Niseko, JAPAN Located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, Niseko has built a global reputation for its light, dry powder that averages around 50 feet per season. Here, night skiing is a local favorite pastime. “It’s truly otherworldly—fresh snow under soft floodlights, near-empty slopes, and a deep winter quiet that few places can replicate,” says Audrey Khong, chief marketing officer of H2 Christie’s International Real Estate in Hokkaido. But Niseko isn’t just about the snow. It’s also about après ski traditions like soaking in the onsens (natural hot springs) tucked into mountainsides. It’s about the food: fresh uni and sashimi, ramen bowls savored in steamy village huts, and post-mountain sake tastings. And it’s about the festivities. For a taste of regional culture, Khong suggests timing your trip around a winter event like the Sapporo Snow Festival, famous for its jaw-dropping snow and ice sculptures.
It’s truly otherworldly — fresh snow under soft floodlights, near-empty slopes, and a deep winter quiet that few places can replicate.” — AUDREY KHONG, H2 CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONALREAL ESTATE IN HOKKAIDO
Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITALY Known for its cinematic scenery and quiet luxury appeal, Cortina d’Ampezzo is the crown jewel of the Dolomites, a UNESCO world heritage site in Italy’s Southern Limestone Alps. With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to return here for the first time since 1956, the town is experiencing a renaissance. By day, skiers explore some of Italy’s most celebrated slopes. After dark, Cortina shines in its understated way: lantern-lit forest walks, sled rides under the stars, and dinners in mountain huts accessible only by snowcat. “One of the most enchanting—and often overlooked—experiences in Cortina is a moonlit walk through snow-covered woods beneath a sky full of stars,” says Alexander Benedetti, CEO of local firm Benedetti Christie’s International Real Estate. “This is Cortina at its most magical: simple, pure, and deeply moving.”
80 // ASPIRE ON THE SHORE
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