great aspect is that there is a convientient dry room and ski storage facility within the hotel available to guests to store your equipment. The location of the hotel is perfect as it's within walking distance to the lifts. Kimamaya were however always available to drop off and pick up upon request. All round we had an incredible experience and would highly recommend Kimamaya.
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Date of stay: February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our first time to Niseko/Hirafu, and so glad we stayed here for the 12 days in town. Stephen & Morino provided exceptional help above and beyond the call of duty. Drove us to the lifts, and gave us the royal tour of where to go/what to expect while in town. Most of the previous reviewers here have covered off with everything that needs to be said, but with our daughter now 16YO, it's imperative that she gets some private space, which normally means getting her another room. Not so at the Kimamaya...she loved the loft space, and her snoring didn't even wake us once during each night. Bonus.
DVD supply and Apple TV is a great initiative also, and allowed us to all unwind when necessary to catch our breath. Thanks to all of the staff at the Kimamaya for a truly memorable holiday in Hokkaido, and hopefully we can do it all again next year...if you'll have us. Rick, Nol & BuggerLugs
DVD supply and Apple TV is a great initiative also, and allowed us to all unwind when necessary to catch our breath. Thanks to all of the staff at the Kimamaya for a truly memorable holiday in Hokkaido, and hopefully we can do it all again next year...if you'll have us. Rick, Nol & BuggerLugs
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Date of stay: December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"Make sure you book the in-house massage/SPA in advance as only one therapist and she is amazing!"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
HK$1,050 - HK$1,874 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
JapanHokkaidoAbuta-gunKutchan-cho
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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