Maruni Ryokan

I'd give this place six stars if I could. We chose it even though it was farther from ski school, and I'm so glad we did. They really look after you here, with old-fashioned hospitality. We'll be back! Shino-san replied promptly to all my questions. When the booking sites only showed rooms for two and we needed one for three, I emailed and they found us an extra room after someone cancelled. They also suggested good restaurants and honestly told us we might want to choose another hotel closer to Goryu. That kind of openness meant a lot. Breakfast was great, and starting at 7 meant we could reach the ski resorts earlier. The room was spacious, even with my parents' five suitcases. There was a real hot spring onsen on site that never felt too crowded, an elevator, and a large, good dry room for equipment. The place was close to buses and shuttles, and right next to Woody rental. They went above and beyond for us. My mum doesn't speak English and asked for a sewing kit when the duffle bag zipper broke. They took the bag and actually replaced the zipper. On our last day we couldn't get a taxi, so they drove us for a small fee and helped load all our suitcases. Even their 75-year-old uncle was still clearing the low roof at night. A couple of things could be better: the Wi-Fi isn't great, though you're here to ski, and it would've been nice to have conditioner in the onsen. Bring your own toothpaste and body lotion too, since the heating makes things quite dry.

The family, spanning three generations, were all kind and polite, and they made our stay pleasant. This was my second ski season at the ryokan, and it was another perfect visit. Breakfast was delicious every morning, with a generous spread prepared for each person. The rooms were very clean and comfortable, with hot water showers, heaters and cozy beds. Thank you!

We stayed at Maruni for four nights during the 24-25 ski season and were very comfortable. The family put a lot of effort into making the visit pleasant, and communication in simple English worked fine, with Google Translate there to help. They even gave us a ride to snow peak hakuba so we could catch our bus out of Hakuba. Breakfast was hearty every morning, with no repeated dishes, and kept us fueled for the slopes. After skiing, we could unwind in the natural onsen in the building. Getting around was straightforward too. From JR Hakuba station, the Hakuba Shuttle drops you at Happo Bus Terminal, then it's a short walk. For Happo One, the free Happo Shuttle Bus can be caught at the closer “Mount” station outside Woody Rental, which is easy to miss. Iwatake is reachable on the Hakuba Shuttle from Happo Bus Terminal. It was a great stay, and we'd consider Maruni again for our next Hakuba trip.

We stayed with our children, aged 6 and 9, and the family were gracious and accommodating with all of us. They made us very comfortable, and we really enjoyed the food, including breakfast and dinner one night. Before we arrived, they helped us plan by email, suggested a local soba eatery and gave us a few rides during our stay, including a pickup from the Hakuba train station. We visited in spring, and I hope we can stay with them again in the height of ski season. It was probably the most enjoyable hotel stay I've had anywhere in the world.