InterContinental - ANA Appi Kogen Resort

InterContinental - ANA Appi Kogen Resort

At ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort in Iwate's Hachimantai mountains, the view terrace looks straight down the ski slope, and the building's dark green cladding is built to disappear into the trees rather than stand apart from them. The resort opened in March 2022, young enough that the design still feels considered rather than worn in, and by the end of that first year it had picked up a 2022 World Luxury Hotel Awards win. What sets it apart from most Japanese ski hotels is that it does not stop being useful once the snow melts: a golf course, tennis court and mini golf sit alongside the runs, so guests who come for the skiing can return once the snow is gone for golf, tennis or a quick round of mini golf instead. Shiratsuyu, the ground-floor restaurant, works a Japanese-French menu on a farm-to-table basis, with staff talking guests through where each ingredient came from and how they would like it cooked, plus a welcome drink, afternoon tea and apero hour built into the stay. Bar Mocco pours whiskies and bourbons for anyone who wants to end the day slowly. Rooms range from Classic doubles at 34 to 52 square metres up to Premium rooms and suites with terraces, and the property is wheelchair accessible with a lift, doorman and 24-hour reception. Families chasing a single-sport ski week might find the golf and tennis beside the point; travellers who want a mountain base that works across two seasons, with a kitchen that explains itself, will get more out of it than most alternatives in the area. A ski slope out one window and a golf course out the other, at a resort built to work across both seasons. Shiratsuyu's farm-to-table kitchen asks how you want your ingredients cooked before it cooks them. Best suited to travellers who want more than one reason to come back.