Hotel Soboku

I come back to this hotel every year. The room is top quality, and having a private sauna is amazing. Restaurants and fresh fish markets are within walking distance, it’s about a 10-minute drive to the city side, and the snow resorts are a reasonable drive away. The staff were especially helpful when I had an unexpected problem, calling and communicating for me in Japanese.

We loved being able to cook in the room, then unwind in our own sauna after snowboarding. The beds were really comfortable, and the rooms felt like home. This is the best ski hotel we’ve stayed at.

Soshi and everyone on the staff were fantastic. The rooms feel brand new, stay very clean, and are always comfortable. 12/10, I can’t recommend this place enough.

That note from the staff about “simple happiness” stayed with me. I really did notice little things that usually go past me and felt happy. The room had everything we needed to unwind: it was spacious and very clean, with a private sauna, an outdoor seating area, a projector, and a Yogibo beanbag chair. Outside, the quiet setting made it lovely to relax while looking at the stars and listening to insects. There wasn’t much close by beyond a roadside station and convenience store, but that was enough for us. We had shabu-shabu for dinner, and all the ingredients were delicious. The portions were generous too, so we were very satisfied. It may be a long way from Chuetsu and Kaetsu in Niigata Prefecture, but I’d definitely stay here again if I return to Niigata.