Ryuoo Park Hotel

I’d read a lot of reviews and was a bit worried, but the place turned out differently from what I expected. It’s right behind the bus stop, and you can get to it by a moving belt. That part was a little confusing, so check my photo to see the way. The hotel seems aimed at young students, I think, and I was the only family there. Staff don’t speak English, but the price is VERY VERY affordable, so I don’t have much to complain about. I didn’t eat the hotel food. You can get bread for breakfast, go to another hotel or Sora terrence cafe for lunch (NICE VIEW and tasty food), or have cup noodles for dinner if you don’t want to eat at the hotel. The lift is a little slow, but the highest floor is the fourth, so walking is fine. After visiting a few onsen hotels, I learned that rooms without a shower are common in Japan, where there are plenty of places to wash in the public bathroom 😂. *YES, there is a toilet, just no shower in the room. Some travellers complain about having no soap and other things, but the price is for the convenience of snowboarding or skiing, not the room. It’s a traditional Japanese hotel, not a four- or five-star one. The big draw is that it’s right next to the only FREE snowboard course with an English speaker. Get or rent your gear and you can start without paying extra! I’d definitely go back after visiting other parts of Japan.

This is an older, no-fuss hotel right on the slopes, with the ski lifts close by. I went for a birthday snowboarding trip and had a pleasant time. After taking the free shuttle from Yudanaka station, you use the snow escalator to reach the hotel door. My simple tatami room had a futon and a nice view of the mountain runs. There’s a storage room for your bags if you arrive before check-in, so you can head out sooner. The mountain is huge, with lots of runs. Bring a helmet if you plan to use the advanced course at the top, reached by the jumbo gondola rope way. Breakfast and dinner were included for me, served buffet-style with plenty of different dishes. Check what your booking covers, as this older hotel is a bit of a bargain. Thanks Ryuo Park hotel for a nice ski trip.

Our window looked out over a lovely view of the resort. The hotel itself is a little old, but fine for a night or two. It’s close to the gelende and the bus stop, and serves buffet breakfast and dinner.

Yudanaka is a great place, and this looks like a good option. High Quality Hostel is another good place to stay.