Owashi Lodge - Hostel

The location is hard to beat, about a five-minute walk from Hirafu’s main lifts and five to ten minutes from the supermarket, restaurants, and bars. The staff were a big part of the stay, too. They helped me rent snowboard gear and gave me useful advice about Hirafu and the slopes. Special thanks to Zander and Liv for the great vibes and help. I’d happily stay again.

Breakfast was basic, just toast with jam and butter, eggs, and milk, but it kept us going through the first half of the morning. We had three people in a bunk room, with two sharing the lower bunk and one on top. It was extremely tight, hard to get past one another, with very little room for luggage or ski gear. The bathroom and shower were tiny as well. It seems better suited to younger travelers. There’s no elevator, so you have to carry your luggage and equipment upstairs yourself.

The Grand Hirafu lift is only a few minutes away, which is fantastic, and the drying room is pretty large. Ski and board rental on level 2 is handy, with very reasonable rates at ¥4500 for a one-day set. In late December 2025, a private bunk room for two was ¥20,000 jpy, which is still good value by Niseko standards. The washing machine costs ¥200 jpy and the dryer ¥100 per 30mins. There’s a restaurant and bar downstairs, plus a pool table you can use for free. Keep in mind Owashi lodge no longer has a kitchen in 2025. For heating food, there’s only a hot water jug and microwave, and you’ll need to bring your own cup or plate. Most people come for the powder, so the small imperfections probably won’t bother them.

The location is amazing, and the staff do a great job. The place is good value for what it is, but the rooms could use soundproofing since guests can be noisy and it has a bit of a party-hotel feel. The building and facilities could use an upgrade too.