Club Med Sahoro Japan
An all inclusive ski holiday, perfect for families and with no worries. That is what I wanted from Club Med Sahoro on the island of Hokkaido in Japan, and that is what we got. I was so happy with Club Med and our trip and here is why.
From the moment we boarded our bus in Sapporo for the two and a bit hour’s drive to Sahoro, we were looked after.
Our flight from Tokyo arrived quite early so we had time to kill. Luckily Sapporo Chitose airport has a fantastic shopping and restaurant area to while away the hours. I travelled with another two families so there were six adults and six kids in total, all very excited and some visiting the snow for the very first time. I had to hold them back from eating handfuls of snow outside the airport, explaining that with all the fumes from the busses it wouldn’t do them any good! I promised once we arrived at Sahoro they could each as much snow as they liked, however, did caution them against eating “yellow” snow.
On the bus we went, very comfortably for the drive with a rest stop half way along for those needing to use the restrooms. Once we arrived at the resort we were ushered inside and given warm hand towels, hot tea and a rousing welcome from no less than the General Manager himself. From this moment on we would be known as GM’s or Gentile Members. We were promptly given a brief rundown of the evening’s activities and made to feel welcome.
On receiving our keys, up we went to our rooms, with our bags already waiting at the door. Our rooms were spacious with two twin beds pushed together to make a king for the parents, and the kids on futons in a separate room that was partitioned off by sliding paper doors. I was concerned by the small modular bathroom but the kids loved the small but deep shower/bath and I came to realise that a huge bathroom really isn’t necessary. It is customary for Japanese to have a small kitchenette in the rooms so while there were no cooking facilities; there was a small fridge and sink. All in all we were very comfortable and had a great view over the skating rink, where we watched many people slip, slide and fall on the ice under the pretence of having fun. Each room also had a humidifier which I suggested everyone use regularly to stave off dry skin and noses.
All alcohol is included in the ski packages at Club Med Sahoro, so once we settled, off to the bar we went. The adults indulged in their favourite tipples, while the kids worked their way through the “mocktail” menu until they found their favourite one. Coffee is also complimentary and there was nothing better than a warm moccachino after coming in from the cold to warm you up.
Then the exploring began. Off to the kids club first where we despatched ski outfits, boots, skis and all the paraphernalia that ensues when you ski. The kids were excited to look around and meet their GO’s (Gentile Organisers) who would be looking after them. My daughter was happy to find the head GO of her 8-14 kids club was an Aussie girl from country Victoria named Melissa who had a huge personality, and who all the kids adored. She would walk around the resort and you knew where she was as the kids would run to her for high fives and cuddles. Such an asset!
The other families didn’t have their own gear so they went up to the ski service counter where they were expertly and promptly fitted with the latest equipment. It all went so smoothly I was immediately impressed by the welcoming smiles from all the GO’s. I really could not fault any of the staff as all were amazing and couldn’t do enough for you.
Lunch was included on our first day so we made our way to the dining hall where an array of fresh and tasty dishes awaited. The food was amazing, with both Japanese and Western dishes on offer and an outstanding variety of fresh salads and fruits for a lighter option. The home-made bread was a hit and I’m sure the main cause of my weight gain. On second thought it was probably the deserts that actually tasted as good as they looked. Again wine and beer were included with lunch and it was very civilised sitting down to my five star meal with a lovely glass of Chardonnay and watching the snowflakes drifting down through the floor to ceiling windows of the dining room. I very quickly got used to the opulence…now I am working it off, but Ces’t La Vie, as the French say!
It was early afternoon, and the snow beckoned, so out we went with cameras at the ready for some fun and games in the white stuff. For those who hadn’t really seen snow before they had a ball rolling, sliding, trying to make snowballs (impossible as the snow was so dry and powdery), and sledding on a spade down the beginner slope. Walking in the knee deep powder proved a challenge but we were all giggling so hard it didn’t matter if we were getting soaked by snow finding its way in any opening in our outfits.
Next was the pool and the Canadian bath that we had spied while out playing earlier. These were a hit with the kids, especially the outdoor Canadian Bath that they loved jumping out of so they could roll in the snow, before hastily clamouring back in when they realised the temperature was minus 12 degrees Celsius. It was fun sitting in the warm water while your hair was freezing on your head; mowhawks and all manner of spiked hairstyles ensued.
Aperitifs were enjoyed back in the bar before dinner after we had straightened ourselves out, with the anticipation for the following days skiing making the kids a bit skittery. A wonderful meal was followed by the daily evening show.
Many of the GO’s have other talents and the evening shows are based around these. The acrobats were amazing and the shows they put on were certainly world class. The dancers were all so professional and had a fulltime choreographer and costume designer to make sure that everything was first class. We were flabbergasted and came to look forward to our evening entertainment, with a glass of Umeshu (plum wine) in hand. On a couple of nights the kids were invited to perform and they practiced during the day in the kids club between ski lessons. It was fantastic seeing them so excited to get up on stage and did wonders for their confidence.
Ski lessons were included in our package and the instructors were all fantastic. While I didn’t take advantage of the service, my friends and the kids did two lessons a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and very quickly progressed up the beginner ranks. All agreed that it was a fantastic way to learn and get to meet new people at the same time and with the actual mountain of Sahoro being quite small, a good way to work around according to their skill level.
While I didn’t visit the Spa during my stay, we did have a lovely meal at the specialty restaurant “Mina Mina”, and soaked in the single sex Orfuro and Sauna. The kids enjoyed swinging on the trapeze and learning circus skills at the Circus school, and I hit the gym in order to stave off the holiday spread and enjoyed a couple of Salsa classes. A bracing game of squash with my friend was also a good way to get in a bit of extra exercise to compensate for my overindulgences in other areas.
Other activities on offer included ice skating, table tennis, snow trekking, a nail technician and pool tables for a spot of evening billiards. Additional excursions included visiting the Kuttari Onsen (Hot Spring), Lake fishing, a visit to a neighbouring resort Tomamu, snow shoe downhill trips, horseback riding, tree climbing, trekking to Kusami falls and Tomuraushi Hot Springs, and air boarding (like a blow up toboggan).
While I had an amazing time there are a few things that I would be remiss to mention. Firstly, while there is a Boutique that sells ski essentials and Club Med merchandise, the medicinal range is very limited. For this reason I would suggest if planning a trip to Sahoro to take a small but comprehensive medicine cache with you.
This should include Vicks vaporub and cold and flu tables. After all you are in the snow at minus temperatures and it’s not hard to catch a chill, especially if you are jumping in and out of the Canadian bath. Unfortunately, there was a tummy bug going around while we were there, so take cramping tablets, diarrhea medication and some anti bacterial wipes or lotion. If you happen to have anti-inflammatories and pain killers at home, even Ibuprofin, it would be wise to bring a few, just in case. A good moisturiser is also a good idea as your skin quickly dries out in the warm and dry environment within the resort. Spare batteries or hardware for your camera would be wise.
I wouldn’t recommend Sahoro for expert skiiers as I think the terrain, while challenging, is limited as Sahoro is a small mountain. Fantastic for beginners and families though and I think anything up to 10 days is fine. We stayed 12 and it was a couple of days too many. You will need to like routine, as the resort is based firmly on one, and be prepared to say “Hello” to every GO you meet. The only other drawback is that you have to get your kids back out of kids club….it would be nice if they offered an evening service so adults could dine in peace. There is an activity scheduled each night at 7pm, so I guess this takes the place of that but kids still need their dinner before they go on the activity.
I do recommend catching the Club Med transfer from either Sapporo or Obihiro airports as the trains can be problematic and lugging your bags and kids around waiting for connections is not my idea of a great way to end a holiday.
All in all, I would return to Sahoro and am eagerly looking to book my next Club Med trip. We found it exceeded our expectations and the kids had a ball. At the end of the day when you are travelling with a family, every parent knows that if the kids aren’t happy, then no-one is happy!