With the weather in Singapore constantly hovering between 25ºC to 31ºC, it’s hard not to dream about escaping to ski resort with powdery white snow. Why can’t we all have fun-filled adventures in sub-zero temperatures to escape the heat of the sun?
Lucky for you, dear readers, we’ve found a new holiday destination for you and your family, and it’s just two flights away from Singapore: Tomamu.
Just off the beaten track in Hokkaido, you’ll find a new ski resort from Club Med. Recently just opened, Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido sprawls over more than 145 hectares of winter wonderland.
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido is the Club Med’s newest winter destination in Japan.
We checked out what Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido has to offer you. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your family’s next winter holiday there:
Tomamu: the same Hokkaido, but different
It’s probably common knowledge among you and your mum friends: Niseko is the place to be for a ski trip with your family. It’s probably Japan’s most well-known wintertime destinations.
Niseko is also famous for its pulsing vibe. There’s an extensive selection of accommodations, as well as shops and restaurants aprés-ski. But over the years, it has become so popular that it can get a bit too crowded and busy. And for those travelling with children, it can get a bit too much.
Thankfully, nearby Tomamu offers the same powder white snow as Niseko. And now, with Club Med’s new ski resort, you and your family can experience the same Hokkaido snow minus the hassle and the overwhelming crowds.
Club Med’s newest resort in Japan, Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido, is an all-inclusive resort that offers a host of spectacular winter experiences.
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido: How to get there
The location of Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido is just a 90-minute drive from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport.
The new ski resort in the heart of Tomamu features 341 chic, modern Japanese rooms, and a plethora of activities and services for both adults and kids. When it comes to cuisine, there’s a wide variety of delectable dining options.
What’s more, Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido is an all-inclusive resort. This means you can forget about the burden of planning. All you have to worry about is how much fun your whole family is going to have!
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido offers three room configurations — Club, Deluxe and Suite — spread across two buildings, Hidaka and Yubari. The standard Club rooms (pictured) are spacious and can accommodate up to six guests.
Spoilt for choice in Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido
There’s no shortage of activities at Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido. From snowman-building to snow trekking, snowboarding and alpine skiing, it offers a diverse selection of activities, making guests truly spoilt for choice. Here are some must-try experiences:
1. 28 slopes of powdery snow for various snow sports
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido is surrounded by Hokkaido’s pristine snowy landscape. There, you’ll find 28 slopes of powder for endless skiing fun.
Skiing for the first time? Expert Gentil Organisateurs (G.O.’s) offer exclusive skiing and snowboarding lessons for all levels of skill.
As the ultimate family-friendly resort, Club Med offers the Children’s Club which caters to children of all ages.
Both parents and kids can fully enjoy their stay at the resort, thanks to the Children’s Club.
Think skiing is only for adult and older children? Think again. Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido offers age-appropriate activities — including skiing — with the Children’s Club. Kids as young as four can already get involved in various outdoor snow sports in classes lead by the G.O.’s.
Pro-tip: Don’t have ski gear? Equipment and outerwear rentals for both skiing and snowboarding are included in your Club Med package.
2. Non-skier? Go trekking!
Families with children who don’t ski can opt for other alternative activities like snow trekking, snow sledding, snowmobiling, and snow banana boating. You can also opt to ride the gondola (passes included in your resort package) to go up the mountain to the Terrace of Frost Trees. There you will find the Cloud Bridge where you can indulge in the magnificent snow-clad scenery of Tomamu.
3. Explore the Ice Village
If you have an aversion to carving up the slopes, you and your kids can take the resort’s shuttle to escape to a different kind of winter wonderland at the Ice Village.
One of the resort’s winter highlights is the Ice Village. Operated by Hoshino Resorts, it is exclusively available during the winter when the temperature falls to as low as -30 degrees.
In this little village carved out of ice, you can have cocktails served in ice glasses. You can also zip down ice slides or show off your ice skating skills under the night sky.
4. Head down to the beach
Want to take a break from trailing on the pistes? Head down to the beach! And by that we mean Mina Mina Beach — Japan’s largest indoor wave pool — just a stone’s throw away Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido. Here, your kids will enjoy swimming or paddle boarding on gentle waves of warm water.
Guests can soak in the warm water all winter long at Mina Mina Beach just across the lobby building of Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido.
Where to eat
Though located in a less commercialised area in Hokkaido, the new ski resort is nothing short of dining options. In fact, its vibe rivals that of the more-known destinations in the area.
The new ski resort offers the ultimate Japanese gastronomic feast. Each restaurant has its own specialties in food and beverages.
1. Itara
Savour a variety of international cuisines — Japanese, Korean, Italian and Western — at the resort’s main buffet restaurant, Itara. It has four distinct spaces and each space provides guests with a unique gastronomic experience.
Pro-tip: Start off your meals with Club Med’s signature white chocolate bread. The perfect end to your meal? A delicious cone of Hokkaido milk soft serve.
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido’s main restaurant, Itara, offers four international cuisines buffet style.
There are four dining halls at Itara that each come with its distinct theme and vibe.
2. Haku
Indulge in farm-to-table Yakiniku, which features a variety of mouth-watering meat — including premium cuts of Hokkaido and Wagyu beef — and fresh seafood at the resort’s specialty restaurant, Haku.
Haku, Club Med’s specialty restaurant serves fresh premium meat and seafood.
3. Unkai
Be it après-ski drinks in the day, or an ice-cold pint at night, Unkai bar is the perfect hangout.
In the day, it offers refreshments in-between main meals, and at night, Unkai transforms into an events hall where evening shows, dance performances and groovy themed parties (organised by the G.O.’s themselves) take place.
4. The Nest
If you’re looking for a more toned-down ambience to have your nightcap, grab a drink at The Nest.
Guests can enjoy cocktails and light snacks at Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido’s zen bar, The Nest.
The specialist bar offers* the finest selections of Japanese sakes and whiskeys coupled with a fantastic view of the snowy surroundings of the resort.
Pro-tip: Parents, you don’t have to worry about not being able to experience the adventures and buzzing nightlife during your stay at the new ski resort. Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido offers convenient childcare solutions like the Petit Club and Pyjamas Club.* Experienced G.O.’s here run a daycare that allows you parents to have their own time in the day. A group babysitting service ensures your children will be well taken care of while you enjoy a little free time at night.
With its wide selection of activities and food options that cater to all ages, Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido is perfect for solo-travellers, couples and families looking for a wonderful winter adventure.
*As a premium all-inclusive resort, packages at Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido include local transfers, accommodation, gourmet meals, all-day open bar and snacking (with the exception of drinks at The Nest and the Ice Village), ski passes, and snow sports with lessons. Kids-specific amenities and facilities like Petit Club Med and the Pyjamas Club are available at extra costs.
