Shakespeare Hotel

The place was clean, and the front desk staff were very nice, with most speaking English. It’s close to the Echoland Spicy bus stop and offers plenty of nearby restaurant choices, though you still need reservations. We chose it partly because of the reviews, but were surprised that the hotel didn’t feel as cosy, comfortable or spacious as they suggested. The rooms are worn and rustic, with no dresser or shelves, so you’re living out of a suitcase. There’s nowhere to hang towels, and the bathroom is tiny. The shower uses a hose attached to the sink tap, so you have to turn on the tap and set the temperature before getting into the tub. The sink leaks, and each room has a bucket underneath to catch water, which also serves as the trash can. Heat shuts off when you leave, so after skiing the room was around 5-10C and took 3-4 hours to warm back up. It barely feels a step above a hostel. Breakfast was very basic, with noodles or rice, wieners, runny eggs, salad and instant coffee. The toaster barely worked, so people lined up to run bread through at least twice. Several people in our group had upset stomachs on multiple days after breakfast.

Maria and the reception crew, Rielza, Putra and Sam, gave us a lovely welcome and excellent service. The hotel has drying space, comfortable lounges, guest laundry and a basic kitchen setup. Our rowdy group also ate at Kin Kitchen, where Lexie and Sophie looked after us really well. Rooms are simple and sweet, with cosy, comfortable beds. It’s handy for the mountains and has a great choice of places to eat nearby. I’d recommend this charming little hotel for families, couples or small groups of friends. It’s popular, so book early.

The front desk staff were pleasant and spoke English, and the hotel sits near a wide choice of restaurants and the Echoland Spicy bus stop. But the rooms were small, old and run down. Our sink was cracked and rusty, with a bucket underneath for leaks, and there were no dressers, so we had to live from our suitcases all week. The washroom felt like one on a small boat. We arrived to freezing rooms, and there were no heated toilet seats, something we’d found everywhere else in Japan, including public parks, bus terminals and train stations. Breakfast was always cold when it was meant to be hot, and they kept running out of coffee despite knowing a large group had checked in. They weren’t prepared for our numbers. It felt only a little better than a hostel, and I’d say it suits people in their 20s.

It isn’t a modern place, but it was comfortable enough for our needs. We had a good bed and a long, hot shower after skiing, and everyone on staff was very friendly. The location was the big plus for us with a Hakuba all-mountain pass: bus services are just 50 metres away, or there’s an easy walk to the Spicy bus stop. I’d definitely recommend it for that.