Hotel Ryuo

Getting to the hotel is difficult since it's halfway up a ski slope, though a free shuttle picks you up at the information center. The building is very old, the staff aren't friendly, and the public bathroom wasn't very clean. Breakfast was sparse and there were no choices. You mostly need cash there, so bring plenty.

The service was great, and the older staff were sweet. My room wasn't very clean, though, and I found a big bug. Breakfast was awful, mostly rice to fill you up, so bring instant noodles. Students may enjoy the place, but it might be hard to take as an adult. The bus down the mountain didn't run until 4 pm, though you could take the cable car. It's not as bad as the reviews make it sound.

The room I got was really dusty, and the room, facilities and service weren't worth what they charged. Early check-in costs extra, and it's too expensive. You can only take a bath after 5 pm. They don't provide luggage service after check-in or checkout, so using a coin locker means another charge. Breakfast looked more like a child's portion than enough food for an adult. I would not recommend this hotel.

The five-person room felt cramped, smelled like wet feet and had bugs. Getting around was a pain, too. We stayed in the west building, and the east and west buildings are linked by a corridor that meant going up and down stairs several times to reach our room. The corridor doors were always left open, and walking to the bathroom at night, I nearly froze. I can't think of a more poorly designed hotel. If you're after a survival experience, I'd recommend it 100%.