The Address Akakura

Helen made a stressful travel problem much easier. I was struggling to arrange transport to my next hotel in Myoko because of the language barrier, and she patiently helped us sort out the logistics. She was kind and clearly did her best to get everything arranged. Thank you, Helen. The location is excellent, and the room was comfortable and well maintained. I’d recommend this hotel, especially if thoughtful, helpful service matters to you.

The team are friendly and really helpful, and Helen took especially good care of our needs. The complimentary shuttle to the ski areas around the hotel is a great touch. Probably one of the nicest hotels in the area, and I’m planning to come back.

The location is excellent, but at this price I expected much better management and hospitality. I’ve travelled around Japan quite a bit, and this stay was very disappointing given how the hotel was marketed and priced as a premium luxury option. The shared areas looked worn and poorly managed, and the property felt more like a basic apartment hotel. Our tatami room had been nicely renovated, but its position right by reception, in what felt like the hotel’s private working area, hurt our privacy and comfort. Boxes and Ta-Q-Bin luggage were stacked outside beside a storage space. The ski drying room was in the basement, so carrying gear up and down the stairs after a full day on the slopes was inconvenient. The onsen was small and not nicely done up. House rules seemed unevenly applied. We were told to leave shoes at the entrance, but other guests and even reception staff didn’t follow that rule. The shoe area was messy and disorganised, too. Service felt minimal and disengaged, with interactions more perfunctory than hospitable. The hotel is run by foreigners. One staff member said she couldn’t speak Japanese, although we’d clearly heard her speaking it earlier. This wasn’t the luxurious Japanese hospitality I’d expected at this price. For the money and the way it’s positioned, it wasn’t good value. There are better managed, more thoughtfully run places along the main street for the same price.

The location is spot on for Akakura, right on the main strip and across from the convenience store. Our room was spacious and family friendly, with the basics we needed: a small kitchenette, fridge, and kettle. The beds were very comfortable. We stayed here over two years ago and loved it, but it seems to have changed owners since then and lost some of its warmth. The bar and restaurant advertised on the website were basically nonexistent during our six nights. The bar was never open, and it was just a dark room with no lights or anyone there. Reception felt the same. The rooms weren’t cleaned or made up for us. We didn’t get fresh sheets or towels once, and the bins weren’t emptied, so we had to ask for towels and bin service. The bath and shower drain kept clogging, and the dryroom didn’t dry our snow gear during the day, so we took it up to our room daily to make sure it dried. A few staff members also weren’t very friendly, which left us feeling unwelcome and awkward.