Lodge Hahnenkamm

The homemade meals and warm, family-run atmosphere made us feel at home, and the mountain views were lovely. We stayed five nights with our family, and it was easy to reach the ski schools on foot, which worked well for the kids. The lodge sits on the quieter side of Nozawa Onsen, away from the busier parts of town. For skiing, you can head straight from the lodge to the Hikage Gondola, and the Nagasaka Gondola is less than five minutes away. Renting skis right there was handy, and as an experienced skier I liked the selection, including children’s gear. It was a fantastic stay, and I’d recommend Lodge Hahnenkamm to families or anyone wanting a convenient place to ski from.

The meals were a highlight. We had excellent food each evening, and breakfast was great too, so I’d recommend eating at the lodge. The rooms felt cosy, clean, and just right for a mountain hut. We stayed three nights in mid-February. The lodge is right by the slopes, with top-notch ski rentals available. Although it’s at Hikage Station, getting to the village is convenient via the Yu Road moving walkway. The staff were friendly and helpful, and even drove us to the bus station early in the morning after checkout. As far as stays go, it was a 10 out of 10.

The rooms are basic, and the beds are old and squeaky. After a day skiing, though, you’ll probably be tired enough to fall asleep anyway. It’s well worth the price, especially since you can ski from the front door to the gondola and come straight back to the lodge from the slopes. The employees were really friendly.

The meals were delicious, and I enjoyed every one I had there. There’s also a small bar where you can buy beer and liquor. The owner was lovely and helpful, and gave me the information I needed about the area when I arrived. The lodge is comfortable and clean, with a little tub filled with hot spring water if you’d rather not walk downtown to soak. For equipment, you can get discount tickets for the shop next door. There may be cheaper rental places downtown, but renting nearby saves you from carrying everything all the way to the ski resort. Getting here from central Nozawa town, you can take a lift or use the Walking road path behind Oyu hot spring. In winter, don’t follow Google Maps blindly, since the route it shows may be blocked by snow and inaccessible. For a true ski-in, ski-out stay, you can just step outside and start skiing.