ALP Lodge

We had a drink at the bar after skiing and really enjoyed the stay. The staff, Ash, Sally, Kaz and Ayami, were young and friendly. The gondola is about a 2-minute walk away, and Woody rentals is just a minute down the street. You can ask the lodge about discounted ski passes. We stayed over Xmas, though it was still early in the season for ski-in, ski-out access. Our room slept four, with two beds and two futons. It was tiny, as expected for a Japanese lodge, and had a kitchen and toilets on each level, with an en-suite in use.

This was the most disappointing place we stayed on our trip through several cities, and the service was the worst of the whole trip. Because of a mistake on their end, we were put in a room with one twin bed meant for one person, though we were charged for two guests. It was much smaller than the room we had booked, and the final price came to nearly twice the original amount. When we requested the room type we had reserved, they said they had “just run out.” The mistake was theirs, and the way they handled it was extremely frustrating and unprofessional.

Our ski plans were seriously delayed when the car got stuck in the lodge's dirt parking lot. It happened twice, and snow on the unpaved surface made it easy to get bogged down. Neighbors whose cars were stuck too helped us push ours free. When we asked the front desk for help the first time, staff kept saying, “Can’t help you.” My car already had snow tires. The problem was that the lot hadn't been properly cleared and had a soil base. I wasn't asking for a rescue service. At the next hotel, staff offered to help push the car and that was enough to get it out, while here the staff seemed completely indifferent. The response to my complaint has continued to blame us instead of recognizing the problem. That's very disappointing and unacceptable. This was a very bad accommodation experience, and such poor service from a Japanese hotel is hard to believe.

The coffee and the location near Happo One were the main positives. The rooms themselves are very basic and need renovation, and the price felt too high for their condition and the service. The towels were the worst I've ever used, so small and thin that two were barely enough to dry off. I read that rooms were cleaned every third day, but learned after six days that they weren't cleaned unless you hung the “Please Make Up My Room” tag on the door. On checkout day, I asked reception to book a taxi because we don't speak much Japanese. They took down the details and said they'd arrange it, but no taxi came. When I asked that morning, I was told, “I don't know.” It all seemed like too much effort for the staff, and that's only one example. A courtesy bus would be useful, as other lodges and hotels in Hakuba offer one. Disappointed.