Hoshino Resorts Tomamu Hosts Pristine Weddings In A Crystal Chapel
Those of us who’ve grown up in tropical climates often dream of winter wonderlands, crystalline snowflakes — especially after Disney’s hit movie Frozen.
While the holiday season has ended, the winter season is far from over. If you’re headed to Japan to see the Sakura trees in Feb, we’ve found a gorgeous ice hotel with rooms entirely made out of sculptured ice just for you!
Ready to sleep like a king or queen of winter? We’ve done some research on your behalf and here’s what’s awaiting you in this luxurious destination.
Ice hotel with outdoor bath
Hoshino Resorts Tomamu boasts of an ice hotel that’s open from 19 Jan to 28 Feb.
The domed-shaped space is entirely built of ice with the walls and ceilings shining like illuminated crystals. Beds consist of expertly cut ice slabs topped with a sleeping bag which can endure extremely cold temperatures.
If you’re not used to the cold, suit up and prepare for temperatures to drop between 14⁰C to 30⁰C below freezing.
A night at any Japanese hotel isn’t complete without a hot bath, and you can get one here too, whilst surrounded by shimmering ice. The winter forest and bright lights make it the perfect place to relax and enjoy the Chinese New Year.
After you’ve indulged in a warm bath, you can sit back and grab your favorite drinks at their after-bath ice lounge. We’re not too sure about the reclined seats because thick blocks of ice aren’t exactly comfy.
We’re sorry to burst your bubble, but luxurious destinations come with a hefty price tag. One night at their ice hotel is 23000¥ or $287.
Ice Village
Don’t have the budget to book a one-night stay in their ice hotel? No worries!
You can drop by their ice village for 500¥ or S$6! If you stay at their other hotels like RISONARE Tomamu or Tomamu The Tower – which are not made of ice – a trip to the village is free of charge.
The ice village is composed of ice rinks, bars and cafes.
Bookworms can lounge in the Ice Books & Café where they can binge on books or read their Kindles whilst relishing the warmth of the fireplace. The fire is contained around a special glass so there’s no need to worry about drops of water landing on the pages.
We’re sure you’ve dreamed about ice castles, but what about ice bars?
Their Ice Bar has more than 50 kinds of hard liquor and cocktail. You can even add an underground water from the “perpetual snow” of Daisetsuzan Mountain – also known as the water for long life.
Parents bringing their kids along for the trip can join an activity called Ice Gao.
Here, children can play ice musical instruments, freezing soap bubbles and sculpt ice glass and keychains.
Of course, no village is complete without a playground, so get on their ice slides and brace yourself for a fun-filled ride from the village’s overlook deck to the ice rink.
Since we grew up in a hot climate, we’re definitely not confident about our ice skating skills. But you’ll definitely be tempted to rent a pair of skates and lace your boots once you’ve seen their ice rinks at night!
Ice chapel
Frozen fans rejoice!
From 19 Jan to 15 Feb, their weddings ceremonies are held in an ice chapel that has a cross, altar, and chairs which are also made of ice. Now all you need is an Elsa-approved dress to make your once-in-a-lifetime walk down the aisle.
Skiis & snowmobiles
For thrill-seekers and adventure lovers, a trip to Japan isn’t over until you’ve skied down slopes and ridden snowmobiles.
You’ll be happy to find that the resort has an easy auto gate system that lets you visit their majestic mountaintops and bask on these scenic views.
Those who don’t ski or snowboard can always opt for their Moonlight Snowmobile Tour. Have fun dashing through the snow whilst looking at the exceptionally beautiful pine trees and the bright full moon.
The ski resort and snowmobiles are only available from December to March.
Booking a trip to this Frozen wonderland?
Now that Hoshino Resorts Tomamu is definitely on your radar, how do you get there?
You can book a flight from Singapore to New Chitose Airport via Scoot, Thai Airlines and Japan Airlines. From there, ride the Sapporo railway station and exit at Tomamu station. A shuttle bus to the resort will be waiting once you arrive. You can check out their website for more details.
If you can’t afford the $287 per night stay in their ice hotel, you can always check out their non-frozen accommodations on their website. The admission fee for their ice village is only
500¥ or $6! Thrill-seekers eager to try winter sports and other activities can check prices here.
There’s many options to choose from no matter your budget – so you can have a magical holiday without breaking the bank.
Address: Nakatomamu, Shimukappu, Yufutsu District, Hokkaido 079-2204, Japan
Check-In & Check-Out: 15:00pm to 11:00am
Website: Hoshino Resorts Tomamu
Featured image from Instagram.
Drop us your email so you won't miss the latest news.
