Base Camp The Lodge

The staff made our third trip to Japan and the snowfields a memorable one. Management were friendly and went out of their way to meet our requests. Our rooms were well equipped, the beds were super comfortable, and the chef served delicious meals. We’re already planning another visit and have no doubt we’ll stay at Base Camp again.

The hosts were always friendly and ready to help, going out of their way for us throughout our six-night ski holiday with four others. Getting around was easy, with rides to Akakura town and the ski areas, including Akakura Kanko and Onsen resorts, plus nearby mountains such as Suginaharo. Some farther destinations had a small transport charge, but the flexibility was well worth it. The lodge had comfortable bedrooms, clean bathrooms, and a large drying room. Each morning’s breakfast included a hot option, just right before skiing. We had an excellent stay.

Myoko itself is a great place, but this lodge made our holiday stressful. My wife and I booked a Delux Queen Room in January, and it was easily the worst accommodation we’ve stayed in. The room was sold as private, but its door wouldn’t lock. At 2am, a stranger opened it, and we couldn’t identify who it was. Management initially brushed this off and suggested it was probably one of our friends. We were also chastised for using the bathroom after 10pm. After a female friend spoke with management, Branden approached her the next day and said he would “do many things to her” if he’d been awake that night. That worried us especially because our room doors couldn’t be locked. The menu prices at the bar weren’t accurate. Some drinks cost up to 60% more than listed, despite our checking prices with Branden on arrival. Another staff member said the drinks menu was outdated and should have been changed, but hadn’t been. When we raised the bill on our last day, we were told the difference depended on the sake type. The receipts didn’t say which type we’d been served, and another staff member gave a different explanation, saying it depended on the sake container. We also asked to buy a bottle of sake on the first day, but each day they tried to charge us more. They suggested an extra bottle fee, which seemed fair to us, plus 200 yen for every 300ml we drank. The food was decent but portions were small. Breakfast was listed for 7am but consistently came out at 8, which disrupted our transport plans. We had one dinner there, and it was passable. At that price, there are better meals in town. Several listed facilities, including table tennis and an onsen, are in the basement, where the heating is inadequate and made them unusable for us. Shower access is limited to a few hours a day, and the three showers shared by the whole lodge had weak pressure and poor temperature control. After the first day, we used nearby onsens instead. The lodge is substandard at best, and at this price there are easily better value places to stay. The poor hospitality and other problems can ruin an otherwise good snowboarding trip.

Seven trips to Myoko and two stays at Base Camp, and I wouldn't choose anywhere else. Great staff, especially Jemma, Brendon n danial, who looked after everything we needed day and night. The bar is well stocked, and after a big day the mattress was the best thing ever.