We stayed last Wed/Thursday nights and hit the slopes Thurs/Fri. We were there in between two storms so had warm-ish sunny weather (and given that the sun starts hitting the slopes at 5am, it really softened things up!). But it cooled off the day after we left (we were in Sapporo that day) and snowed again over the weekend.

The Hilton is nice enough, in the end we used C+P and were upgraded for free to a King Mt Yotei view room. So it was a really good value. Breakfast was decent, but otherwise I thought the F&B outlets leave a bit to be desired and I was glad we had a car. We ate at the sushi place in the hotel the night we arrived (kind of late arrival so worried that was only option) and it was totally overpriced and not really great quality fish by any means. I've been eating raw fish since I was a young kid and grew up on the ocean catching much of what we ate, so while not picky, I tend to know what I am getting. It wasn't bad, but I am not impressed when I pay that much and get just mediocre quality fish. I have better quality fish in my refrigerator most days of the week...

From a convenience to the slopes standpoint, the hotel excels, having the gondola right out the side door. But again, having a car was great to pop over to Hirafu. My colleagues have stayed in Hirafu (in a slopeside condo) before and after this I'd say when we go back with our kids we're likely to stay in Hirafu instead. The food options are more numerous and much better and you aren't as captive to the hotel.

SPG has some nearby properties and word is that Hyatt will open a Park Hyatt in Niseko in a few years, so interesting to see the US chain interest in this area.