WINTER WONDER LAND
A ski resort that is sure to melt the heart of even the coldest snow queen
The skies are bluer, the air crisper, and the trees and mountains are awash with the softest snow ever to fall. Hokkaido is what winter wonderland dreams are made of. This “powder capital of the world” guarantees an abundance of delightfully dry, weightless snow at least 100 days a year. Now imagine a luxury refuge set amidst this snow-haven landscape, where the warmest hospitality comes with plush accommodations and hot chocolate or negronis on free flow. It’s hard to find a better place to defrost than the new Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido.
“Welcome home.” That’s how staff, also known as Gracious Organisers (GOs), greet you when you first arrive. With luck, general manager Merlin Chelliah will also be there to meet you with her infectious energy.
If not, guests are still guaranteed to cross paths with her during their stay, for her diverse roles see her all over the resort. One minute she’s leading a ceremonial toast on stage and the next, she’s whipping up piquant dishes alongside the head chef.The same goes for the other GOs, who do their main jobs during the day before going on to more “fun” roles after sun-down, like touring groups around the property or performing at after-dinner shows.
Guests too, follow a similar schedule: Days usually start with a hearty breakfast filled with White Chocolate Bread (a Club Med signature) before they hit the slopes for hours on end. And why not? There are 29 courses in the area and six ways to be swept to the top (one gondola, five lifts). Even first-timers are able to take on a full slope after two to three days, thanks to twice-a-day classes that equip greenies with enough skills to slowly, but surely, zig-zag their way down. Just keep a look out for the pint-sized pros zipping past you: Club Med’s Kids Club, with 40 years of experience behind it, provides fun, educational activities like ski classes with attentive instructors to help them set their own pace. Those who prefer leisurely frolics can go snow sledging or trekking through an enchanting, pictureperfect trail in the icy forest. Another absolute must-do is the scenic gondola ride up to the Unkai Terrace, a mountain-top perch for breath-taking panoramic views.
Once back indoors, the warmest enclave to wind down is The Nest, where some of Japan’s finest whiskies and sakes are served in a glass cabin in the woods. Dinner is where things get buzzy again, either at yakiniku barbecue restaurant, Haku, or Itara, where basically everyone convenes for a communal feast—GOs are encouraged to sit and dine with guests so every meal isn’t just full of diverse flavours but also stories from all over the world, what with over 100 nationalities making up the hotel brand’s global employee base. The festivities always carry on to theatre bar, Unkai, where family-friendly dance parties and musical shows starring everyone from ski staff to bartenders go on till late. As for nights that are lit up with fireworks? Those are best savoured out on the deck, under the stars and wrapped in a cosy blanket with yet another negroni in hand.