During our stay at Hoshino Resorts Tomamu ski resort, we were very excited to be given the opportunity to visit the world-famous Tomamu Ice Village. This amazing attraction is open during winter, and is a such a wonderful place to visit with the family.

No time to read? Watch the YouTube video of our Tomamu Ice Village, Japan visit here

Before you visit, be sure to rug-up and dress everyone in warm ski clothes. The temperature here has been known to reach as low as -30°C!

To get to the Ice Village is a quick shuttle bus ride from your accommodation at the Tomamu Risonare, then a short walk from the Hotel Alpha, or The Tower accommodation in Tomamu.

The entrance to the Ice Village is a spectacular ice archway. It leads you into a mystical path lined with glowing lanterns and light installations. As you crest a small hill covered with glowing totems, you can hear classical music playing softly. A gorgeous white and blue-lit village materialises as if by magic – however this is no mirage. It’s a real, working village made of ice!

An ice skating rink and ice chutes for the children to slide down are the first exciting activities you encounter. When you manage to drag your kids away from the ice slides, you can actually wander into the Ice Village and explore!

The Ice Village is made up of groups of individual ice and snow huts. Inside them is so much to discover!

One of the huts houses the Ice Hotel, a room containing an ice bed, ice furniture and even a chandelier. Incredibly, you can book to stay in the Ice Hotel overnight!

The Ice Village shops have real souvenirs for sale on their ice shelves. At first, it’s hard to realise that these places are operating stores – it’s all so other-worldly.

There’s a fascinating ski clothing store decorated with frozen clothes set in giant blocks of ice. You can’t help but wonder how they managed to make them!

Next door is the flower shop, decorated with beautiful flower displays – also frozen in huge blocks of ice! They need to be seen to be believed.

A domed church presides over the village. This is the Ice Chapel with a stunningly lit blue cross and spires.

Have fun in the “magic breath” exhibit, where you can breathe onto projected lights to make the displays visible in a beam of mist.

There are ice cafes where you can order special drinks and snacks – you can even toast marshmallows over the fire.

There is a room filled with incredible ice musical instruments – they look almost too delicate to exist!

Make some time to have a read at the Ice Book Café too. It is filled with shelves of books and ice seats to lounge on around a cosy fireplace. 

If you’d prefer a stronger drink, there’s always the Ice Bar which serves all kinds of cocktails – at the very least drop in for a look at it’s huge ice shelf display of bottles.

The Tomamu Ice Village is just another outstanding reason to visit Hoshino Resorts Tomamu. If you want to take your family to see something amazing they will always remember, then take them to see the Tomamu Ice Village.

Fast facts!

Where: Near Hoshino Resorts The Tower, Tomamu, Hokkaido, Japan

When: Winter – December to March

Time: 1700-2200 every night

Price: 500 yen per entrance ticket

Confirm the seasonal opening dates and times, plus find out more at the Hoshino Resorts Tomamu official website here.

Have you ever visited an amazing attraction in your travels, like the Ice Village? Tell us in the comments below…

All information and prices are correct as at April 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu including the Ice Village, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

The post The amazing Japanese Ice Village – Hoshino Resorts Tomamu appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Normally when you go looking for a family restaurant on holidays you need to compromise on choice, taste and atmosphere. Not so in Tomamu! Hoshino Resorts Tomamu restaurants are family-friendly and a foodies delight! Here is a list of our favourite Tomamu family restaurants.

Top family-friendly Tomamu Restaurants – from breakfast to dinner!

Tomamu breakfast restaurant options

You can get a great family breakfast at many of the larger Tomamu restaurants, but we had one stand-out favourite…

Risonare Platinum

Breakfast was a real treat every morning while we were staying at the Hoshino Resorts Risonare hotel. We loved eating at the Risonare Platinum restaurant. The views from the 32nd floor are to die-for as you dine on every type of breakfast food you could imagine. Fresh fruit, yoghurts, scrambled eggs and sausages – even Corn Flakes! All the Australian favourites are here, but be sure to try the delicious Chef-made Corn Miso Ramen!

Tip – arrive early or you may have to wait to be seated

Tomamu lunch restaurant options

Lunch choices are numerous throughout the Tomamu ski resort. They range from small cafes to big restaurants. Here are our top picks of Tomamu restaurants we visited for lunch.

The Green Kitchen

The Green Kitchen is a great café to visit before or after you’ve been having fun at the Gao Outdoor Activity Centre next door. If your kids like to play in the snow, they can do just outside the restaurant windows. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, and the food and service is great.

Tip – don’t miss the spectacular crab pasta dish, which is delivered complete with the crab shell on top!

The Beachside Café

The Beachside Café at Mina Mina Beach wave pool is a beautiful place to eat, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful snowy landscape. They offer some great menu choices, including family favourites such as spaghetti bolognese and egg noodles. This is the perfect place to have a meal after your swim, when the kids are at their most ravenous!

Bistarai Bistarai

There are some good eateries located in the downstairs food hall at the Tomamu Resort Centre. We tried out Bistarai Bistarai, an Indian/Nepalese cafe. Their Cheese Naans and Hokkaido Lassie drinks (a yoghurt iced drink) were absolutely delicious! This is the perfect spot to grab a quick bite to eat when you have been skiing or snow-sledding your hearts out on the Unkai Gondola sled and ski runs.

Tomamu dinner restaurant options

Dinner at Tomamu is a highlight of the day, as there are so many fabulous restaurant choices. Luckily, you’ll work off all those delicious extra calories on the ski slopes, so eat up! Here are our favourites, including the two major  family buffet restaurants in Tomamu.

The Buffet Dining hal restaurant

The Buffet Dining hal restaurant is located at the Hotel Alpha, a five minute shuttle bus ride away from the Risonare or walk from The Towers through. This restaurant specialises in seafood and has some truly scrumptious Japanese food on offer. Soft drinks are included on tap. The  Ice Village is located a short walk from this restaurant, so you can even watch the Ice Village fireworks from your table. Finish off your meal with a cloud dessert – an ice cream delight, topped with fairy floss!

Tip – make sure you make a reservation, as the Buffet Dining hal restaurant is very popular, particularly on weekends.

The Forest Restaurant Nininupuri

The Forest Restaurant Nininupuri is another very popular buffet restaurant, but there’s no need to book. You can walk here in just minutes via a covered walkway from both Risonare and The Towers. Named for it’s massive glass windows surrounded by stunning green-lit forest, this is a spectacular place to eat. The focus here is on Chef-created meat dishes, but there is also a huge array of different foods available. From Macaroni and Cheese to noodle dishes and tiny dessert cakes, there’s a lot of variety. The kids loved the chocolate fondue fountain for dessert, and soft drinks are included on-tap.

The restaurant district of “Hotalu Street”

The restaurant district of “Hotalu Street” is located between the two tower resorts of Risonare and The Tower. The only ski in-ski out shopping precinct in Japan, Hotalu Street is host to several specialised eateries – we visited the Turkino Café.

Tukino Café

After a long day of skiing, we popped in to the Tukino café and bar for extraordinarily good hamburgers and chips. They also do some outstanding parfaits and coffee here. Laze around on the huge foam block benches and chat whilst you eat, then wander outside and back along the enclosed walkway to Risonare or The Tower to collapse into bed in a food coma!

To plan your own Hoshino Resorts Tomamu family winter holiday to try out these fantastic restaurants and more, book your accommodation or find out more please go to the official website here.

Perhaps we’ve missed one! Do you have a favourite Tomamu restaurant? Tell us in the comments below…

All information and prices are correct as at March 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu including many of the restaurants in this article, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

The post The Best Family Restaurants in Tomamu Ski Resort, Japan appeared first on Let's go Mum.

Your accommodation choice can often be the key to a happy and successful family holiday. During our family holiday in Tomamu we stayed at the luxurious Hoshino Resorts Risonare hotel and found that it is perfect choice for families.

The best Tomamu hotel location

The Risonare hotel is distinguished by its two elegant towers rising out of beautiful Japanese forest. It’s elevated position means that it has commanding views across the entire Tomamu ski resort.

A ski in – ski out hotel, the Risonare offers direct access to an easy ski run leading down to the chair lifts at the base of the mountain. This makes it the perfect ski resort accommodation base in Tomamu.

From the moment you enter Risonare, you feel welcome. We were guided by bowing staff members from the moment we stepped off our coach, and our bags were whisked away to our room straight away. There’s no standing around waiting at the hotel reception desk here either – guests are seated comfortably by the cosy fireplace whilst staff come to you to check you in.

A beautiful scent fills the air – it is the signature Risonare scent. You can even buy a bottle to take home with you, to remind you of your stay. Staying at the Risonare hotel is indeed a beautiful experience.

The Risonare suites

No time to read? Take a YouTube video tour through our luxurious Risonare suite here

The Risonare hotel layout is just four suites per floor, which are serviced by hotel staff daily.

Each suite is very large, measuring a minimum of 100 square metres, and is ultra-modern, and elegantly furnished throughout. Climate control keeps the suite at a comfortable temperature, regardless of the often freezing temperatures outside during winter. There are large picture-windows to take advantage of the sweeping views of both the ski resort below, and the surrounding mountains. 

The spacious floor plan includes a large living room, complete with lounges and armchairs. Both parents and children have plenty of room to spread out for a comfortable stay.

The living room also features a television, a safe, and a tea and coffee station.

The bedrooms are accessed via a hallway, and have large, comfortable beds made up with fine linen. There are power points and light switches beside each bedhead – very handy for checking or charging your phone or laptop last thing at night!  There is also a stylish dressing table with mirror and drawers, plus a large storage wardrobe in the hallway.

The bathroom is large, and well equipped with everything you could possibly need. There are twin vanities with mirrors, and in the generously-sized shower you’ll find shampoo and conditioner pump dispensers. There’s also a wood-lined sauna, plus a step-in spa bath.

The spa bath in our suite was a gorgeous feature, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views. The bathroom also has a hair dryer and a good range of complimentary accessories, including disposable toothbrushes and hair brushes. 

There is a toilet with electronic bidet, plus another vanity located in a separate bathroom across the hall.

Mamarakusa – a suite choice for parents of babies and toddlers

Families with babies and toddlers will love the Mamarakuda Suites in particular. It features a substantial wooden cot and large wooden toys for toddlers – you must even remove your shoes before entering . Limited numbers of Mamarakuda are available, and so require booking by name, in advance. 

Risonare hotel services

The Risonare hotel offers a range of excellent on-site services. The ground floor links the two accommodation towers, and houses a variety of convenient guest services. These include the centrally located reception area, adjoining log-fire lounge area, and a souvenir shop.

Tomamu ski hire shop onsite

Designed to work seamlessly with the ski fields the Risonare also has its own ski hire shop to supply all your skiing and snow needs, plus a large ski locker room. There is also a convenient ski valet area to leave your skis in near the ski-run exit door.

Risonare restaurants

Breakfast or dining at the Risonare is a very enjoyable experience thanks to the beautiful Platinum breakfast restaurant and the Wagyu and seafood Shabu Shabu dining restaurants. Both offer excellent food, service, and stunning views with every meal.

A system of enclosed walkways also conveniently link the Risonare with the large buffet Nininupuri Forest Restaurant and the Hotalu Street restaurant precinct. The walkways continue all the way down to The Tower and ski lift areas.

For more on family restaurants near the Risonare, read our Best Tomamu Family Restaurants blog here.

The Risonare Book Café

The Book Cafe is also located on the ground floor and is a free facility for guests. There you can serve yourself a hot drink, juice or water. This is a very convenient place for a quick break off the ski slopes, or an evening coffee as you read a book or chat.

Children’s Indoor Play Area

Perfect for parents with toddlers and small children, opposite the Book Café you’ll find a large a glassed-in indoor play area complete with a fun wooden climbing structure. Shoes must be removed before entrance to this picturesque play area.

Do I need to bring anything for our Tomamu hotel stay?

Before you leave home, you’ll need to purchase a Japanese electricity adaptor plug. This is to convert the plugs of any electric accessories or device chargers (such as phones and cameras) that you bring with you from Australia – or any other country outside of Japan. Japanese adaptor plugs to suit are readily available at most international airports in your country of origin.

To plan your own Hoshino Resorts Risonare stay, book your accommodation or find out more please go to the official website here.

Are you thinking about visiting Japan on a family ski or snowboard holiday, or have you already visited? Tell us in the comments below…

*All information and prices are correct as at March 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Risonare, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

The post Risonare Tomamu review – Hoshino Resorts Tomamu ski hotel accommodation appeared first on Let's go Mum.

The Gao Outdoor Centre in Tomamu has everything you need for a fun family holiday in the snow, including snow mobiles, banana rides and much more!

Hoshino Resorts Gao Outdoor Center offer a huge range of exciting snow-fun family activities to explore together during your family ski holiday in Tomamu. Here you get to choose your own adventure! With a tween and teen ready for excitement, we were given the opportunity to try out three family thrill-seeker experiences at the Gao. All of them were screamingly-good fun!

Drive your own snow mobile

First-up, we went for a snow mobile tour. We were all supplied with safety helmets and snow goggles, and then it was time to climb aboard and learn the basics of how to drive a snow mobile. It’s very easy to get the hang of driving one. Simply key-start the engine and then depress one handle bar for acceleration or the other to brake. They are easy to steer and handle too – so you can relax and have fun on your tour.

Following in our guide’s snow mobile tracks, Samantha, 11, sat behind me on my snow mobile whilst Brooke, 13, brought up the rear on hers. She had decided that she wanted to drive a snow mobile on her own. She absolutely loved the experience – it as a huge thrill for this teenager to drive her own motorised vehicle! You can even hire smaller-sized motorised snow mobiles for little kids at the Gao Outdoor Center.

We had such a great time riding snow mobiles along the snowy trail. It’s a whole lot of fun being a snow mobile rev-head!

Go on an inflatable banana boat ride

Next-up – a banana boat ride! (Or alternatively, an inflatable raft ride) We were a bit puzzled at first – a banana boat ride at the snow? Then we realised it was an inflatable banana boat like the type you find at island resorts – this was going to be fun! The whole family climbed aboard the big banana, donned our supplied helmets and ski goggles once again and took a hold of the individual rope handles. Then off we went, towed along by a rope attached to a snow buggy.

With a tight grip on our rope handles we “yeee-haw-ed!” our way through the course, flying along with breathless speed. We skidded out on the corners and spent the entire ride shouting and screaming with laughter. The banana boat was a super-fun ride we simply couldn’t get enough of!

Snow buggy back-country tour

Then it was time for all of us to climb into a snow buggy and buckle our seatbelts for a back-country tour. We really enjoyed this off-road snow tour of the woods. Our driver pulled out an animal-spotting guide. Local animal tracks were explained to us, and we all enjoyed looking out for the wildlife that left the footprints behind. We were so excited to see a beautiful red fox nosing about in the snow – he didn’t even seem to mind us watching him at close-quarters.

Then it was time to stop for a bit of fun along the way – knee-deep snow play! The girls leapt out of the snow buggy and laughed as they tried to walk through the deep powder snow. Then they lay down and made some very respectable snow angels. Our driver carved a giant heart straight out of the snow and gave it to Samantha! She played with it for a while, and then tossed it at her sister like a giant snow ball – and we all had a big snow fight! We were laughing so hard – where else could you play in such amazing snow?! 

Finally it was time to head back to the Center, but not without one last thrill – a super-fast speeding session in the snow mobile! Around curves and over bumps we went. It was so much fun as our driver showed off his snow-driving skills! The snow mobile ride is a fantastic way to see more of the beautiful Tomamu countryside, and have a lot of fun while you’re doing it.

More family activities available at the Gao Outdoor Center

Snow Play Toys and Sleds

From buckets and spades to snow ball makers, to snow sled toboggans – if you have toddlers and little kids that just want to play in the snow, this is where you can load up with snow toys to do it – snow included! There’s even a special sled course. 

Snow Shoeing

Hire a set of snow shoes for a guided nature walk. This is the perfect way to enjoy the peace and serenity of a Japanese winter wonderland!

Baumkuchen Making

Get your cooking on with this fun activity – Baumkuchen (cake) making over a charcoal fires at the secret “Kota” base in the snowfields. Best of all, you get to eat what you make – yum!

Ice Curling

You know that fascinating Winter Olympics sport? Well here’s your chance to try it! You can play a game of ice curling and make your Olympic dreams come true – at least for a little while – awesome!

Snow Forest Adventure

Take a fun guided walking tour of the back country, including wildlife spotting.

Family Snow Picnic

Grab the family for a guided picnic trip! Includes fun snow activities and lunch in a snow hut.

Cross Country Ski Tour

Head off with a guide on a cross country skiing tour for something different, and get away from the ski-field crowds!

Eat at the Green Kitchen restaurant at the Gao Outdoor Center

The Green Kitchen is a lovely restaurant right next door to the Gao, and well worth a visit for a meal or snack whilst you take in the view. You can learn more about The Green Kitchen in our Best Family Restaurants in Tomamu blog here.

How to get to the Tomamu Gao Outdoor Center

The Gao Outdoor Centre is just three minutes walk from Hoshino Resorts The Tower, or a quick shuttle-bus ride away from Hoshino Resorts Risonare.

Making family holiday memories together

Don’t miss this super-fun outdoor centre. The Gao  is a wonderful place to make exciting family memories together to last a lifetime!

Plan your own Hoshino Resorts Gao Outdoor Center adventures – find out more at the official website here.

Which activity do you think your family would love most? Tell us in the comments below…

*All information and prices are correct as at March 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu including the Gao Outdoor Centre, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

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Have you ever considered taking your family on a skiing holiday to Japan? We’ve just got back from a trip to Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Ski Resort in Japan. Whether you’re a family of expert skiers or have never been to the snow before, your whole family is going to love Tomamu!

Hoshino Resorts have taken the standard family ski holiday to a whole new level. Children of all ages are catered for at Tomamu – and as we all know, happy kids means happy parents! There’s plenty for parents to get excited about too. Tomamu not only offers high quality skiing for all levels, but a huge range of exciting snow-fun family activities to explore together. It’s the perfect family snow vacation!

Located on the second-largest Japanese island of Hokkaido, Tomamu Ski Resort is stunningly beautiful. Massive snowy mountains encircle the resort, and stretch for as far as the eye can see. Majestic forests thickly cover the mountain sides. Not just a skiing holiday, Tomamu is a nature-rice Japanese experience. During our stay we were to see squirrels, birds – even a beautiful fox!

Can we learn to ski or snowboard at Tomamu?

With excellent ski schools and individual instructors from all around the world, Tomamu ski resort is the perfect place for everyone in the family to learn how to ski or snowboard. 

The Gao Ski Academy offers English speaking skiing and snowboarding group and private lessons for both kids and adults. My children, Samantha, aged 11, and Brooke, 13, were only just introduced to skiing last year, so were keen to learn more.

The girl’s first morning on the slopes was spent in a private lesson with their very capable instructor Annie. She quickly assessed their skills and then spent their two-hour session building upon them. In the meantime, I took the opportunity to refresh my very rusty skiing skills! Often I would cross-paths with the girls, and it was amazing to watch their quick progress.

After their lesson, the girls passion was sparked, and they loved to get out on the slopes and improve their skiing skills whenever they could. Luckily, staying at Risonare makes popping out onto the ski slopes easy thanks to direct access to the ski trails. With the added advantage of night skiing, there’s plenty of time to get out there and have fun.

Easy ski runs and trails stretch right across the Tomamu Ski Resort, so even the most beginner skier can have a great time exploring the resort for miles. This makes Tomamu the perfect introduction to, or extension of, your skiing skills. If you’re a more experienced or thrill-seeking skier or snowboarder, you’ll love the challenging blue, or more difficult black Tomamu runs, which criss-cross all over the mountain.

Do we have to bring our own ski gear?

From waterproof ski clothing to skis, snowboards and helmets – everything you need to ski or play in the snow can be hired directly from your Hoshino Resorts Tomamu hotel. There are Tomamu ski hire shops located in both the Risonare and The Towers. Right down to your gloves, hats and goggles, you’re totally covered. Of course if you’re already outfitted, you can bring your own ski gear with you. There are ski locker rooms located on the ground floor of your hotel to save you lugging ski gear up to your room.

The Tomamu Ski Resort – how to get around

The Tomamu Ski Resort is made up of several areas and attractions, all accessible by walking, skiing, or catching the free shuttle bus. Shuttle buses run every fifteen minutes, and each location is only a five-to-ten minute shuttle bus ride apart, making the service a very convenient way to get around the resort.

Tomamu Family Fun Activities

Tomamu isn’t just a brilliant ski resort – there are a whole range of fun family activities on offer to keep the kids entertained, from the tiniest toddler right up to the most hard-to-please teenager! Your holiday can be as relaxed or adventurous as you choose. Here are some of the family-friendly activities we tried during our stay – and we loved each and every one of them!

Visit the Ice Village

World-famous and incredibly unique, for an experience like no other make sure you visit the Tomamu Ice Village. This beautiful village is constructed almost entirely of ice, and is open to view during winter. Not just a display, there are working shops, cafes, a bar, a hotel room, the Chapel On The Water church…all made from solid ice. Outside there is even a charming ice rink for most of the winter months, plus fun sliding chutes for the kids. Gentle classical music plays, and the ice is lit to a brilliant white or soft pastel colours. Topped off with a fireworks display every night, the Ice Village an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Watch our walk-through video of the Tomamu Ice Village…

Take the Unkai Gondola up the mountain

The Tomamu Unkai Gondola offers stunning views as it climbs 1088 metres up the mountain. At the top you can visit the Unkai Terrace – famous for it’s cloud views. Also at the top is the Terrace of Frost Tree, where the mountain tree’s delicate branches magically transform to snow-white frost in cold conditions. There’s a small café to purchase snacks, including the famed cloud-drink topped with fairy floss. Here too you can toast big marshmallows over an open fireplace.

To get back down the mountain, it’s choose your own fun! You can ski, snowboard or hire a snow sled (at the base of the gondola before you go up) to  descend via the easy or more difficult runs to the bottom. Alternatively, you can simply catch the Gondola back down. The Unkai Gondola is a Tomamu must-do experience!

Watch our sled ride down the Unkai Gondola run…

The Gao Outdoor Center

Where else can your child drive a snow mobile, or the whole family ride aboard a flat-out inflatable snow-banana? It’s the Gao Outdoor Center! From snowball makers and sled-hire to racing along on a snow mobile, “The Gao” has all the equipment for a snowy-fun time with the kids. We spent half a day at The Gao, and had so much fun! We did a drive-yourself snow mobile tour, took a thrilling inflatable banana ride and went for a back-country snow buggy tour. Everything is safely run and guided and there’s plenty of photo opportunities along the way. We even saw a beautiful Japanese Red Fox in the wild!  The Gao Center is a real Tomamu highlight for kids and their parents alike.

For a closer look at the Gao Outdoor Center activities, read our blog here.

Mina Mina Beach indoor wave pool

Just because it’s freezing outside, doesn’t mean you can’t swim! Mina Mina beach is an indoor wave pool and swimming complex located right in the middle of the Tomamu Ski Resort. It’s cathedral-like glass and steel structure means you can have fun in the pool while surrounded by an amazing snowy view.  Inside the complex the temperature is nice and cosy, and the water in the pool is beautifully warm too. There are beach chairs to lounge on by the pool, plus huge floaties such as flamingos and dragons available to hire. Surrounding the main wave pool you’ll find several spa pools, plus a toddler pool full of coloured balls to play with. Every half hour sets of waves roll in and tumble on the “beach”. For a great family fun experience, don’t miss out on Mina Mina beach.

Where to stay in Tomamu

Accommodation choices at Hoshino Resorts Tomamu are of a very high standard. Whilst in Tomamu, we stayed at the wonderful Hoshino Resorts Risonare.

Take a look around our beautiful Hoshino Resorts Risonare, Tomamu suite…

Hoshino Resorts Risonare is the place to stay in Tomamu. This elegant twin tower suite hotel is nestled within beautiful Japanese forest.

A ski in/ski out hotel, the Risonare is conveniently located on a hillside, next to an easy ski run leading directly down to the chair lifts. Enclosed glass walkways connect the Risonare to the restaurant district and The Tower complex below. 

There are only four suites on each floor. Each suite is large and beautifully furnished, and also have a sauna and spa bath. Our suite featured panoramic mountain views.

The hotel itself has a selection of excellent on-site services, including beautiful restaurants, a souvenir shop and ski hire. 

The Risonare is luxury family accommodation you won’t want to leave at the end of your holiday! 

For a closer look at the Hoshino Resorts Risonare, you can read our Risonare blog here

Where to eat – restaurants in Tomamu

Not just delicious Japanese dishes, but all types of cuisine are available at Tomamu. Restaurants and eateries are located in your hotel, plus all over the Tomamu Ski Resort – even up on the mountain!  Don’t worry about your fussy-eater children either, as the two main buffet restaurants are a great family meal choice. They offer plenty of Aussie kid-favourites such as macaroni cheese, spaghetti, noodles, chicken nuggets and chips – and of course, there’s lots of veggies and fruit!

Then there is the fabulous Hotalu Street restaurant district, with some delicious specialist restaurants to try, too.

No matter where you eat during your stay, don’t miss out on the opportunity to try something new – Tomamu restaurant’s Japanese dishes are an absolute foodies delight!

For more information on where your family can eat in Tomamu, you can read our Best Family Restaurants in Tomamu blog here

Australia to Japan – how to get to Tomamu

Getting to Tomamu is a very easy trip from Australia, and jet-lag free thanks to the majority of flying taking place overnight.

Our Qantas flight from Sydney, Australia included dinner and breakfast, and took just nine hours to Haneda airport in Tokyo. From Haneda’s International Terminal we stepped straight onto a bus for the quick transit trip to the domestic terminal. There we caught our JAL one and a half hour domestic flight to New Chitose Airport at Hokkaido.

It takes less than two hours coach ride from New Chitose Airport – or just 70 minutes by train – to get to Tomamu. You’ll be on the ski slopes in no time!

Take the family to Tomamu for an amazing family vacation

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu is quite simply a superb family holiday, from start to finish. With so much to see and do, excellent skiing and luxurious accommodation, it ticks every family vacation box.

We made family memories to last a lifetime at Tomamu, and can’t wait to return to make even more.

Plan your own Hoshino Resorts Tomamu adventure now – find out more at the official website here.

Tomamu Fast Facts

Do people speak English in Japan?

They certainly do all over the airports and Tomamu. The Japanese people are wonderfully welcoming, and always go beyond to help or communicate. 

Where is Tomamu?

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu is located at Naka-Tomamu Shimukappu Yufutsu Hokkaido JAPAN 079-2204 (Scroll down to see our Google Map)

What airlines fly from Australia to Japan?

Qantas and JAL (Japan Airlines). Qantas link flights operate via JAL domestic in Japan,

How will I charge my phone/the kid’s devices in Japan?

You will need to purchase a Australian-to-Japanese power converter before you leave, readily available at the airport. (If you ever forget a power plug converter anywhere in the world, you can often plug your phone charger straight into your hotel room TV usb outlet)

Will my mobile/cell phone work in Japan?

We use Telstra, which worked perfectly everywhere.

Do I need to take Japanese currency?

Currency – Japanese Yen  (Currently the exchange rate is 77.85 JPY = $1 AUD as at March 2019). You don’t need to take Japanese cash (we actually didn’t), however it is useful for vending machines or random cafes, etc. Credit cards inc. Visa are accepted almost everywhere.

Where do I find out more about Hoshino Resorts Tomamu?

Find out more or book your accommodation for Hoshino Resorts Tomamu at the official website here.

Where in the world is Tomamu, Japan?

*All information and prices are correct as at March 2019 – please check the official website link above for relevant, up to date information and accommodation prices.

Let’s go Mum were hosted guests of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, however all opinions remain firmly our own.

Have you ever visited Japan? Tell us how much you loved it in the comments below…

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