Villa Antelope Hakuba

We came away feeling very happy with our choice and would definitely return. The area and house are beautiful, and we even spotted snow monkeys while we were there, a nice bonus. Toru was helpful before and throughout our stay. He also stopped by to check that everything was all right. Parking was plentiful and easy for us. The place is thoughtfully set up for ski or bike trips, with entry and gear storage on a raised level, bedrooms and a bathroom downstairs, and plenty of extra storage. Upstairs, the open living and kitchen area leads to a balcony. The kitchen was better equipped than we expected, and the laundry room had modern washer-dryers and space to dry things, which made wet clothes easy to manage. The furniture and equipment throughout were high quality and well cared for. Rooms had heaters for cold weather and air conditioning for summer. The TV had both Japanese and English apps, and the house and local-area instructions were available in both languages, which helped us a lot.

Yuki really made things easy for us. She picked us up when we arrived in Hakuba, drove us to the slopes each morning, and helped arrange things like a snowmobile. Traveling with my two energetic young nephews can be a lot, but she went out of her way to make the stay enjoyable and comfortable. Her English is excellent. The cabin was spotless and cozy, a great place to come back to after skiing. The bed was so comfortable that getting up was tough. Around the area we found plenty of places to eat, from ramen and tacos to teppanyaki, Western food and English breakfasts, plus some very good hot chocolate. Nearby convenience stores had the essentials, groceries, souvenirs, alcohol, cigarettes and electrical items. Would I come back? Absolutely.

We only had one night at Antelope, and by the end we were wishing we'd booked longer. Our family of five had plenty of room to unwind, and the kids were happy with the fast Wi-Fi. We even joked that we wanted to move in. We visited during cherry blossoms with snow still on the mountains, and I'd like to come back for a week in summer or during winter sports season. The house is new, bright, and full of wood, with a clean, comfortable feel. Beds were cozy, and maybe the calming wood scent helped us all sleep well. We also enjoyed a relaxed soak in the stylish tub. The practical details worked well for a family stay. There's a good-sized fridge and an easy-to-use, well-equipped kitchen. A supermarket is about a five-minute drive away, while restaurants, cafes, and a bakery are walkable. Toilets and showers are on both floors, and the washing machine has plenty of room nearby to dry clothes. The entrance hall is roomy enough for a big group to get ski gear and snowshoes on and off without crowding.

We had such a comfortable two nights and three days that we wished we could have stayed longer. The house is in a quiet spot surrounded by nature, with restaurants you can walk to and more shops and attractions a short drive away. We were two families, but having a washroom, shower, and toilet on each floor meant we could use everything without getting in each other's way. There was also a bathtub downstairs, and upstairs we found a drum-style washer, a place to dry clothes indoors, and a heater, which made doing laundry during the trip easy. Everything was clean and well looked after. The kitchen had the basics and more, including a coffee machine, kettle, roomy fridge, microwave, toaster, dishwasher, cookware, and dishes, so it felt like home. The stair edges and other corners were rounded, which felt safer for the little kids.