Ontake Kyukamura

The staff made this place feel homey, like I'd been staying there for ten years. The service isn't at luxury hotel level, but the hospitality was a real standout. They also offer a little tourist information. There's a hot spring a short drive away, and while having your own car is preferable, a shuttle bus makes getting there easy. The location is fantastic, especially during autumn leaves season. Mt. Ontake is a rare standalone mountain and looks beautiful. The hotel has a retro Showa-era feel at its foot, with Japanese-style rooms like a traditional inn and a spacious, lovely garden where you can just relax. Highly recommended.

My room didn't have a toilet, but it was roomy and warm, with a wide view over the snowy promenade. The inn's bath isn't a hot spring, though I was glad it was open in the morning. The meals were reasonably priced and the kaiseki-style cooking was decent. They also served trout bone sake and local sake. I stayed at the end of the year to ski at Ontake Ski Resort. I called ahead to pick up a lift discount ticket before going to the slopes, about a 5-10-minute drive uphill. There was no shuttle to the ski area, but a timed shuttle to a nearby hot spring was handy after skiing. For multi-night stays, it's a good idea to leave sheets and cups outside the room to be changed. The staff were efficient and helpful, and I appreciated being able to buy Hino Pharmaceutical Hyakusomaru and throat lozenges at the convenience store.

I stayed here while using Ontake Ski Resort, and had visited before as well. The room we got was clean, and the bath was pleasant, so this seemed like the best place to stay around Ontake Ski Resort. The hall staff seemed polite and flexible, and left a really good impression. My one disappointment was that the dining room staff's service seemed to vary depending on who was working.

The quiet here was incredible. I could hear a ringing in my ears because there was so little sound, and coming from the constant bustle of Osaka, that silence felt like pure bliss. It was such a surprise to find this place so amazing. The sacred tablets along the way were a new experience for me as someone from Kyoto. Birch trees and the universe felt unbelievably close here. Best of all. I hope to carry some of that energy with me and do my best again tomorrow, back in all that noise. It really is a wonderful place.