Lodge Fujinashi

The staff were really kind, and we had a great time here with our dog and our family of three. We’d booked barbecue for both nights, but they switched the second night to hot pot for us, which was great.

We came in midsummer because I wanted somewhere cooler to stay with my dog. There aren’t many pet-friendly lodges in the highlands near Osaka. Wakasugi Highland is promoted as 4°C cooler than downtown, but when Osaka is above 35°C, it still gets over 30°C here. It did feel a bit cooler than the city, especially morning and evening. It was hot when we started the BBQ before 6 PM, then the breeze turned chilly. The lodge is spacious, has a great view, and you can see lots of stars. The staff were welcoming, and seeing the ski resort in its green season was fascinating. We stayed in a clean pet-friendly room. It had a small fridge, TV, bath and face towels, toothbrush, paper cups, a trash can, bedding, one pet mat, and a dog tent. There’s no toilet in these rooms, but the shared toilets are clean and have washlets. The women’s large bath has shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and two hair dryers. You can use the changing room in the morning, though you can also get ready at the sink and mirror. You can bring your own food and drinks, and it’s handy to bring mineral water or tea bags for the electric kettle outside breakfast and meal times. The vending machines only have soft drinks, with limited choices. Cooking equipment includes a portable stove, pots and pans, rice cooker, microwave, knives, cutting boards, and detergent sponges, and you can use it in the morning too. Things like dishcloths, plastic wrap, and foil aren’t provided. The official website lists a large shared refrigerator, but there isn’t one. Guests need to use the fridges in their rooms. There’s only one rice cooker, so it may not be available to everyone, and you might have to cook rice on a portable stove in a pot. BBQs are free, but you need to bring or buy charcoal, fire starters, and gloves. The photos on the official site and elsewhere show a small round grill, but the one we got was a standard square model with a grill rack. Chopsticks and tableware are supplied, so you just need food and drinks. The terrace seating can feel cramped when most rooms are occupied. I’d definitely stay here again in summer.

The staff were kind and helped us through our first camping trip, when we had no idea what we were doing. We stayed in the glamping area, which is limited to three groups a day, on May 4 and 5 during Golden Week. Our spots were a comfortable distance from the other groups, and having a BBQ under the blue sky without needing to prepare anything or being disturbed was great. At night we took the lift for stargazing. The full moon and some thin clouds meant we could only see a few stars, but there were fun activities along the way. Next time, I’d like to stay in a tent that I set up myself.

We couldn’t see the stars because the weather was bad, but the area is full of nature and the camping looked fun. My family and I have promised to come back. The evening BBQ and breakfast buffet were both delicious, and we enjoyed eating on the terrace with its great view. I hadn’t looked into the place much beforehand and was surprised to find the slopes right next door, with lots of people grass skiing. A few students were there for a training camp too, but they were all well-mannered and didn’t bother us. Fancy hotels and inns have their appeal, but this place reminded us how nice it is to travel simply and enjoy nature.