Berg Marukaneya

Dinner was a highlight for us, with a great range and quality of dishes. I’d recommend eating at the hotel while skiing, since you can soak in the bath and stay warm instead of heading back into the cold to find a restaurant. Breakfast was excellent too. The family-style care was what made the stay stand out, and Grandma even drove us to the bus stop on our last day so we wouldn’t have to wheel our luggage through the snow. We stayed six nights as a family of four, with two kids on their first trip to Japan and their first time skiing. The family who run Berg Marukaneya made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and were attentive and ready to help. For skiing, the location worked really well. Olive Ski Rentals is directly across the road, and there’s a large basement drying room for everyone’s gear. On snowy days, you can ski or take a chairlift almost back to the doorstep. We walked downhill about two minutes to the ski bus in the morning and around five minutes back in the afternoon. The town center is about a ten-minute walk, and a free public onsen is two minutes around the corner. The hotel was warm, clean, and welcoming. Our traditional Japanese-style room had tatami mats, futons, a toilet, and a sink. The communal hot baths and showers are separated for men and women, and we enjoyed using them. Sleeping on the floor and bathing Japanese-style may be unfamiliar to some Western travelers, but it was part of what made the experience special for us. We’d happily stay again and highly recommend Berg Marukaneya.