Ishidaya

I return every year for skiing, especially for the tasty soba and other meals. The hot springs are always at just the right temperature, the rooms are clean, and there's plenty of space in the changing and drying rooms. The prices make it a great-value inn. The parking is a little inconveniently far away, but my husband kindly drives me over and gives me a lift, which makes it easy. Togari is planning to become a resort with a hotel on the slopes, but I'd still like to keep staying at Ishidaya.

The slopes are very close, and there are old-fashioned shops nearby. The slopes and the nearby hot springs have recently been renovated and look beautiful. The inn itself isn't the most fashionable building, but it's tidy and well cared for, with a relaxed, homely feel; the staff are friendly and well-liked. The value is so good I could have ordered more. Dinner's hot pot and soba were outstanding, and I loved the tasty little bamboo shoot dish. The broth was so good I finished with rice porridge and was really impressed. There are a few inconveniences, like parking a little far away, no fridge in the room, and a shared toilet, but they barely matter at such a lovely inn. Younger people might not appreciate what makes this place special. It's been a while since I've found an inn with such warm hospitality, and I'll definitely come again.

Handmade soba is part of the delicious food, and extras like horse sashimi are reasonably priced. The inn has more rooms than I expected, plus a drying room and hot springs. It's well maintained and felt clean despite its age. I especially liked how easy it was to sort and dispose of the rubbish. The location is excellent, right in the middle of the hot spring town, within walking distance of the ski resort parking lot, with public baths, restaurants, and general stores nearby. The downsides are that the parking is a five-minute walk away, and a shared toilet might be a long walk from some rooms. There's no toilet or running water in the rooms.

For this price, it's a fantastic deal. You can use the natural hot spring, fed directly from its source, 24 hours a day. The meals were simple but really good, and the soba, which is in the inn's name, was superb, both the aroma and the noodles. It's family-run, and they take wonderful care of their guests. It's been a while since I found such a good place to stay with value as my main concern.