Club Meds Kiroro Grand is an enchanting, family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Hokkaido, Japan.
T+L senior editor Lydia Price reports back from the grand opening.
Add an international destination into the mix, and it gets even more complicated.
Credit:Courtesy of Club Med
Hokkaido, Japans northernmost island, is legendary for its abundance of light, fluffy snow.
With a diverse international clientele and staff, thats no easy feat.
You have ski instructors all around the world, right?
Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure
You meet them, you go for lessons, and thats it.
The lessons are done, and its finished.
We create a relationship here.
Courtesy of Club Med
Can I give you some tips?
Club Meds Hokkaido ski instructors worked their magic with game-packed lessons and camaraderie off the slopes.
Hes gained so much confidence.
Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure
The resort certainly excels in childcare, and it solves a host of other classicski-vacationheadaches as well.
Here, my full review of the new Club Med Kiroro Grand.
Light earth tones accented by pops of deep blue create a calming ambiance.
Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure
Each room has a couch, ample natural light, and, of course, Japans world-famous high-tech toilets.
Deluxe Double Rooms are slightly larger with mountain or forest views (recommended for up to three people).
Bay windows with reading nooks, intricate light fixtures, and marble-walled bathrooms elevate the spaces.
Courtesy of Club Med
Suites come with turndown service, continental breakfasts delivered to the room each morning, and mountain views.
Western favorites like pizza, pasta, and bagels are also served daily.
Yoichis dining rooms include tables in the theater and main lounge, where snacks are served in-between main meals.
Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure
The Kiroro Grand also has three specialty restaurants (not included in the all-inclusive pricing).
At Ebisu, I dined on an eight-course sushi menu that highlighted the best of the regions seafood.
Private lessons are available for an extra fee.
The trails are open for night skiing, and guided snowshoe treks are also available.
Club Med has a dinner dress code every night.
Some examples when I stayed were white and silver, casual chic, and colorful elegant.
Live bands, DJs, and aerial acrobat performances follow dinner.
I enjoyed a 90-minute massage with a skilled masseuse.
Family-friendly Offerings
Club Med Kiroro Grand was designed with families in mind.
Group lessons are included in room rates for skiers of all ages.
The sprawling kids' club includes a climbing gym, vibrant decor, and piles of toys.
Babycare can also be reserved for an additional fee.
Nightly shows at the theater are all kid-friendly.
Once a week, the kids get a chance to take the stage themselves after a dance workshop.
They strive to use local food whenever possible.
Kiroro Grand has two accessible rooms, both Junior Family Suites.
Location
Travelers flock to Hokkaido for its legendary snow.
If you hate crowded slopes and lift lines, this is a ski area for you.
Flights from Tokyo to the Kiroro Grands closest airport, Sapporos New Chitose, are about 1.5 hours.
From there, the Kiroro Grand provides shuttles for the 1.5-hour drive to the resort.
Chelliah recalled the mayor telling her team to help my people after COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the local economy.
Now, 31 percent of her staff are Akaigawa natives.
Since the area has the longest ski season in Japan, youll still get to enjoy plenty of powder.
The resort and mountain close on May 6 before reopening for the summer season in mid-June.
There is a seven-night minimum stay.
Kids under four stay for free.
