Tobei

Being right in town meant we could walk to restaurants, though the ski lifts are farther away and involve an uphill walk or a bus ride. For luggage, the location just off the main road was handy, close to either the last stop before the bus terminal by the information center or the terminal itself. There’s a large drying room right by the entrance. The inn is modest in size, so sharing the facilities wasn’t difficult. The second-floor bathrooms were a bit cold, but there’s also a bath downstairs, useful if you don’t want to use the public baths or can’t. The owner’s wife speaks fairly good English, which made communication easier.

The only possible drawback is the bathing setup, with one bath and one shower cubicle. That wasn’t a big deal for us, since a couple of the public baths the town is known for are close by. The price was more reasonable than other places in town, even on a peak-season ski weekend. We stayed in February 2022, and the room looked newer than the photos and was very comfortable. They kindly let us in early without charging extra. Breakfast was filling and nice, and the location worked perfectly for both the train station bus and ski shuttles. We’d love to stay again.

Everything was so clean, right down to the very modern toilets and bathrooms. It’s easy to get around on foot, and the shuttle to the slopes is accessible too. I’d definitely come back.

Tobei is a handy base near Hikage slope and fairly central for the rest of Nozawa Onsen Town. The Nozawa Onsen Liner stops at Shinden and the terminal, and either stop is less than a five-minute walk away. The owner made us feel very welcome. One thing to keep in mind: breakfast is a good idea, since nearby places generally don’t open until 10am and there aren’t convenience stores close by.