Fine As Snow

Setsu Niseko, SC Global Development’s up-and-coming luxury resort residence, ticks all the boxes for creating the quintessential apres-ski experience.

KNOWN FOR THE exquisite quality of its dense, velvety powder snow and consistently voluminous snowfall, Niseko, located on the north island of Hokkaido, Japan, has long been regarded as one of the world’s most revered ski havens. Enter Setsu Niseko: a 190-key luxury resort residence by Singapore-based real-estate developer SC Global Developments. Set to be one of the largest resorts in Grand Hirafu, Niseko’s most vibrant ski area, it’s a choice addition that’s poised to fuel its status as a destination for winter.

According to Simon Cheong, founder and chairman of SC Global, Setsu Niseko has all the important fundamentals of a great ski resort – that is, whatever’s necessary to contrive an unforgettable apres-ski experience. Naturally, this begins with the breathtaking alpine scenery that engulfs the resort, hemmed in as it is by the sublime Mount Yōtei on one hand – whose beauty has been lauded by some to rival that of Tokyo’s Mount Fuji – and Mount Annupuri on the other.

For this reason, the rooms, ranging from studios to spacious four-bedroom suites (from ¥124,547 per sq ft) have been designed to maximise and complement the panoramic landscape. The outdoor private onsen, for instance, allows guests to soak in unparalleled vistas of snow-clad slopes in exquisite seclusion before curling up in front of the in-built fireplace. Meanwhile, the incorporation of natural woods and elegant touches like shoji screens, engawa corridors and local artwork reflect more traditional Japanese sensibilities. This synthesis of heritage and topography no doubt played a key