Ork Hirugano

We had a great family holiday at Ork with two adults and two children. The main snow parks are about a 20-minute drive away, so we could choose which one to visit based on the snow conditions.

It turned out to be mid-winter in late April, though we'd expected early spring, and the cabins looked gorgeous covered in snow. They're spacious and tucked away somewhere peaceful. We'd happily stay again in summer, or come back better equipped for winter. The location is remote, so you need to drive into the small town for things. The local shop had what we needed, but there isn't much around and a lot was closed in the off-season. International visitors should have a way to make phone calls, since staff are often out and you may need to call if no one is at reception. The staff were kind and accommodating despite our limited Japanese, with Google Translate helping us along. The heaters and hot water worked well, the bedding was warm, and we got used to the Japanese-style pillows after a bit. The kitchen had enough utensils for cooking. We saw just one stink bug during the whole stay, and they have a pretty neat written procedure with tools for dealing with them.

The cottage was kept in good shape, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the food was tasty, although the sukiyaki was a little too salty. There were a few problems with the house: no central heating, so some areas got really cold; nowhere to hang clothes; and no mirror apart from the one in the ground-floor bathroom. There was no handrail on the stairs, and my child fell down a few steps. I also found a stain on one bedsheet, probably a footprint. :(

A really good place, though it gets a little cold downstairs.