The Details
Joey, the Head of Concierge at The Luxe Nomad, stayed at Roku in St. Moritz (Kabayama), Niseko in March 2019.
Roku is a complex of 1- and 2-bedroom deluxe-style apartments outside of Hirafu and with a private shuttle service to the Grand Hirafu lifts and Hirafu Village.
For this review, Joey stayed in a 1-bedroom apartment.
The Vibe
Two words: Exclusivity and Comfort. Roku units are furnished with a sleek, modern Scandinavian design with a beautiful blend of wooden and metallic finishings.
Roku is perfect for city-living folks (like me) who like to avoid crowds while still being close enough to the centre of activities (Hirafu Village).
Read also: International Women’s Day: Joey Woo, Head of Concierge
The Room
We stayed in a one-bedroom unit with a large comfortable King bed. The living area has Apple TV – which we gladly made use of at the end of every night (Netflix!). The kitchen was also very well equipped which really made it feel like home.
Plus, there are heated floors, drying racks right in front of the main entrance, an oven, and even a rice cooker. There is also a storage room for all of our things which went to show how thoughtful the accommodation team was when designing the apartments.
Read also: Beyond the Slopes: 7 things to do in Niseko even if you’re not skiing
The Location
Located in the tranquil St. Moritz (Kabayama) area in Niseko, Roku is a 5-minute drive away from the hustle and bustle of the Hirafu Village. We walked for the most part and found that was a nice way to soak in the serene vibes that St Moritz exudes. This also meant that we felt like we were residents of Niseko, which is a nice touch when you are away on holidays.
There aren’t many places to eat nearby, and when we didn’t feel like walking, there was the complimentary on-demand shuttle service we could call. The shuttle service is a convenient door-to-door option that runs daily from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM. We used this quite often to get around to our dinner spots.
The Service
The service was quite good! Check-in was a breeze as we received an access code before arrival for self-check-in. All the information we needed was provided in the manual prepared on the living room table. Before our arrival too, we liaised with Roku to ensure we received our preferred bedding configuration – we could opt to have either a King or Twin option – and everything was set-up as we had wanted.
Roku also has free arrival and departure transfer to the Hirafu Welcome Centre (as long as details are provided in advance) – which was greatly appreciated since we were lugging around large bags!
Our Favourite Part
Roku made our entire experience feel like home. It was a perfect, comfortable base for us after long days of exploration; with its large comfortable bed, warm lighting, and the heated floors. The complimentary on-demand shuttle service was a great addition to the stay as well.
Rates start at JPY19,600 nett per night
For the best rates and free concierge service, book your stay with The Luxe Nomad here!
