Satowatariyado Furusato

The owner was kind and came out to help with parking and show me around. I was glad to get an inexpensive stay over Golden Week at this guesthouse in northern Iwate, which dates back to the ski boom. It seems like a place worth supporting. Meals are included and make it good value, and Shirakaba no Yu is just a 10-minute drive away with a great hot spring. I've heard it only gets hot two or three days a year. I did wonder if the room price might be a little high, since the facilities aren't especially good. There's no body soap in the men's bath, lol, and the rooms don't have a kettle or refrigerator. I'm posting lots of photos on the owner's behalf since he's not very internet-savvy.

We stayed here for skiing during a blizzard. By morning, the snow around our car had been cleared perfectly, so we could get on our way without trouble. The meals were generous for the price and left us very satisfied, though the portions might be a bit much for women. On our second day, only two lifts at Appi Kogen were running because of the blizzard, which was disappointing. The staff kindly suggested another ski resort. Thanks for being so helpful. We'd like to stay here again!

We came as a family of four and booked a plan without meals. As others have said, the toilet and bath are shared, and you have to make up your own bedding. For the price, though, that didn't bother us at all. It seems like a lodge mainly set up for skiers. Seeing the dining table being laid out made me feel like having a bite, and it got me thinking that an overnight ski trip to Appi might be nice after a long break.

The food was tasty and filling. Cats wandered around, which is great if you like them, as I do, but could be a problem if you don't. Maybe I was given the wrong room, but during ski season it was so cold that I spent the whole time in bed.