Lodge Ikedaya

We came to ski together for the first time with an old school friend. The reasonable price made me wonder what to expect, but the older building has a lovely retro feel. Everything was comfortable: the rooms and bedding were clean, the toilets and other facilities were well looked after, and the staff were very friendly. The meals weren't fancy, but breakfast and dinner were tasty and filling. We kept going back for coffee in the first-floor hall, where there was a wood-burning stove and fresh coffee available all the time. The landlady was very welcoming. She mentioned she's getting older and isn't sure how long she'll keep running the place, but I'd definitely like to return if I get the chance.

The staff were so warm and friendly, and both the room and bedding in the log cabin were very clean. The grounds were spacious too. A hot spring was only about a 30-second walk away. Even in midsummer, the air was cool and the surroundings were fantastic. Thanks for taking such good care of us. I'd love to come back in winter to ski.

Iwatake Ski Resort is right across the parking lot, and Iwatake no Yu is just a one-minute walk away. There's a drying room too. We did see a few stink bugs, but that would've been fine.

I came back this time while returning from Cortina, and seeing that magnificent building again made me want to visit next time too, before I'm no longer able to ski. This is a guesthouse I'm really grateful to. I hadn't been here for decades, and the routes to Nozawa Onsen, Myoko Onsen, and the ski resorts have changed so much that I stopped going to Iwatake.