Pension Mr Charlie Brown

The food alone makes this feel like a worthwhile ski lodge. Dinners are generous, with proper steaks and beef stew full of meat on my previous visits, rather than the cold hamburgers and omelets often served at ski lodges. Breakfast is freshly made too, and I got warm scrambled eggs. Warm breakfast is unusual at the cheap ski lodges I'm used to. The guesthouse is about 3 km from the ski resort, so you'll need a car to get there. There's parking across the road, which makes it fairly easy. The place is old-fashioned, but very clean, and I think it's a good fit if you appreciate that sort of charm.

The owner was kind and straightforward, and we were grateful that he gave us a ride and covered the bus fare when the Norikura shuttle bus was canceled. My wife and I stayed on July 27 during a typhoon. For a mountain lodge, the accommodation was perfectly adequate, though average for Norikura. The dinner was delicious, especially with jazz playing, and that made for a memorable evening. I wanted to give five stars. I hope the owner can keep going for a long time.

The inn had a nostalgic atmosphere, and the owner was friendly. When a misunderstanding led me to say something a little presumptuous, he laughed it off and forgave me. Sorry about that. Checkout can be at any time, so you can spend a while relaxing, then head to the hot springs to ease the fatigue before getting outdoors early the next morning. I'd like to stay again in winter. The food was delicious, too.

It's a Western-style guesthouse, and I imagine it mainly caters to the ski season. I don't have any complaints, though it's a shame there are no children's meal options or prices.