YTL Hotel Group’s multi-billion Yen master plan is redefining alpine luxury in Niseko, Japan – sister city to St. Moritz in Switzerland. The award-winning New York based firm Champalimaud Design is orchestrating the renovation of the 200-room Green Leaf Niseko Village, slated for completion in time for the ski season end of 2010, and to be unveiled as ‘The Green Leaf Niseko Village, a YTL Lifestyle Resort’. The renovation of the ski-in, ski-out Green Leaf is the first of YTL’s multi-phased redevelopment plan for Niseko Village and will re-open its doors to guests on 1st December, 2010.

Renowned for creating distinctive interiors that reflect their unique setting, Champalimaud Design has worked its style magic on some of the world’s leading hotels including London’s Berkeley and Dorchester hotels to the highly acclaimed redesign of the suites at The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, in Manhattan. ‘Niseko is now recognized as a highly desirable international destination’, says President and Principal Designer Alexandra Champalimaud, ‘and this is a wonderful opportunity to transform a property with an unparalleled location, therapeutic natural onsen and Mt. Yotei views into a modern social space attractive to a youthful and global clientele.’

The Green Leaf Niseko Village proudly houses an extensive collection of original artwork by celebrated Japanese artist Soichiro Tomioka (1922-1994). Tomioka’s life long study and portrayal of crisp forested winter landscapes is broadly represented in the collection with each guestroom, boasting an original work of its own. Paying homage to his aesthetic, Champalimaud Design has created guestrooms which communicate serenely with the surrounding environment. Traditional elements of European mountain chic are made more contemporary and overlaid with elements of Japanese aesthetic.

Unobstructed views of Hokkaido’s majestic Mt. Yotei can be seen from the elegant corner suites and guestrooms. The Green Leaf Niseko Village will reopen with eight Corner Suites comprised of a parlor room, 40” flat panel television, wet bar, powder room, and accommodation for a family of four. In addition, 25 deluxe guestrooms will offer king beds, 32” flat panel television and accommodation for three. For families traveling with children, these deluxe guestrooms have been designed to connect to triple rooms for added space. All 200 rooms will include plush bedding, fine linens, quality amenities, multi-language television programming and wireless Internet.

Sharing in the YTL belief that wellbeing is the principal ingredient in a balanced contemporary accommodation; each room is at its core a practical, restful and peaceful place. Throughout the hotel, whether seated in front of the fireplaces in the living room lobby lounge, or at a fireside dinner enjoying the diverse menu in the completely redesigned main restaurant, the Green Leaf Niseko Village is designed to meet the needs and expectations of a cosmopolitan and discerning clientele. Furthermore, the hotel is a prime year-round mountain lodge with an array of seasonally changing landscapes for activities ranging from powder skiing to two 18-hole championship golf courses, one of which was designed by Arnold Palmer.

The Green Leaf Niseko Village can cater to every fitness level and to every desired extreme sensation in a myriad of activities; paragliding, trekking, trails for horseback riding, kayaking and river rafting, tennis and much more. This multi-faceted destination promises unrivalled accessibility to the benefits of the finest resort destination in Japan. No matter which pursuit occupies your day, the intimate forested onsen - a therapeutic natural volcanic hot spring, is the perfect place to soak away tension and time. A vast menu of different traditional therapeutic massages, manicures and pedicures are offered in the adjacent spa.

During the White Season, begin your day in our purpose designed skier services building which features a full equipment rental counter, fireplace and multi-purpose lounge with cinema display screen. On the roof of the skier services building, and unlike any other accommodation in Niseko, guests may enjoy a scenic moment, lunch and mugs of beer on our open air rooftop Beer Garden and Grill, accessible directly from the ski slopes.

The sophisticated facilities and contemporary comforts of the Green Leaf Niseko Village are accessible through Sapporo’s International Chitose Airport – Niseko’s getaway to greater Asia, with direct flights from Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Singapore, to name a few.