Hotel Sierra Resort

The onsen was fantastic. Even the indoor bath has big sliding doors that open onto views of the snowy landscape. The location was super convenient, and it was an easy few-minute walk uphill to the ski lifts. Staff were friendly and very helpful, and the Wi-Fi coverage was good. The breakfast buffet was excellent. Dinner was French cuisine, with quality and presentation that were much better than I expected at a ski resort. We stayed during Covid, so it wasn’t very crowded, and I was impressed by the safety measures they took to reduce infection risk. One of the best ski resorts I’ve stayed at in Japan.

We’ve stayed here many times and are already looking forward to coming back. So much stands out, including the recently renovated reception and bar. The bar is an LP record lounge, with a DJ playing good music from a decade ago. The spa and onsen are the highlight: very clean and new, with beautiful custom woodwork. The outer bath is stone, and the inner bath has a full-size four-pane window that slides completely open to an amazing view. That same view appears in Yuzawa area promotion materials, though you might not recognize it until you’ve been there. The resort sits inside the Iwappara Ski slope, so the scenery is spectacular in every direction. It costs much more than other places, but the facilities, room decor, superb service, and very friendly staff make it worth the price. Breakfast is a delicious buffet with many local dishes, and dinner is a full course with French flair and a very good wine selection.

I booked four nights for a February 2023 ski trip in October 2022, and the resort cancelled my confirmed reservation in January, just a month before I was due to go. They said a large group had booked and the rooms were now overbooked. Even though they’d confirmed me months earlier, they chose the group booking and cancelled mine without my consent. Finding another ski resort during peak season with only a month to go was impossible, and my trip was ruined. Think twice before booking.

The view is great, and the onsen is a must. The location isn’t the best, but the view more than makes up for it. Keep in mind, dinner is only available if you reserve ahead, and there’s just one nearby restaurant that takes diners without a reservation. The hotel shuttle to the station runs only once an hour and has to be booked in advance, which isn’t very convenient.