Villa Alpen

We had a fantastic family ski trip after Christmas. The rooms were comfortable, the set meals incredibly delicious, and the lounge warm and cozy. With an on-site onsen, it's hard to beat this place. The staff were thoughtful and attentive. They set off fireworks and served sake at midnight on NYE, and the captain, who I won't forget, chat noir, along with his son Ken, made the trip unforgettable. Highly recommended!

The chalet feel and friendly atmosphere made us love staying here. We could ski straight out with Sun Valley Ski at the doorstep, and our all-mountain passes let us try a different run each time from first lift to last. The beds were comfortable enough, and the simple onsen was lovely and warm after skiing. Getting here with our gear was easy too, about 150 meters from the bus stop. I'd definitely include breakfast. We skipped the included dinner, though it looked delicious and other guests raved about it. We ordered from the bar menu each night for around ¥1,200, which was okay. There are no nearby dinner restaurants or convenience stores, so plan for that. We rented our ski gear here as well, and the quality was reasonable.

The dinners were the highlight for me. We stayed three nights and had different food each evening, and every meal was delicious. I'd definitely pay extra for them. Ken, the hotel staff member running the rental shop downstairs, was friendly, knowledgeable, informative, and spoke good English. The shop itself is right on the ground floor. After a day on the slopes, the free hot tea in the lobby was a relaxing touch. The room heating worked perfectly, and the bed and blankets were warm and comfortable. The room was plain and quite run down, though some artwork, plants, or ski or monkey themed decor could brighten it up. There isn't a shower in the room. I didn't try the onsen, but there are two shower cubicles in a separate room, with men and women using it on an alternating schedule. I preferred the idea of a private shower after skiing. The toilet in the room could use an update too, so I'd use the modern one in the lobby.

The staff were so sweet and helpful, and both breakfast and dinner were amazing. It's close to the ski areas and the snow monkey park, with an easy local bus ride for getting around. Definitely recommend it, 10/10!