Guest House Wind Inn Hakuba

The place has a homey feel, and thankfully there was no dusty smell in the room. Our room, 205, had a broken lamp by the genkan. I hope they’ve fixed it by now. There’s a shared kitchen, living room, and toilet. The kitchen has the appliances you need and fridges for food storage. In the bathroom in the room, there wasn’t soap, shampoo, or a toothbrush, but those were available by the sink on the second floor. It’s a decent hotel.

There’s a really welcoming, fun atmosphere, and plenty of drinks to choose from. The mix of traditional Japanese snow lodging and a traditional restaurant works well, and the location is very convenient. The onsen, made from a giant miso tub or barrel, is incredible and makes a visit well worthwhile. The food and staff are absolutely excellent. Great place to eat or stay.

We went to Sushi Katsu Sushi Katsu, the restaurant attached to this guest house in the Iimori area. It’s not very big, so book ahead. Walk-ins were turned away. The ambience, food, and service were great. We ordered their signature pork loin cutlet, California roll, teriyaki chicken roll, tuna sushi, salted grilled chicken wings, and fried dumplings. The pork cutlet and sushi rolls were especially good.

The guest house is just five minutes from an onsen, which was a great bonus. There’s breakfast and coffee in the kitchen, and each room has its own little heater. Our room had comfortable beds and a neat bathroom. The owners and staff were really helpful, and the location was beautiful. It’s close to the slopes and good value for money. We had a fantastic stay and would highly recommend it.