Kitashiga Onsen Yu Resort Hotel

The fun part for our group was the layout: we booked two rooms for three people each, and there was a door between them so we could go back and forth. We stayed in the main building. The Japanese-style room was spacious with futons, enough for all six of us to play games, while the Western-style room was clean and nice but felt a little small with its bed. It also had a bath. The exterior was cute and stylish, and the hotel is near the ski slopes, with a rental shop and convenience store right outside. The bath was relaxing, and it was nice to use it even after checkout. There weren't many hair dryers, but they had strong airflow. Renting ping pong was 500 yen for 30 minutes; with no one booked afterward, they gave us another half hour for free, which made for fun memories. The breakfast bread buffet was a nice touch. We had trouble figuring out what to do when we arrived after the tour because there were no signs or information posted around the hotel. Luggage can't just be left there: you need a locker, or if it doesn't fit, the front desk charges 500 yen per person. There are two waiting rooms, but private use costs about 1,000 yen per person. If you want a bath after checkout, you need to rent one, which is inconvenient. Some people even left suitcases in the bathroom. Amenity rentals cost 100-200 yen more than the tour website price, and the phone didn't connect to the front desk. We paid an extra 2,750 yen per person to upgrade from bento boxes to restaurant meals. The group got one hot pot, but the rest of the food was the same as the bento menu, which was disappointing for that price. In the drying room, the lockers are only for skis. When I asked, I was told to leave my snowboard on a rack in the hallway. There are no locks, so I worried someone could take the wrong rental gear. I wish they'd explained from the start that the lockers were for skis.

The food was delicious, with generous side dishes and all-you-can-eat rice and bread for the main part of the meal. Big appetites should be happy, though the menu can depend on the plan you book. The bath is a real highlight. The water felt wonderfully soft, and it had unusual black mineral deposits. The toilet in our room also had a bidet, which was a big plus. Everyone on staff was kind and accommodating. There wasn't always someone at the front desk, but whenever we asked for help, they responded right away, so it wasn't an issue.

We used this as a ski lodge, but I wouldn't recommend it. It isn't especially cheap, and I left feeling there was a lot to be desired. Maybe it's because the staff are few, or they just don't seem very focused on their work. Almost anything you do costs extra. It was also incredibly noisy, just what you'd expect from a lodge full of bus tours, and nothing like what I imagined from the lodge's name. The front desk has limited hours and is often closed. There were no tissues or cups in the room, and after brushing my teeth I had to rinse my mouth with a ladle. I couldn't make sense of that. The hot spring is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., so even overnight guests can't bathe in the morning. Meals felt like something from a training camp: hot pots, a few à la carte dishes, and rice, all self-serve. That setup was strange.

We only stayed one night and had breakfast, since we ate dinner elsewhere. Breakfast was perfectly satisfying. At this time of year, I'd recommend going to Jigokudani Monkey Park to see the snow monkeys. The spacious bath uses natural hot spring water that flows continuously all day and night, and the water quality is excellent. The basic amenities were all there, and the reception staff explained things politely and gave us the right help. We didn't have any of the shortcomings mentioned in other reviews.