Stardust Village Hossho

Right beside a peaceful mountain stream, this was the best rotenburo I've ever seen. The rooms were spacious and clean, and had a kitchen, though there was no cutlery. Breakfast was very good, with a great selection of dishes. My only complaint is that the grill bar's opening hours were too short and seemed random, even though the food was great.

The staff were wonderful, and there are plenty of onsens here. I also loved how close the hotel is to the Mount Mimata hiking trails and Chojobaru Visitor Centre.

The outdoor rotenburo was fantastic, and breakfast came with a great variety of Japanese dishes. The indoor onsens feel old, though. Our room was roomy and decent, and they kindly arranged it to suit both a baby and a senior. Tadewara wetlands are nearby too.

What I’ll remember most is how the staff helped us on an icy night. It had snowed and the place looked beautiful, but our car kept sliding on the road. I left it and walked back to reception, thinking I might have to wait until afternoon for things to thaw. The senior manager immediately brought a colleague, took us to the car, then drove it down the mountain past the icy stretch. He let us get back in and waved us on. Such a kind thing to do. Our apartment had a mountain view, two single beds in one room, tatami in another, and a living area with a small kitchenette. Both the indoor and outdoor onsens were good. We had sukiyaki brought to the apartment. It was a little pricey, but tasty.