Hotel Shalom Okura Classic

I booked this place for a ski trip to a nearby resort. The building has a calm feel, and I liked the owner's taste in the glasses, cutlery, and furnishings, including the musical instruments and lamps. Everything was well maintained, and the food was very satisfying. The wine and other drink options were a little disappointing. A good drink would make the meal even better. I’m thinking of staying here again next season.

The forest around the inn is quiet, and in the morning you can see the sunrise and a sea of clouds. Still, I regretted booking it a little, even though the reviews had looked good. Too many things were disappointing. There was no alcohol disinfectant or thermometer, and the bath was far too hot to get into. In this cold weather, that means you’ll catch a cold. The children in the next room were noisy from the moment we arrived, running around and shouting. They wouldn’t sit still at meals either, and made a lot of noise, so I couldn’t rest. It was the worst. The meal was just a Western-style course and didn’t seem particularly tasty to me. The bread had butter spread on it, so it got sticky on my hands, and it was hard bread that I didn’t enjoy. I don’t especially want to eat with a knife and fork, and there were no chopsticks. The facilities look impressive, but they’re old and the floors are stained. There was no refrigerator or drinks in the room. It was cold, so I had to keep the fan heater running, which dried out the room and gave me a sore throat. I was woken several times by the heater during the night. Even cheap business hotels have humidifiers, but this place didn’t. Stink bugs flying around the room came as quite a shock. This isn’t a good place for people who dislike insects. There are lots of vacant houses nearby, and the area feels like a ghost town. There are homes around but few people, so I wondered if it was a high-crime area. The police couldn’t get there quickly even if you called, and there’s hardly any traffic, so if something happened, there’d be no one to call for help.

The owner was so friendly, and we had a great time talking. I loved the salon, with its antique furniture and musical instruments. It has a really tasteful, relaxing feel, and staying for a few nights would be lovely. The food was delicious too, so I’d definitely choose the full-course dinner if you stay. I’d like to come back when I have the time.

The whole building was spotless, and you could tell how carefully it had been cleaned. Dinner was wonderful, from the terrine appetizer to the rockfish acqua pazza, and the tenderloin steak was the best I’ve ever had. Everything was enjoyable and I left completely satisfied. I’ll definitely visit again in spring.