Hotel Higashidate

We booked a room with a private onsen overlooking the ski slopes, and getting back from skiing to soak there was amazing. The food was delicious, and the hotel staff were incredibly accommodating. We had a wonderful stay, and I wanted to leave a positive review because the hotel's current rating doesn't reflect the experience we had.

The food and rooms were a real highlight. We loved the en-suite open air Onsen and used it several times a day to take in the mountain view. The 10 course dinners, with Wagyu and Nigiri, were so good we wanted more, and they got us trying things beyond our usual comfort zone. My wife and I made a last-minute decision to visit Hotel Higashidate during our Japan trip, and we couldn't have been happier. Hirofumi runs the place and works tirelessly to make sure guests have what they need. He and the staff are kind, dedicated, and a pleasure to be around. The hotel is a little older, so it may not suit you if you want everything pristine. But for an experience that makes it hard to leave, come here.

The views from this traditional ryokan are gorgeous, and we loved staying in the mountains. Skiing conditions weren't great during our visit, but the atmosphere and hard-working, helpful staff made the stay enjoyable. Breakfast and dinner were included, and both were fantastic. The front desk team did all sorts of jobs around the hotel. They drove us to Alpina Sports to collect our rentals, then returned the skis for us. A few things we learned: the hotel doesn't rent skis anymore, despite what its website says, so arrange them online with Alpina Sports and the staff can take you to pick them up. They don't communicate much by email, so call if you need an answer before arrival. Bring snacks or ramen in case bad weather stops the buses. During a blizzard on our second day, the buses weren't running and we couldn't get food between breakfast and dinner. There are no restaurants within walking distance, and a convenience store with instant ramen, udon, and snacks would be useful. Check the latest bus schedule online. The QR code on the Shiga Kogen map led us to an incorrect one and caused stress. Ask the front desk if you're unsure which bus to take, or call if you can't figure out how to get back. Buses are infrequent, and skiing doesn't have one central base area, so keep track of where you are. Getting back can take over an hour. We also recommend paying extra for a room with a private onsen. Those rooms were much nicer, the bath had gorgeous views, and dinner was served in a private dining room. If kaiseki is unfamiliar, taking pictures of the trays and menu with AI helped us identify the food, learn how to eat it and cook it at the table, and enjoy dinner more.

The rooms are being renewed, and the newer ones are nice. This is a nostalgic onsen hotel we used for skiing, with the ski locker room just 5m from the slope. The food was quite good, though there was no lunch service during our visit. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We also had a good view of the distant valley and mountains.