Hakuba Glorious

The tatami rooms had plenty of space, but their en-suite toilets didn’t have bidets. The public baths were small, and there’s a required onsen tax for every guest, for every night, whether you use the bath or not. It’s not a huge amount, but during ski season I think it should have been part of the booking cost instead of being charged at check-in. There are no private shower stalls, which can be inconvenient for women who are menstruating. Private en-suite bath rooms exist, but they were already fully booked. Reception was a frustrating experience. The two attendants spoke little English and didn’t seem very willing to help, so even basic questions or requests took effort. There’s no housekeeping for stays under five nights, though you can arrange it for 5000¥. There are no laundry machines or laundry service either. The receptionist said the nearest laundry service was about 30 minutes away, which isn’t ideal for a week of skiing. The rooms are on the second and third floors, and there’s no elevator, so you have to carry your own luggage upstairs. That could be difficult for families with young children or older guests.

The rooms are decent by Japanese standards, and there’s a heated gear room downstairs with locks for skis. The hotel is right in the heart of happo, a short walk from the lifts, with plenty of places to eat and things to do après-ski. Staff are friendly and make good use of Google Translate, though their English isn’t strong. Rooms are cleaned only once during a stay, and there’s no lift, so reaching the top floor means climbing two short flights of stairs. It wasn’t a big problem for us.

The staff were really lovely, and our room was clean and tidy. Noise from outside came through a lot, so light sleepers may have a hard time. There are only public onsens and no showers in the rooms. Also, there’s no elevator, which could be a problem if stairs are difficult for you.

The hotel has an onsen, though I wished it were a little hotter. There’s no hotel shuttle, so you’ll need to rely on other transport. Staff were very helpful. For winter, the location works well, close to the main bus terminal, Rhythm rentals, and plenty of other places to eat. There’s a restaurant for dinner too, but remember to reserve.