Niseko Ski Lodge

A good spot for a few nights while enjoying the snow, with a convenient location for the main gondola. All rooms are shared and have up to 5 beds. They're clean, though quite small when full. Management is friendly, and courier service is available to and from the Welcome Centre.

I was really disappointed with this booking. I asked about Niseko Ski Lodge through Niseko.cc, and they replied that there was vacancy at “Niskeo Ski Lodge – Lamp Inn”. I assumed Lamp Inn would be at a similar standard to the place described in the Niseko.cc ad, with the facilities listed for Niseko Ski Lodge. Nowhere did they say Lamp Inn was so different from what I understood to be the standard at the actual Niskeo Ski Lodge. It felt like misleading or even false marketing. Lamp Inn was more like seasonaires accommodation, a dirty former private house not suited to hostel business. Most people there also seemed to think they'd booked Niseko Ski Lodge and were surprised and disappointed to find themselves at Lamp Inn. I emailed them but got no answer. My booking never said semi-private room. I'm fine with a shared room, but not sleeping in the living room, which was also the only room with seating. One night it got very noisy. I had to ask people to quiet down or leave, which made me uncomfortable because it was the only social area, but also a bedroom where three people were trying to sleep while others had a small party in the same room. The place was very dirty, especially the bathroom, laundry area, and kitchen. The manager even said they don't clean it. The green light from the emergency exit sign stayed on all night in the “bedroom.” There was no actual toaster. Several people didn't know they could toast bread in the small oven by the stove, and it made things smelly because the frying thing on top was dirty. The kitchen and the room where skis and boots were stored were very cold, so nothing dried. There was nowhere to sit and eat or talk if people were sleeping upstairs, not enough tea or coffee cups for everyone, and not enough breakfast food for all the people staying in the house, over 10. I've stayed in many backpackers and hostels around the world. This type of accommodation can be okay if the price reflects it and it's not marketed as a Lodge. For me this place was very overpriced, dirty, and disappointing. Don't stay here.

If you’re after somewhere quiet, especially with snow around in winter, the setting is lovely. There are plenty of bedrooms to choose from. Communication was okay, though it could have been better.

The other facilities were decent, but the six-bunk room was really cramped. There wasn’t enough room for even one piece of luggage.