Q Fox Black Diamond Hotel

The place was freezing, and water kept leaking into our room. We went through as many as 14 towels trying to protect our things, but the hostel only brought more towels and did nothing else. There was no working heat anywhere, and the windows froze on the inside every day. The dining room was so cold that around 75% of people wore coats and hats. Fresh food was left in the shared room, which I’d guess was under 10°C. Maybe not a food safety issue, but it was a health concern for guests. We’d booked a deluxe family room for five people 11 months ahead and paid in full. Three weeks before our high-season stay, the hotel cancelled it, two weeks after taking payment. After ignoring us for several days, they finally moved us into separate capsule-style rooms in what turned out to be their hostel. We’d paid for a luxury room and got split up in capsules, with no compensation offered. The staff were friendly, but not helpful. They barely spoke three words of bad English, and we couldn’t get any real help. Avoid this place at all costs.

I waited until the end of my month in Japan to write this, and I can honestly say it was my favorite place of the trip. The room had just four capsule beds, which is a lot less than the roughly 20 I usually see. Breakfast was great, there’s a bar, and the guy running the place was really friendly. He even drove me to the bus stop.

A two-minute walk from the shuttle stop, and the hotel also runs free morning shuttles. The capsules were clean and quiet, with comfy beds and a great breakfast. Staff were super friendly, and it felt social if you wanted company but peaceful if you didn’t. Such a bargain for the price. I’d absolutely stay again.

The staff really made this place for me. They were lovely and fun to chat with, helped me book my next two hotels since I don’t speak Japanese, and even suggested foods to try at dinner. They felt like family. Franzelle got karaoke going and has a great voice, and I sang on my last night, which checked something off my bucket list. I traveled solo and had the female capsule room to myself for five of my eight nights, so I can’t say how noisy it gets when it’s full. There’s one shower and one bathroom for four women, plus more bathrooms and showers on the floor. The capsules themselves lock and feel very secure. They’re high tech too, with mood lighting, a reading light, and outlets for charging. Meals were good and changed a bit each night, but I probably wouldn’t prepay dinner for all eight nights again. Breakfast had plenty to choose from, from congee to croissants. Free laundry was a big plus. I didn’t find the common area until my last day, room 202, and I’m not sure anyone used it. If there’s enough snow, you can ski home. Otherwise, it’s a half-mile downhill walk from the bottom of the family lift, or two blocks from the red line shuttle stop. There’s a free shuttle to the Hirafu gondola every 20 minutes in the morning, from 7:45 to 10:05. The shuttle ride felt expensive, 5,000 yen to Kutchan, which is 3.7 miles away, though it was still cheaper than a cab in Japan. I saw a sign saying it’s cheaper to book a room directly. I didn’t try that, but you might want to.