We're a family of three - experienced skier dad, intermediate mum, and a 4-year-old who had never seen a pair of skis in her life - and we spent 10 days at Club Med Kiroro Grand in the first week of March 2026, also travelling with a friend's family of four (two kids, 6 and 4). We've skied Hokkaido a few times before, including a stay at the Hilton Niseko Village last time, but this was our first Club Med experience. It definitely won't be our last.
Getting There
A tip for Aussies: Qantas runs a direct Sydney to New Chitose flight between November and March. It's a game-changer - no Tokyo or Hong Kong transfer, just straight into Hokkaido. Our flight was delayed by 2.5 hours, which meant we arrived late with exhausted kids and missed the resort shuttle. Without any fuss, the team organised a private taxi for us - a 2 hour trip that would've cost a fortune - but all included. The energy of the staff member who greeted us was immediately tone-setting - warm, genuine, and completely unfazed by our late arrival. We knew right then the holiday was going to be something special.
Nate
I could write this entire review about one person: Nate, one of the ski instructors. He was so incredibly friendly, so fun with the kids, and so effective as a teacher that he single-handedly got our children through multiple levels. Ask my daughter who her favourite teacher was and you'll get an enthusiastic "Neighhhhh-ate!" - because he pulled the kids around like a horse while they were learning. That kind of joy and creativity is what turns a ski lesson from a chore into the highlight of a holiday.
We hired Nate for a private lesson, which I'll be honest - is very expensive (around ¥600,000 for two hours). But with Nate, it was worth every yen. The private lesson wasn't necessary, the included group ski school was excellent on its own, but we wanted to accelerate the kids' progression so they could enjoy more of the mountain later in our stay. It worked. My daughter went from never having skied to confidently making her way down green runs by the end of our trip (with a helping hand on the chairlift for those little legs). She progressed through the Panda and Tiger levels in ski school, while the older kids in our group reached Dragon and Trident.
Nate let us know he'll be back next season, and honestly, he's a drawcard to return. I cannot thank him enough for making our holiday and making so many core memories for Lily.
Other Standout People
Club Med clearly hires for personality. Kyle, a GO from Bali, was endlessly friendly and brilliant with the kids, always keeping them entertained. Jaylord made the best macchiatos without fail every single morning - a small thing, but when you're getting up early for a big day on the slopes, a perfect coffee matters. We also appreciated meeting the head chef, who kept a close eye on everything in the restaurant at all times.
Ski School & Lessons
The included ski school was fantastic for the kids. Every single day, our daughter was out there progressing through the levels - and loving it. My wife did the daily group lessons for adults and found them well worth the time. Between the structured kids' programmes and the adult groups, the whole family was skiing and improving every day, which is exactly what you want.
The Convenience Factor
This was the biggest revelation coming from a traditional hotel setup. Ski in, ski out - but it's more than that. The locker system is superb: boot warmers, spacious storage, and we put everything in each day - all equipment, jackets, helmets, the lot. On arrival getting the scannable token on your wrist and using it for everything - from the lockers (swimming pool, onsen, ski gear, to room door), I never carried a wallet, or money, or anything. The morning routine was seamless: sumptuous buffet breakfast, gear up from the lockers, and straight onto the slopes. Compared to the Hilton the year before, which was great, this took it up many more notches - hard to beat now.
Food & Dining
Before arriving, I was concerned that only "one" restaurant (Yoichi) was included in the all-inclusive package. That concern evaporated immediately. Yoichi is huge, with an enormous variety of stations serving different cuisines every day. There were daily rotating themes, and even across 10 days, we didn't see much repetition. So much so that we never actually tried the BBQ, the hotpot, or the sushi place - the paid extras (the hotpot runs around ¥280,000 for 2–3 people) simply weren't needed when the included food was this good and this varied.
Want only salmon on sashimi night? They'll give you a mountain. Any alterations or special requests - they do everything. The quality was consistently impressive.
My one small criticism: the cheese selection is a bit bland, but that's a Hokkaido thing, not a Club Med thing. That's genuinely the only food complaint I have.
Drinks
The all-inclusive bar was impressive. Great cocktail selection, solid beers (when not using the machine) - we were genuinely surprised by the quality included. Combined with the food, the all-inclusive package felt like excellent value when you tally everything up.
The Room
Don't be put off by the photos online - I was worried the rooms would be small and cramped, but they're not. Clean, spacious, comfortable, and more than enough for a family (we were in a family superior room). The windows open to let in fresh air, which is a nice touch after a day on the mountain, and rooms that can be too warm like in any mountain resort.
Pool & Onsen
The pool was a big hit with the kids. We took our daughter almost every day and it was a great way to wind down with the jacuzzi - we pretended to be boiling dumplings. The onsen was a highlight too - there's nothing quite like soaking in a hot spring after a day of skiing. We didn't go as often as we could have, but every visit was wonderful.
Laundry (Yes, Really)
This might seem minor, but three laundry rooms available to guests was a huge bonus. We regularly washed and dried our gear: ¥300 per load to wash, ¥200 for a detergent pack if you didn't bring your own, and ¥100 per 30 minutes in the dryer (usually needing 90–120 minutes for a full load). We came home with a suitcase of mostly clean clothes. What a revelation - and so much less to deal with on return. As a result we carried way more than we needed. Noted for next time. Not the usual rip-off with other hotels.
Evening Entertainment
The nightly shows and entertainment were good. For adults, honestly, we tended to head to bed early for a big day on the slopes the next morning. But for the kids it was fantastic - a great way for them to blow off steam and run around before dinner. Lots of energy, lots of participation opportunities. Lily would dance on stage every opportunity she got.
The Snow & The Skiing
We gambled on the first 10 days of March and it paid off. It was close - clearly the last decent dump of the season - but when it came, it delivered. On arrival it was a bit icy, but post-dump days were a dream: clear skies, empty slopes, and fresh lines to carve. The powder and tree runs are phenomenal but challenging - bring a buddy.
One honest note for strong intermediates and above: there's a bit of a gap. The terrain skews towards beginners and intermediates, and while it's great for those levels, more advanced skiers will tap out the runs within a few days. For us, with a child to guide around the mountain, it was more than enough. But if you're an advanced skier with no kids in tow, you might want a bigger resort or stay somewhere between mountains.
Equipment Rental
This is my main gripe. We rented equipment for all three of us for 10 days, which came to around $1,800 AUD. At that price, I expected more premium gear. The ski selection was good - and the flexibility is hard to ignore (swap to powder skis on a dump day, switch between skiing and snowboarding easily). But the boots were limited in selection (3 types) and a bit beaten up. More disappointing was that the attendant doing our fitting was in their first season and wasn't a skier themselves. For boots especially, that matters - a poor boot setup can make or break a ski trip. Luckily one type of boot fit-ish. But I'll probobly finally get our own next time.
Value for Money
Coming from the Hilton & airbnbs the previous years, the all-inclusive was a revelation. Yes, the upfront cost is significant (paid in advance), but when you factor in flights, lift passes, lessons, meals, drinks, kids' club, and entertainment all being included, we spent remarkably little on top. Our only real extras were the equipment rental and one private lesson across 10 full days. It genuinely felt like good value.
Would We Go Back?
Absolutely. Nate alone is a reason to return - knowing he'll be there next season is a genuine drawcard. We might try Sahoro (for a more Japanese-village vibe) or Tomamu (for the famous ice village) next time just to explore, but we'll definitely be back at Kiroro Grand. For families, especially those with young kids who are learning to ski, it's hard to beat.
868 reviews
