Kogen Hotel Taizan

The service was excellent, friendly and efficient, and you can tell this is a family business. The location is also excellent. There's a large, warm room for ski gear and a nice little lounge, though it's still dated. The onsen was fantastic and recently refurbished, and they have some rooms with their own recently refurbished onsen too. Our traditional room was spacious, neat and tidy, but it has seen better days. The futon worked fine for me, while others in our group struggled with it. The pillows weren't good, so a couple of pillow choices would help. The restaurant is big and works well for larger groups. Breakfast had a mix of Asian and Western food. This is an older hotel being updated gradually, so modern facilities are still on the way.

The public baths and sauna looked newly maintained and were really nice. The rooms didn't get the same attention. We found visible mould in the shower and on the taps, plus hair in the bed when we arrived. Staff said the room had been cleaned after we raised it, but the mould was still there. We knew Kogen Hotel Taizan was an older place, but our room felt more like an old kids' camp dorm than a proper hotel. The staff were generally friendly, though they didn't seem very understanding about our concerns. For what we paid in peak ski season, I expected much better. We wouldn't return, and in my opinion, I'd look for another hotel.

The room toilet is a bit old, so the public toilets along the hallways are much nicer to use. Still, the service was very nice. There's a cozy lounge on the first floor that not many people seem to know about. The location works well for both skiing and places to eat.

The rooms are old, but they work fine for a short stay of a couple of days. The onsen is really nice for an old building, and the staff are always helpful. Great spot in the middle of the main street, with the lift within walking distance.