Bamboo-Hill Sasaokaso

The family hosting us were lovely and helpful at every turn. They arranged restaurant bookings and received our snowboard bags, then sent them on to and from the airport. Their in-house onsen allows tattoos and was perfect after long days on the slopes. They also served buffet breakfast every morning, and the homemade rice bread was delicious.

The hot breakfast had a good range of options, and the guest onsen is open from 4 to 9pm. This is a two-star hotel, so keep that in mind with my five-star rating. It’s tidy and clean, with a slightly rustic country-home look rather than Muji-style decor. The tatami mats smell amazing. The cupboards are a little old, but that didn’t bother me. We had a room for three with plenty of space to unpack ski gear. Showers and toilets are shared, which is normal for Japanese-style accommodation.

We spent five winter days here skiing with friends, and the staff made everything easy. They were welcoming and happy to help with things like sending luggage to the airport, ski passes, and restaurant bookings. The homemade Japanese and western breakfasts were lovely each day, and the bath was just right after being out in the snow. The ryokan was comfortable and very nice. I’d highly recommend it and hope I can come back.

It felt like home here, and I was sad to leave. The family running Bamboo-hill were so friendly and helpful. Their onsen bath is open from 4 to 9pm, a lovely way to end a day on the slopes. Outside those hours, they kindly let us shower in the bathhouse as long as we didn’t use the onsen bath.