Grove Inn Skala

The bed was comfortable, and the male owner seemed friendly. He also helped carry our luggage upstairs to the second floor when we arrived. That was about the extent of the positives for me. This was the most disappointing accommodation I’ve experienced in Japan, and for the price I expected basic standards, not luxury. It fell well short. There was no warning before booking that food wasn’t allowed in the bedroom at all. I think a basic accommodation should at least have a kettle for instant noodles or other simple food that won’t make a mess. Since eating in the room wasn’t allowed, I came back from skiing around 7 PM planning to use the dining area, but the lights were already off and the chairs were blocked off. Where are guests supposed to eat in the evening? The heating is shared by the whole building. If a room is too hot or cold, you have to go downstairs and ask the owner to change it for everyone. There’s no room-by-room temperature control, which is very inconvenient. The hairdryer is shared as well, so you have to borrow it and return it. It seems like a small thing to provide one in each room. Staff members, described as foreign staff, had keys to enter rooms and knocked every morning to ask about cleaning. I had already told them once that I didn’t need cleaning, but they still came in and cleaned while I was out. That left me seriously concerned about safety and privacy. There should be a clear “Do Not Disturb” sign system instead of knocking each morning. There was also no mirror in the bedroom for skincare or makeup, so the only one available was in the bathroom. Breakfast was extremely disappointing: one egg, a very small amount of salad, and a small piece of bread. I’ve visited Japan more than 10 times and have never had such a minimal meal advertised as “breakfast included.” The Wi-Fi was extremely slow, and the mobile signal inside was very weak too. Guests are just left to put up with the poor connection.

I had a lovely 6 night stay at Skala. The hosts were so welcoming and friendly. The lady boss even carried two suitcases up the stairs at once, she was super strong. Their kids were very polite too. If I’m back in Hakuba, I’d stay here again just to see them.

We came for a week of snow and everything about the stay was just right. The staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful, and made us feel at home. Echoland was a short walk away, and the free parking right out front worked perfectly for us. The home cooked breaky was excellent too. This place went beyond what we expected.

We had everything we needed for a ski getaway, including a drying room, laundry, breakfast, and rides to and from the bus and rentals. The staff put a lot of effort into making guests feel welcome. We’ll definitely come back. Couldn’t recommend it enough.