Laxa-Pangilinan, Belo-Kho Families Have A White Christmas In This Famed Asian Ski Town

After almost three years since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020, Japan opened its borders to foreign independent tourists in late 2022.

Among those who took the opportunity to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun are these celebrity families who opted for a white Christmas in the famous ski town of Niseko:

Belo-Kho Family

Celebrity doctors Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho, and their daughter Scarlet Snow's Niseko experience is best expressed in a post on the 7-year-old's Instagram account that the couple jointly manage.

The caption reads this way, from the Scarlet's point of view: "I’m so grateful for the Christmas season and for this Christmas vacation with my whole family."

Whole family meant having Vicki's children from her previous marriage: Cristalle Henares-Pitt and Quark Henares. Plus Cristalle's husband Justin Pitt and their kids Hunter and Siena, as well as Quark's wife Bianca Yuzon. They were also joined by Cristalle and Quark's father Atom Henares, the ex-husband of Vicki.

Scarlet, along with her parents, lost not time hitting the fine snow for some skiing.

Scarlet also had her yaya Anita Almedilla with her, saying in a post that they're on their 20th travel together.

Mother and daughter took a time off from skiing to try the natural hot spring, which is called onsen in Japan.

Laxa-Pangilinan Family

Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan had a "blessed" Christmas celebration with their kids Donny, Hannah, Benjamin, Ella, and Solana in Niseko. They even survived having their family portrait in the "thick of winter" wearing just their colorful sweaters and plain pants.

Maricel, who, according to one of her posts, used to ski in her youth, but now admitted feeling "rusty" and just let the kids enjoy it for her.

And they did, all five of them, as Donny says in his post.

Maricel herself found another adventure.

Uy-Racaza Family

Fashion stylist Liz Uy, her businessman-husband Raymond Racaza, and their kids Xavi and Matias enjoy their time at the winter wonderland.

Niseko 101

Here's what you should know about this Japanese ski town, according to Niseko Tourism:

1. Niseko is situated on the northern island prefecture of Hokkaido. It takes a two-hour drive to get to Hokkaido's largest city, which is Sapporo.

2. Niseko can be visited all-year round, but the best time to experience the "world’s best powder snow" is throughout winter.

3. There are several festivals to check out in Niseko that celebrate either its environmental wonders or rich culture.

4. Niseko is home to some of the unique and exquisite fauna (Brown bear, Ezo red fox, Raccoon Dog, Japanese Marten, Eurasian red squirrel) and flora (painted maple, Ezo spruce, bamboo grass, cowberry).

Read here on how a Pinoy family toured Japan in a van.