Tsugaike Kogen Hotel

The gondola station is nearby and easy to get to, and they let me leave my car there while I visited Tsugaike Nature Park. I booked the day before because I wanted to see the autumn foliage at Tsugaike Nature Park. The price was low, so my expectations weren't high, but the stay surpassed them and left me very satisfied. The food was tasty and portions were generous. The building isn't new, but the rooms were spotlessly clean and nothing about them felt unpleasant.

This place was terrible in pretty much every way. The box-like room had no ventilation, and stepping into the unheated hallway was freezing. The shared bathroom and toilet had a strong Showa-era feel. There were only two Japanese-style toilets and one Western-style toilet for men and women, and the bathroom was cluttered with belongings whose owners were unclear. The food was depressing, and the baths were out of the question. I strongly recommend finding another inn.

The owners are very friendly, and the wife's home-style cooking is delicious. We've come over the New Year holidays for three years in a row, and it works perfectly for family time. The slopes are close, and I can leave my dog at home. They're also fine with guests bringing their dogs, so we plan to keep coming. This season has good snowfall, making it great for snowboarding and skiing. The snow is soft, so falling doesn't hurt, and I think it's ideal for beginners this year. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt safe on the cold slopes wearing a mask, gloves, and face mask. Please remember to wear a mask at lunch too.

The location is convenient for the ski resort, and there's a souvenir shop nearby. The convenience store is there too, but they only had bread for food, and there probably aren't restaurants close by, so eat before you arrive. I booked this at the last minute on the 11th during Obon because I needed somewhere cheap to sleep with my two kids and didn't mind that it was old. For 5,500 yen, the room was spacious and clean enough for five. But there were stains on the ceiling and hair on the futon, even though the sheets were clean. The fridge, toilet, and water facilities were shared. There were no tissues in the room, which was a hassle, but they gave me some when I asked. There was an old, strong smell around reception, the toilet, and the water tap, like at my grandmother's house. No air conditioning either, and the Obon humidity had me sweating. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and a hair dryer were available in the bathroom. Toothbrushes and face towels were in the room, but no face wash or bath towels, so bring your own. What bothered me most was the booking price. It was free lodging with no meals, and the children could share beds with adults, so I thought it was a good deal. But when I filled out the form at reception and went to pay, the total seemed high. I realized my 1- and 4-year-old children had been charged the same as adults. When I booked online, there wasn't an option for infants sharing a bed. I had called first, but they said they were out and couldn't handle the call. I hung up, said I'd book online, and made the reservation as adults. In the comments, I clearly wrote that it was five people, including two toddlers who didn't need bed-sharing futons, and asked for three adults with no meals. Apparently that wasn't right. I was in a hurry and couldn't wait for them to return from their trip, so I didn't know what to do. I regret it now. The men's bath was closed, so men and women took turns using the women's bath, though it seemed there were normally separate baths. At reception, they had me fill out a form, then handed me the same form again and asked for one per family member. I checked if I needed one for each child too, they said yes, so I filled out all five. Then they told me one form would have been enough. I said I'd already filled one out when I arrived, and they acted like they'd misunderstood and it was their mistake. It irritated me. There seemed to be only elderly people there, and I wondered if they had trouble hearing. It might suit solo travelers or work trips, and could be a reasonably priced option if you have business at the resort and use the facilities accordingly. With kids, though, I don't think it works, since the heat will make them irritable.