Shiga Swiss Inn

For what you pay, this ski-in, ski-out hotel can be a very good choice if its limitations suit you. I know it gets a lot of negative comments, but I was fine with it. I booked a room with only a sink and no toilet, then got upgraded to one with a toilet. The location worked well for my skiing. It's in the middle of the Shiga Kogen area. To reach Yokoteyama or Kumanoyu, you can slide down for about 3 minutes to the Gondola station and the bus stop. For Yakebitaiyama or Okushiga, the quickest route is the hotel shuttle to Takamagahara, then the Shiga Kogen shuttle bus. A large storage and changing room made it easy to set up my bindings before check-in and clean my gear after check-out. They can send snowboard bags straight from the hotel via Yamato Transport, which is handy if you bring your own equipment. The onsen was decent. The open-air bath isn't open every day, but on closed days I used it to cool off like a cold-water bath. Even the in-room fridge worked well and kept drinks cold. It takes planning. Bring or arrange any food and snacks you need, figure out the shuttle for your arrival, and plan your ski route back to the hotel. The shuttle only runs at set times and is on demand, so you have to call; that means a travel SIM with calling. Rides during your stay cost extra, such as going to Takamagahara to connect to Yakebitaiyama or Okushiga. Although the ski location is convenient, the hotel is far from any convenience store. The ski-in route is steep, and the entrance is easy to miss because the road sign doesn't show the hotel name. There is a YouTube video showing the route, or you can take chairlift 17 and walk back. The network is awful. There is no room Wi-Fi, so you'll need a travel SIM with more data. The lobby Wi-Fi has a strong signal, and lots of people sit there after dinner. Buffet choices are limited, sometimes too savory, and the menu repeats every two days. Meal times are fixed, and dinner starts a bit early for me, probably because there aren't many staff. Also, there's no lift from the ground floor to the first floor lobby, so carrying heavy things up is painful. For solo travelers, the single room rate is quite reasonable during Lunar New Year peak season: USD64 per night with half board.

The price is nice, the meals are good, and the staff are helpful. I loved the food and their service. The snowboard rental bindings are pretty old, though, and I'd rather pay more for better gear. The public bath isn't very hot, so I still feel cold when I get out, unlike how I usually feel after an onsen. The shower in the guest room also works poorly. Aside from the shower and rentals, everything was good. The Hoppo Onsen area is also kind of difficult for beginner snowboarders. At least, I found it hard.

The host was really friendly and helpful, and we had an enjoyable three-night stay. Prices are fairly low for lodging near the ski resort, and ski and snowboard rentals are affordable too. One thing to keep in mind: bring a four-wheel-drive car with snow tires.

Dinner was delicious, and they even fried tempura right there in the restaurant. What a nice touch. The hotel is close to the ski area and the service was very good.