Hakuba House

We brought our one-year-old, and Grant, the owner, even brought over a high chair and toys from his home. The team couldn’t have been more accommodating. There’s a warm family feel, the staff are friendly and all speak English, and the rooms are a very good size. The lounge and bar make a nice place to relax after skiing. Free transfers are available for dinner reservations and transport connections. Breakfast has hot and cold options every day, and the Friday kimchi hot pot is a must. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else in Hakuba.

I’ve just stayed at HH for the second time, and the team again added a lot to a great trip. I’d seen some older reviews, but whatever problems people felt there had been years ago, Grant and the team seem to have put in the work to make stays good. They picked us up and dropped us off at the station, and also drove us to dinner, a welcome bonus at -15 degrees. Breakfast is great, with muesli, toast, bacon and eggs, and a handy coffee machine. The bar is friendly, and pool is a good way to meet other guests. This year the kitchen also had tasty in-house food, just right after a long day when you don’t want to head out. Depending on how busy things are, you might get to ski or ride with staff who know some nice local spots. You can ski in and out through the trees, otherwise the lifts are a short walk away. Buses to other resorts are similar. Rooms are perfectly fine, and the bathrooms are cozy, which is standard for Japan. It’s an easy place to stay. If you’re friendly, you’ll likely leave with new friends and no reason not to enjoy yourself. The lodge is solid and comfortable rather than luxurious, and the prices aren’t luxury prices either.

The lodge has plenty of space for ski and snowboard gear in a heated room, including an area for waxing and servicing, and there’s a washing machine and dryer. After skiing, the common rooms offer sofas, a bar and pool table, plus a separate large TV and video-game room. Our group included friends, couples and families with kids from different countries, which gave the place a special atmosphere. The whole lodge was clean to a very good standard, and our comfortable room was well heated and kept out the cold. Hakuba House is family-run and close to the Happo-one lift, under a 10-minute walk, as well as free shuttles to other resorts. The area has great tree runs and backcountry, and some of our best runs ended at the lodge. Staff gave us helpful advice on where and when to go. Restaurants and bars are walkable, with more options a short taxi ride away or accessible by the lodge minibus if arranged with staff. There’s a public onsen right next door and a private one less than 15 minutes away with pickup. Getting to Hakuba from Tokyo was easy by airport bus or bullet train from Tokyo main station, and the lodge pickup and drop-off made handling luggage and gear simple. The price for what you get is excellent. Staff were friendly, always around and quick to sort out what we needed. Breakfast runs from 7 to 8:30 each morning, useful both when we wanted an early start and when we took it slower. Snacks, drinks and dinner are available if you prefer to stay in. We’d definitely stay at Hakuba House again and recommend it without hesitation.

We were the first guests of the season when my partner and I stayed at hakuba house in late 2015 during our Japan travels. Grant and his staff did everything they could to make us comfortable. The facilities were the best we’d had in Japan, and the atmosphere made the stay a highlight of our trip. We’ll definitely stay here on our next Japan trip.