The Group Getaway Goes Stylish at Seshu Chalet

You and your mates have been dreaming about this. Firing up the ‘out of office’ on your email, heading to the airport and flying to where the powder is so soft and thick it’s like skiing on a cloud. That’d be the Japanese island of Hokkaido – or, more to the point, the ski resort of Niseko. Now, all you need to do is find the perfect place to rest all those weary limbs when the day on the mountain is done.

Let us introduce you to Seshu Chalet, an architect-designed, five-bedroom lodge in the village of Hirafu. This is no party house though. Think, instead, glasses of wine by the fire and big meals cooked – either by yourself or a private chef – in the open-plan kitchen. And there's enough room for 10 adults.

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It’s split over three levels, with the hang-out spaces on the upper level, along with one bedroom, three bedrooms on the ground floor, and a tatami room – perfect for kids or the uncoupled in the group – movie room (with Apple TV and PlayStation), laundry, garage and dry room on the lower floor. Even better, every bedroom has its own bathroom, so there’ll be no lining up for the shower.

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Everyone will be happy here. There’s a concierge service that can organise everything from a massage therapist to come to the house to booking ski lessons for the beginners in the group. Plus, they know all the best restaurants and bars in the village, so if you’ve already tried the modern Japanese dishes at An Dining and headed behind the red fridge door to sip whisky at Bar Gyu+, ask for a recommendation. For the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day, head to Hirafutei Onsen, at the Niseko Prince Hotel, where you can soak away aches and pains in the public hot spring.

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Seshu Chalet is only a kilometre from the Grand Hirafu Gondola, where there’s excellent steep slopes and gentler runs for beginners.

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