Berjaya Hakkoda Ski Resort

There’s very little around the hotel: no bars, restaurants, konbini, or gas station. The hotel itself is fine, but don’t expect a resort or a resort town. Calling it a “ski resort” is misleading. It’s a small three-star hotel with no direct connection to the tiny ski area next door, which has an antiquated two-seat chairlift, four trails, and 200m of vertical. The Ropeway is a sightseeing gondola for the mountain, not a ski resort either. There’s no ski resort operation here.

The place feels dated, and the snowplow was noisy in the morning. We had Japanese meals for dinner and breakfast, with rice refills included. Take care driving up, since the mountain road is covered in snow.

Breakfast and dinner were a lovely surprise, with delicious seasonal local produce. We got snowed in during the off-season, but the scenery around the resort was achingly beautiful. I can only imagine how it looks later in winter under a thicker blanket of snow. The staff made our stay in Aomori especially memorable. One hotel staff member also served our meals and was unbelievably kind, going out of his way to help us. He handled our early, last-minute check-in with a smile, then helped clear the snow off our car as we were leaving. We felt so warmly cared for throughout the stay. We had a wonderful time at the Hakkoda Ski Resort, and I’m very grateful.

The facilities have a warm, welcoming feel, and though they’re quite old, they’re clean. The staff were kind and helpful, and the hotel is very well placed for the ropeway. Breakfast and dinner were nice too.