The construction team appear to be winning the battle against the snow (this week) and preparations for a influx of a mass of men and heavy machinery are being finalised. For several weeks (when the snow was still winning the battle) most of the work was concentrated in the basement level, away from the elements. Now with the sun returning to Niseko more frequently we will see The Vale Niseko begin to reach of the sky!

With the winter construction break behind us, builder Nakayama Gumi are on back site.

The snow is being cleared for the main driveway, prep works for the 2nd above ground level and exterior base works for the upper level scaffolding.

The site was hidden during winter due to the Niseko snowfalls. The already completed 1300sqm of construction (basement and level 1)  houses the lobby, onsen, pool, restaurant and cafe.

No we don’t mean the Australians up here…Niseko has a zoo.

Perfect for families and non-skiers on holidays, the zoo is located just up the road from The Vale Niseko property in upper Hirafu village.

The range of animals is suitably international - shetland ponies, ostriches, penguins, ducks and pigs to name a few.

Plenty of skiing tourists have been startled by a pig being walked on the family ski run…not only being a strange thing to ski past, the pig is an absolute hit with skiing kids.

The magic of a Niseko winter never fails to please.

Amongst the downturn, the Niseko property and Niseko real estate market is still moving, January had some very deep snow days, Hanazono lifts are faster than ever and now the sun is shining - for the second day in a row.

Right now we have a little influx of pros in town. There have been plenty of video and still camera’s on the mountain the past week - we unfortunately saw a girl injure herself on Strawberry Field’s attempting a corked something last weekend. A bit of Kodak courage never goes astray.

As March starts today there is plenty of winter left with some hot deals going on around town for accommodation. Good opportunity to make a last minute ski/board trip.

The peak an hour ago. 11:20am and you can see just a handfull of fresh turns at the top.

Niseko, Japan; Hong Kong’s restaurant group Castelo is making their way to Asia’s most popular ski playground.

Castelo, owners of  restaurants Wagyu, Jaspers and a host of other notable eateries in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Australia, will be opening a Restaurant complex at the base of the family ski run in the new iconic ‘Vale Niseko’ this coming December.

Tapping into the emerging Japanese ski market, Castelo has sighted an opening in supplying skiers true alpine service and cuisine including continental breakfasts, apartment room service and an unmatchable après ski venue. With restaurants fully booked in high season, Niseko guests are welcoming the new venture.

The restaurant includes an après ski terrace on the ski run, located a snowballs throw to the ski lift. Seen from the top of the mountain and facing west, it captures the afternoon sunsets over the Japanese birch forest, mountain glow over the ski hill and the evening colors of a Mount Yotei sunset – the perfect setting for a Japanese alpine afternoon.

‘The Vale Niseko’ is Asia’s best featured alpine property. Hosting a complete thermal experience tapping  700m deep into volcanic waters with Japanese onsens (natural indoor/outdoor bath), personal onsens on apartment balconies overlooking the ski run and saunas. A mix of 47 apartments and hotel style rooms, it is designed by an award winning international team including Hokkaido Nikken Sekkei as Project Architects (arm of Nikken Sekkei, voted world’s #1 by BD Architecture Magazine 2007), Nikken Space as Interior Designers and Yamagiwa lighting/lux designers.