Komatsuya Seki Onsen

The place is close to the snow, but far from everything else. In winter it's too cold to walk out for dinner, and there isn't much nearby if you want Japanese food. You end up relying on the owner or staff for lifts. They're kind to offer, but it's awkward having to ask when you want to go and be picked up. Maybe some people like that arrangement. Myoko Kogen has lots of Australians, plenty of them drunk. Is it turning into the winter version of Kuta? There aren't enough restaurants for the number of people, and even trying to book is stressful. It seems to depend on who you know, or whether your hotel owner can connect you to a place. The owner seems nice, and the hotel is close to the snow, but for the prices they charge we felt ripped off. Breakfast was a boiled egg and a small handful of grated cabbage, called a hearty meal, because they couldn't offer me a Japanese option like rice, vegetables, fish or miso. The set Western breakfast was communal cereal from a big container, eggs, white bread, fried sausages and one coffee per guest. At around 45,000 yen a night, there wasn't instant coffee or any other kind in the guest room or sitting area. Guests are entitled to one free coffee a day with breakfast. What? It's so disappointing and stingy. At night, the staff sat down together for a beautiful meal cooked by a chef, with real care put into making it delicious and interesting. Why couldn't the chef look after guests paying around 40,000-50,000 yen a night? It felt mean. Staff from Australia, America, England and elsewhere were on working holidays. They'd walk past guests without greeting them, including in the morning, or welcoming them to breakfast or asking if they could be served. You had to get their attention. After travelling around Japan and receiving warm, polite hospitality, being hosted by sullen teens was unpleasant and disappointing. It's very un-Japanese-style service. The staff need to acknowledge and welcome guests and actually want to help. Why isn't the owner employing Japanese people to bring some Japanese hospitality to this western-run and staffed hotel in Japan?