Hotel Myosen

The short walk to shops, restaurants and the ski lift made getting around easy, and the drying room and onsen made our days doing snow sports much more enjoyable. We stayed with our two family groups, including children, and found the place good value compared with a lot of other accommodation in the area. The rooms are simple but very clean. Staff were exceptionally friendly, helpful and accommodating the whole time. We'd definitely come back.

The manager was really friendly and helpful, and even came partying with us at the local jam night. We had a great room, 206, with a view (see photo). Happy as.

I wouldn't recommend this hotel for families. We paid a lot for a family room with an ensuite, but the room was very basic, with two holes in the wall, no fridge, and hardly any storage for clothes or luggage. The common areas, including the breakfast dining room, weren't heated. Breakfast cost $15 per person and was very ordinary: cold porridge and broccoli, with too little scrambled egg, bacon, milk and juice. The laundry had no dryer, only airers in the rooms. The website said there were discounted lift ticket vouchers, but Nick told us it hadn't been updated since COVID. He also said we'd be told which day our room would be serviced during our 11-night stay. That never happened. The room was serviced once, and we had to ask several times for extra shower gel, toilet paper and tissues. The restaurant menu advertised dinner, but two days into our stay a sign went up saying dinner was closed. Nick came across as unprofessional and lacking in customer service. He didn't know the village or its restaurants and facilities well. He couldn't tell us where the Myoko Shuttle left from, didn't know lift tickets can't be bought from rental shops unless you're renting snow gear from them, and hadn't heard about a new traditional Japanese restaurant that had opened three days before we arrived. I overheard him complaining to staff about a guest who hadn't booked hotel parking. He seemed much more concerned with guests wearing slippers inside, keeping doors shut against cold draughts, and following house rules.

The owner who handles reception was very nice, and the onsen felt great after a day on the slopes. We stayed four nights and had a good time. It's at the end of the main street, close to the restaurants and bars, with a short walk to the Akakura ski fields. This isn't a luxury hotel, so check the website and know what to expect. If that suits you, you'll have a great stay.