Hunters Gate

The BBQ and breakfast were both delicious, and our Sunday morning scramble up the mountain right outside Hunters Gate turned into a great, muddy adventure. The lodge is ideally placed amid Nagano’s beautiful outdoors for all-season activities. We stayed with our family and dog on a rainy June night, and all of us had a great time. Hunters Gate has been recently renovated and feels friendly, spacious, clean, and well equipped. My kids loved the table tennis, the big shared room with its large TV, movies, and Wi-Fi, and their clean, modern room with two comfortable beds. My wife, youngest son, and I slept really well on the soft futons in one of the large tatami rooms. I’d highly recommend Hunters Gate to families and outdoor lovers looking for affordable accommodation with welcoming hosts. Thanks, Sam and Lianne.

In winter, Hunter's Gate is especially great. It sits on the mountain beside Togari Onsen Ski Resort, and when there’s enough snow you can ski right to and from the building. There’s also a path from the resort back to Hunter's Gate at the end of the day. The recently renovated building has fantastic rooms in both Western style with carpet and Japanese tatami. The main gathering area is spacious enough to host live music, which makes it a great place for group activities. The caretakers are native English speakers and easygoing. Arranging a group stay was fairly simple, and they know the Iiyama-Nozawa area well, with plenty of ideas for food and things to do off the mountain.

The owners are welcoming and warm, and the house is cozy and well located. They also make an effort to be eco-friendly, with limited plastic use and recycled pellets for the stove.

A clean, comfortable lodge with ski-in, ski-out access. The owners are knowledgeable and helpful, and friendly in both English and Japanese.