Atemakogen Resort Hotel Belnatio

The buffet restaurant is superb, with lots of good food. The sushi is made to order, and there are regional dishes worth trying, like the soba and cold tofu. It's a great nature getaway from Tokyo. If you're travelling with young children, try to book the “welcome baby” room, which has lots of things for little ones. Coming by Shinkansen, be aware the hotel is basically in the middle of nowhere; there's a shuttle bus from the station. There are activities to enjoy, including bug catching led by nature guides who explain each specimen in Japanese. All the bugs were released at the end.

A good choice for families, especially those with babies. The room is wide enough for everyone to stay together, and the staff are friendly and helpful. They provide the formula bottle equipment shown in the photo, and even supply diapers for free as part of the accommodation fee.

The buffet spread is incredible, and the parking facilities are adequate. The onsen baths feel a little worn and overused, perhaps because this is a golf resort with so many visitors.

We were skiing nearby and needed a place for one night. This looked like the only option that met our standards, but we were pleasantly surprised by how lovely it was. The service was attentive and friendly, the classic Japanese hospitality you'd hope for. Both dinner and breakfast buffets had so many delicious choices that we stayed a second night instead of moving on as planned. The onsen was wonderful. We don't have children, and the January stay felt very family-focused, but we never felt out of place. We also tried the snow rafting and tubing hill in the morning, which was a blast. The decor is a bit dated, but everything is well cared for; the rooms were very clean and the beds comfortable. I'd absolutely stay again and highly recommend it.