Zaborin was the second stop of our holiday in Japan. We Stayed here for 2 nights. My parent and I had a suite called Yoshisu with additional tatami room. The view from our suite was stunning. I did enjoy the beautiful sunrise while relaxing the private onsen bath. The downside of the suite was that it was not big enough for 3 people, the additional tatami room was simple and tiny and no place to put my suitcase.

The breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate and was served in the ground floor with forest and pond view. The old lady who served our breakfast paid a lot of attention to make us feel comfortable although she did not speak English. The traditional Japanese breakfast was the best one I ever had, not complicated but, compared to the Japanese breakfast in other high end hotels, you could see why it’s different enough to be article- worthy. The Kaiseki dinner, the combination of natural ingredients without added flavours and meticulous presentation, was simply great. The ingredients of the breakfast / dinner varied every day during our stay.

A friend and I stayed here while skiing at nearby Hanazono (Niseko) in Jan 2019. We had a twin with futon style beds and indoor and outdoor onsen baths. While it's a ryokan / guesthouse rather than hotel the distinction was somewhat lost on me - it looked and felt like a hotel.

The building is amazing (futuristic / industrial meets wabi sabi - somehow managing to be cosy and cool simultaneously) and the setting is gorgeous (tucked into the hill and woods with far reaching uninterrupted views), staff were solicitous and friendly, and the food was awesome (although unadventurous eaters may struggle) - fine dining standard - and a very good Japanese BBQ one night. We also had a tea ceremony and really good massage there too - what's not to love? I was blown away and would return given any opportunity :)

Hanozono was the quietest of the ski areas nearby and is limited in slopes for beginners, but if you're after backcountry or off piste skiing it would be my first choice as the lifts are less busy and there's less competition for the fresh tracks. The backcountry powder skiing is the best I have ever done. Go before they finish the big luxury hotel complex they're building next to the slopes!

This onsen is secluded for privacy, a little hard to find if you’re driving and using gps but it’s all totally worth it when you arrive. Tucked away in high snow carved roads, you arrive at a very unassuming building with a frozen fountain in the centre of it all. As soon you enter, you can immediately tell that and there was no expense spared at this property.

The decor is modern and minimalist with stunning views of winter hills that are as breathtaking as it can get. Each of the 15 rooms have two onsen tubs - one indoor and one outdoor. The onsen piping goes as deep as 1km into the ground with unfiltered hot spring water. As soon as you enter the onsen room, you smell the sulfites, and even see them when you in the water. It’s really as pure as it gets if you want the hot spring experience.

In terms of service, a tea ceremony service is available in the afternoon where fresh matcha tea can be made under the guidance of a tea master. The food is delicious, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get seated a room with a view of a snow covered pond which brings tranquility during breakfast and dinner.

If you’re skiing, Zaborin has a shuttle that goes to Hanazono on request. Once finished, use the lodge phone to call the property and a Zaborin car will arrive within 15 minutes after a day of skiing.

5 stars for this property. The price may be steeper than other onsen’s, but it has the most marvelous rooms, finishings, service, and onsen. As for standards, it’s really up there with any other top property in the world, and it’s still rather new, so I’m sure after everyone will hear more about Zaborin in future publications.