Park Hotel Shirakabakan

The crab was big and delicious, with tender, tasty meat. Meals are hot pot, so I imagine it could be hard to stay several nights. The slopes are across the road, but I couldn’t find the entrance at first. It’s uphill, and there’s no hotel parking, so you have to find a spot nearby. You may need to wait until the day-trippers leave before a space opens up again. The room was definitely hot, and I had trouble getting the heater set right. Adjusting the hot water in the room’s bath was difficult too. For the price, I was satisfied given the cost-cutting. There’s a smoking area by the entrance, but I didn’t notice any particular smell. It was nice to have water and tea dispensers in the hallway.

The cigarette smell gets into your clothes and bags, so you end up smelling of smoke throughout your stay. There’s a smoking room in the lobby and the smell spreads through the air. It hits you as soon as you enter. I strongly recommend avoiding this hotel if you have kids or are worried about secondhand smoke. I wish they’d just make it a hotel for smokers.

The kids had fun exploring the expanded, maze-like area. At Hachi Highlands there are lots of places to stay, but this is a rare one with a toilet in the room. It’s my favorite family spot for skiing.

This place holds so many great memories of growing up. Kids from Hyogo Prefecture used to come on camps presented as nature school, a kind of rite of passage into adulthood. They learned ambition, survival skills, romance, and plenty more. One boy peeked toward what was probably the women’s bath and got scolded by the teachers, but later said it became a fond memory. On a night hike, the girls were thrilled to hold hands and flirt with their crushes. This hotel really brings back a bygone era. (^^)