Pension Happy Pads

Getting there with luggage, we found taking a taxi from Myoko Kogen station a good option if travelling with a few friends. It was around 3200 yen, while the bus costs a few hundred per person and then requires a walk of more than 10 minutes. Our room was spacious, with plenty of hangers and storage. There was a small kitchen area, though we couldn't use its facilities. The place has a dry room, laundry, dining room, shared kitchen, men's and women's public baths, and a private bath. The facilities are a bit aged but have what you need. The shared kitchen took us quite a while to use, and the private bath water was cold, taking at least 20 minutes to get hot. We tried the dinner and breakfast sets. Dinner was fine, if a bit small, and there aren't many nearby options. There's a pizza shop about a 10-minute walk away. If you plan to relax at the hostel, the dinner set is a good choice. Breakfast was just so-so. Service was ok, the staff were very nice, their English was quite good, and they replied to emails quickly.

I had trouble resting because the hotel had poor soundproofing. Even at 11 PM, some guests were talking on the phone in the restaurant and common areas. It seems there are no set quiet hours, which is inconvenient for anyone needing a good night's sleep. I hope the hotel establishes reasonable quiet hours to make stays more comfortable.

The staff were really hospitable and kind. Breakfast and dinner were delicious, and reasonably priced.

The location was good, though with more snow it might have been possible to ski in and out. Dinners were nice, while breakfast was ok but very repetitive. Service felt a little distant, and there were annoying little extra charges, including ¥500 for a trash bag and extra for towels. The dry room smelled strongly of kerosene, leaving all our outerwear smelling of it. We had 3 rooms, and the heaters in 2 of them kept cutting out. The lodge is very old style and could use some renovations. Wifi was pretty patchy too.