Are you ready for family hikes and an unforgettable mother-daughter ziplining adventure? Let me take you through our stay at the luxurious Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono (Hokkaido, Japan) and show how we made it happen using points.
While the rest of Japan sweltered in July heatwaves, we basked in the cool summer breeze of Niseko for three glorious days, fully soaking up the beauty of Hokkaido’s pristine nature. This was part of our amazing 7-week family adventure through the South Pacific and Asia in June and July, which is a journey we will never forget. From breathtaking views to incredible savings, this trip was truly a dream come true!
Slow Travel: Our New Family Trend
We embraced the slow travel lifestyle, taking our time to explore each destination in depth. From Sapporo to Niseko, Otaru, Shakotan, and back to Sapporo, every stop gave us a chance to slow down and appreciate the magic of Hokkaido. (I’ll cover our detailed 8-day itinerary in another post!) For now, let’s dive into our Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono experience.
How We Made It Happen With Points
For our family of four, we spent 70,000 Hyatt points in total for two nights in their standard King Bed room and used a Suite Upgrade Award to enjoy an 850-square-foot suite with twin beds, a sleeper sofa and stunning mountain views. Normally, this suite type would have set us back $1,600 per night! We didn’t have to burn extra points to experience this luxury, and neither do you!
The Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono offers standard rooms that are perfect for a family of four, starting at 35,000 points per night in the off-season and up to 45,000 points during peak times. During our stay, it was only 35,000 points per night.
Here are two ways to earn Hyatt points:
Through Chase Credit Cards
By transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to my World of Hyatt account, I quickly built up enough points to make this dream stay a reality. Credit cards are one of the easiest ways to accumulate points, especially with the historically high sign-up bonuses that Chase often offers. With the right strategy, luxury like this is within reach for you too!
Through Points Sale Promotion
And when Hyatt points promotions come around, I like to buy points for added flexibility. Let’s break down the math for buying points during a promotion:
The picture illustrates the history of Hyatt’s points sale promotion, where savvy travelers can maximize value. Let’s break it down using a real-life example from our own adventure:
At a promotional rate of $0.0192 per point, 35,000 points would equate to $672 per night. Standard room rates at the luxurious Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono can soar as high as $900 per night, and with our suite upgrade, the value skyrocketed to $1,600! That’s an incredible 30-60% savings – perfect for families aiming to stretch their points while indulging in luxury. With thoughtful planning, your dream vacation becomes not only possible but also affordable!
Location
Nestled 60 miles (90 kilometers) from downtown Sapporo, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono is known worldwide for its powdery snow in winter. But in the summer, Niseko offers a tranquil, serene experience. Since there’s no summer shuttle service from Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS), we rented a car and explored the stunning route ourselves, making picturesque stops in Otaru and Shakotan along the way.
Service
The service at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono? Impeccable. Although the concierge took almost two months to reply to our inquiries (due to their busy April-May peak season), once we arrived, the staff was exceptional. From seamless check-in to the personalized tour of our suite with jaw-dropping mountain views, their attention to detail was unmatched.
Room: A Luxurious Japanese-Inspired Suite
Our suite was everything we dreamed of – the Japanese-inspired design, spacious layout, and even the kids adored their cozy sofa bed! The standard rooms are also quite large at 700 square feet (65 sqm), which is rare in Japan. If you don’t get an upgrade, don’t worry, the standard rooms are luxurious enough. The suite had a huge wardrobe, so even with four suitcases, we didn’t feel cramped. While every detail of the room impressed us, my favorite spot was the lounge area where our family gathered for snacks, sipping local sake, and gazing at the summer night sky, complete with an incredible summer light exhibition across the mountains. Though it wasn’t officially open during our stay, we were lucky to witness the mesmerizing display as they prepared for its launch.
Breakfast & Family-Friendly Perks
The breakfast buffet, part of the perks of Hyatt Globalist status, was a daily highlight. With a mix of Western and Japanese cuisine, including local farm-to-table products, the food was as impressive as the floor-to-ceiling windows and mountain views. Families with young children will appreciate the kid-friendly corner, designed to make mealtime a breeze for parents.
However, since my oldest kid had just turned 18, we had to pay for her breakfast. Standard Globalist benefits include breakfast for two adults and two children, but 18-year-olds are considered adults, so keep that in mind when budgeting.
Teppanyaki Dinner To Remember
One evening, we splurged on a teppanyaki dinner at Teppan in the hotel, and it was worth every point and penny. The service, ambiance, and food were out of this world – making it a truly memorable family experience. However, the expense of the meal in this restaurant wasn’t eligible for earning Hyatt points.
Bonus: A Quiet Town For Dinner In Kutchan: (In Summer)
On our first night, we ventured out to Kutchan, a quaint town about 15 minutes from the hotel. In the summer, the town felt like a ghost town – quiet streets, many shops closed, and hardly anyone around. However, as the sun began to set, we stumbled upon a small, cozy sushi restaurant hidden on a side street. The sushi was fresh and delicious, providing the perfect end to a day of travel.
In winter, the hotel staff mentioned that Kutchan becomes one of the liveliest places in the region, bustling with travelers and requiring reservations weeks in advance. It’s hard to imagine this sleepy town transforming into a hub of winter activity, but that’s the magic of Niseko, where reinvents itself every season.
Activities: Summer Fun In Niseko
If you think Niseko is only about skiing, think again! Summer in Niseko is just as magical. Our mother-daughter ziplining adventure at Hanazono Niseko Resort (It’s next to Park Hyatt , but doesn’t belong to Park Hyatt as they also serve the visitors from every part of Niseko) was a highlight. We also booked a half-day hiking tour through the resort. There were several routes to choose from, and we opted for the easiest one. Even so, it was a three-hour uphill trek!
Since we were the only family, it felt like a private tour, and our guide spoke excellent English, making the experience even more enjoyable. We loved every moment of exploring the beautiful outdoors. I highly recommend this activity for families! The guide even suggested coming back in winter to try snowshoeing on the same trail – definitely something for our next adventure! The activity center is conveniently located next to the hotel, and the team was fantastic at communicating in English, ensuring smooth, fun-filled adventures.
Pro Tip:
Start by exploring the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono website. From there, you’ll be directed to the right contacts for activities. That’s how we discovered Hanazono Niseko and found the perfect adventures for our family. Most of the information was available in English, which made planning easy. We were hoping to try horseback riding, but unfortunately, they only offered communication in Japanese, so we decided to skip it. But don’t let that discourage you – there are plenty of other amazing activities to choose from!
Final Thoughts: Making Family Travel Possible With Points
Family travel doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. With the right points strategy, such as earning Hyatt points through credit cards, buying points during promotions, and taking advantage of Suite Upgrade Awards. You can enjoy premium experiences like Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono while saving thousands of dollars. If our family can do it, so can yours! Have questions or need help planning your next family adventure with points? Drop me a message, and I’d love to help you get started.
