Aspen Shiga
Location: Hirao 7148-8, Yamanouchi, jp
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Property Type: Ryokans
About this Property
Indulge in Nature's Bliss at Aspen Shiga Lodge
Ski-in, Ski-out Convenience: With a prime location near Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, enjoy easy access to the slopes and stunning mountain views.
Traditional Japanese Hospitality: Experience sleeping on tatami floors with futon bedding, relax in the indoor hot-spring baths, and savor a breakfast of homemade bread.
Year-Round Activities: From ski equipment hire in winter to barbecues in summer, immerse yourself in the beauty of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve surroundings.
Ready to experience the perfect blend of comfort and adventure? Book your stay at Aspen Shiga Lodge now!
Important Information
Check-out time is 09:30 in the summer and 10:00 in the winter.
Please note that this hotel has only heating facilities, it does not have air-conditioning.
Please be informed that all guestrooms are nonsmoking rooms. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Managed by a private host
Policies
Check-in: 03:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Free beach shuttle
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
- Lift / Elevator
- Safety deposit box
- Fax/photocopying
- Ski storage
- Non-smoking throughout
- Public Bath
- Ski storage
- Ski-in/ski-out access
- Free wired internet
- Ski equipment rentals on site
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Free beach shuttle
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Internet access
- Fishing nearby
- Ski lift privileges
- Snow sports gear
- Accessible shuttle
- No accessible shuttle
Rooms Available
-
Japanese-Style Family Room with Private Toilet
Features tatami (woven-straw) flooring and Japanese futon bedding. All rooms come with heating facilities and have a flat-screen TV and green tea. Room has a private toilet, and guests bathe at the shared hot-spring baths.
Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Telephone
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Heating
- Slippers
- Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
-
Japanese-Style Family Room with Shared Toilet
Features tatami (woven-straw) flooring and Japanese futon bedding. All rooms come with heating facilities and have a flat-screen TV and green tea. Toilets are shared, and guests bathe at the shared hot-spring baths.
Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)
- Telephone
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Shared toilet
- Slippers
- Tatami (traditional Japanese flooring)
-
Twin Room with Private Bathroom
All rooms come with heating facilities and have a flat-screen TV and green tea bags. Features an private bathroom.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Telephone
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
Guest Reviews
- Scott (8/5): -
- Barbara (8/5): - Staff were wonderful. As a smaller property, the service was very personalised and the communal area was conducive to meeting other guests if you chose to.
- Jan (10/5): Ski in and out - Our large front room with toilet. The onsen every afternoon after skiing. Very good breakfast and dinner. Economical ski hire - boots, skis and helmet. Ski in and out. Nice cotton yukata to wear to onsen, breakfast or dinner. Great staff. N/A
- Tammy (9/5): - Lots! Ski in and out location. Buffet breakfast and dinner great. Also have the option of limited bar food options rather than the buffet in evenings. Saw online that others were able to get pick up and drop off from Yamanoeki station. We did not get a reply to our arrival arrangements so got the gondola up and down with luggage ourselves. It’s about 50m across snow to get to the door of hotel. We could use a sled on departure to make it a bit easier but wasn’t easy doing this on arrival.
- Morley (3/5): Very disappointing, I felt we were cheated of a potentially great experience in Shiga Kogen. - The staff were friendly & the location was good. The rooms had no shower. The only showers were located in the onsen, which you had to pay for.
The onsen room was very dank and mouldy.
The bedding was very thin and hard on the floor. Wasnt very comfortable.
The toilets upstairs were out of order.
The dinner was expensive buffet @ $4000 yen per head (family of 4 =$160AUD per night) If you didn't want to eat the buffet no other restaurant would accept you for dinner, the hotels in the immediate area have made it so you must eat at the hotel you are staying in. I found this unfair and restrictive. We decided to leave early due to the icy condition, an injury and the state of the hotel and were refused a refund on our ski gear, hired from the hotel, after paying four-days rental but only using the gear once on the first day. I never asked for a refund on the room just the gear, so very disappointing they couldn't be reasonable about this.
- Julio (3/5): Very average , unfortunately wouldn’t recommend as food was way below average - Location Food was terrible
No shower in the rooms had to travel 4 floors for a shower and onsen
- Chih-Yu (9/5): -
- Rob (8/5): Great ski in ski out accomodation in the heart of the linked ski fields. Good food. - Great ski in ski out location. Comfortable, clean rooms. Good buffet breakfast included. Buffet dinner was also good at 4000 yen per person. Small, on-site Onsen facilities. A little run down but didn’t affect enjoyment of the stay.
- Makoto (7/5): - 朝食のパンがサクサクで美味しかったです。
- Catherine (9/5): Wonderful family ski holiday - Traditional style accomodation set in a picturesque position on the ski slopes. Staff were fabulous and we had a wonderful time.
- Michael (9/5): enjoyed it - all was good nothing
- Kuhn (8/5): Very much enjoyed our stay, good experience of Japanese ski fields and accomodation. - Extremely helpful manager. great location right on the slopes. Breakfast was good quality and plentiful, great baked goods. onsen before and after a days skiing was great. Not much to dislike.
- Gilmore (10/5): Loved it! Will be back in the winter. - After the hustle and bustle of the big cities, we were thrilled by this little property nestled in the heart of the mountains. The staff was so genuine and friendly that we felt right at home. We took our meals at the lodge where the same staff prepared traditional Japanese breakfasts and dinners for us, which were delicious. Getting there is fun too! You ride the ski lift down and up from the hotel and the views are spectacular. We were there in the fall and the fall colors and snow monkeys were all out and about.
- SHINOHARA (10/5): -
- kornaros (9/5): -
- Inch (10/5): Exceptional -
- 茗泽 (8/5): nice stay - 1/ clean.
2/ the staffs are nice.
3/ good location. just 1-2 minutes walk to 3 lift stations
4/ lunchs are good. i like scallop cream spaghetti, beef don, apple juice and food wine. 1/ dinner doesn't have enough warm food. suggest having hotpot.
2/ get out to other areas like yamanoeki only by resort gondola which operates during 8:30-16:40.
- Kim (8/5): Memorable. - Great place to stay. Very quiet. Although, the slopes directly in front and nearby the property are difficult for a beginner. Management and staff very friendly, helpful and accommodating - Food was great. We were only charged for the number of meals we had - as not all of us had dinners. Most of our family members loved the Onsen... but there's no bathroom / shower... so difficult for my daughter as she was not keen nor able to cope with the onsen, although we're automatically charged for this. But overall, we loved the experience of the Ryokan and would come back definitely. Nothing we dislike.. it's very quiet and local and can be dated, but we don't mind.
- Beltgens (4/5): Disappointing -
- Andrew (8/5): Location, location, and useful family rooms. Shared shower is odd. Food healthy, if repeated and often cold or gone - Location on the snow, great for kids and parents! Good value.
Quiet and centered arguably in the best spot on the resorts to access decent skiing.
Bakery and lunch restaurant were great. The local beer selection and on-tap beers were super. The bar in the evenings fun and staff always polite & helpful.
Ski hire was efficient and the gear well-cared for.
Would return. Breakfast and dinner mostly cold. After 3 days you’ll see the food rotation. Coffee not good. Wouldn’t take much to do better.
Cold wedges and eggs/meat not appetizing.
Lunch restaurant much better than dinner.
- Lisa (7/5): Good - Location was great. Ski in, ski out. It was nice to have breakfast included (with a good selection). We appreciated the drive back to the bus station the morning we left. The dinner was a little pricey. It had everything one needed, but don't expect fancy. It's an older building, and the location is what one is paying for. Overall, it was comfortable.
- Ryan (8/5): Very good -
- Kathleen (6/5): Pleasant - the onsen did not work very well and tge food was the same every day
- Peter (8/5): Comfortable stay in a great location with friendly staff. - Ski-in, ski-out location. Friendly and helpful staff. Food at the buffet was often cold. More variety in food would have been better
- Clive (10/5): Great staff, food, and ski-in, ski-out convenience in a charming traditional lodge. - Fantastic staff, delicious food, and an unbeatable location right at the base of the Giant ski slope. With chairlift and gondola access just steps from the front door, it’s perfect for ski-in, ski-out convenience. The onsen was a great way to relax after a day on the slopes. This lodge has a charming, traditional Japanese feel—simple, authentic, and welcoming. We loved every moment of our stay! Dinner was expensive, ¥3000 per adult, but everything else was reasonably priced. During the snow season, access to the Giant ski area is via the gondola, which stops running at 4:30 PM, so dinner options in the area can be limited. While this wasn’t an issue for us, families should note that there are no private baths or showers in the rooms. However, I took my son to the onsen each day for a shower and a soak, which turned out to be a great experience.
- Jo (9/5): Superb - Everything Nothing
- Scott (7/5): Good -
- Bin (10/5): Exceptional - The three of us stayed at the hotel for five nights, and we had a wonderful time. The room was very spacious, and the tatami was very comfortable to sleep on. The hot springs were also great. We had breakfast and dinner at the hotel for all five days, and the food was excellent. All the staff were very friendly.
- Susan (10/5): Fantastic week in a fabulous resort without the crowds. - Really friendly staff. Great buffet dinner and breakfast, and ski from the front door. What’s not to like?!
- Jason (8/5): Really enjoyable stay. Staff were friendly and helpful. - Right out the front of giant ski run.
- Lester (10/5): Exceptional -
- Lester (10/5): Exceptional -
- Antony (7/5): Great location, great snow. However food options at night are an issue. - Located at the bottom of 4 lifts. Great ski in, ski out.
Food in the cafe during the day was good and reasonably priced. Rooms were large and comfortable with own bathrooms. Although there are 4 hotels in this spot, you are forced to eat at your hotel. As no venue does dinner for anyone not staying at their hotel.( this is the same all across Shiga Kogan)
There you are forced to eat buffet style main meals that are too expensive for what they are and not really very good.
This is definitely the main problem with the Shiga Kogan area.
- Sue (6/5): Clean and comfortable homey place to stay. - Meals were very homestyle buffet. Like Japanese grandma cooking. Very delicious and comforting. Unfortunately the onsen was out of order for most of our stay, which was disappointing. Room was nice, Japanese style with futons on tatami. I did like that we could rent all our ski equipment from them, although the equipment was on the older side. It would have been nice for the onsen to be working, but I guess that's not something they could control.
- Christie (8/5): Very good -
- Ted (7/5): Good -
- Yuk (9/5): Superb - Great location. Easy to acess by taking gondola from yama no eki station, it's free of charge. Ski in, ski out, join of giant and west and hoppo couses. Breadfest was excellent, buffet style, full of choices, self made bread are so good. Only pot filled with hot water are provided. Prefer kettle.
- Fery (9/5): A charming place to stay in Shiga Kogen - Great location in Giant area
Lovely Japanese room
Proper Onsen water Wifi is hit and miss
- Cheryl (10/5): Comfortable stay in a perfect location - Everything
Location
Staff
Onsen
Food Nothing
- Patrick (10/5): Superb ski in, ski out hotel with an onsen - We had a great stay at Aspen. After arriving up the top and catching the gondola down to the hotel (it took a little traversing) we had a wonderful stay. The Onsen at the end of the night was great. Food was simple but excellent. Staff were superb and they organised. Highly recommended. Dinner is limited to the hotel. The gondolas stop around 4.30pm so you’ll not have a lot of options. It is a great way to get to know other guests though.
- Adrian (9/5): Repeat customer and always satisfied - Repeat customer and always satisfied Repeat customer and always satisfied
- Ayan (8/5): Very good -
- Justyna (9/5): Fab five day ski trip with the family! This is a good place to stay if you are looking for traditional hospitality. - A lovely traditional Japanese ski hotel that provided all the comforts one needed for a family ski trip. Great local food for breakfast and dinner and good hospitality. This was our first time in Shiga Kogen and the skiing is fantastic. However there really is not much on offer once the ski lift is shut. We had fun regardless enjoying the snow, evening card games and the hotel onsen, but it is something to know to come prepared with your little ones.
- Luke (9/5): Superb - Good sized room, clean and tidy.
Buffet breakfasts and dinner are good if you like that style.
They have premium rentals on offer for a good rate. My brother and I rented a couple of Moss Snowstick boards for 2 days. They also offer waxing for a good rate.
Good drying room downstairs. Dinner a bit expensive at ¥3000.
Futons are a bit harder than some of the other Japanese stays we've done.
- Paul (6/5): Traditional Japanese hotel in amazing Shiga Kogen - The breakfast had some good western options and was included in our booking. The receptionist was very helpful and drove us to the bus stop. Room was pleasantly spacious for Japan. The ski locker/ drying room was secure and very convenient. The hotel was in walking distance to two gondolas and a lift. Good traditional Japanese hotel. No decent vegetarian options for dinner, and dinner was pricey for what food was provided. You are unable to go to nearby restaurants due to them not being open to the general public, so you must eat at the hotel. The western room had rock solid beds and measly pillow.
- Gerald_tan (10/5): Exceptional -
- Nicholas (8/5): Welcoming and unique ski hotel with a brilliant location. - Great ski location. lovely staff, very welcoming and unique. We love Aspen Shiga and love Shiga Kogen generally. Super convenient for getting out to ski! Also, some very nice fruit brandies made by the hotel which you can enjoy in the evenings. Not much. Don't expect the Kempinski. This is a welcoming family hotel, heavy on the formica and the Carpenters.
- Nur (8/5): Great place - Great place for ski-ing No private bathroom
- Yves (10/5): I will be back!! - Great location and great food. Onsen was awesome after a days skiing Nothing
- Anna (8/5): Very good -
- Edmund (8/5): Overall present - It was at the chair lift Not much except some are with toilets but common shower area
- Vivian (10/5): Exceptional -
- Glenn (9/5): Fantastic new year stay - Food, location, staff
- Philippe (10/5): Exceptional -
- Vijoi (9/5): great stay just beside ski resort - location is good . spacious room n warm. laundry was good as free and dryer was not expensive at 100 yen only onsen not super clean . meal time was very short and lights out at 2030hrs . should at least have lobby light on for family gathering .
- Monika (8/5): Sato was an outstanding host…an excellent spot. - Location Nothing
- Sophie (10/5): When can I go back? - Fantastic traditional ski hotel, right next to the slopes in the most beautiful position. Everything was perfect.
- Surangi (10/5): Excellent - Really good hotel and we were blown away by the facilities, location and hospitality. This was our first ski trip to Japan and little bit nervous about everything. Hotel pickup Van came to Yamanoeki and gave us a lift to the hotel. Checked in is easy. We booked a western room and it was very good and quiet. Evening Meal time is little bit restrictive as you need to be in the restaurant promptly at 6pm otherwise the foods go cold.
- Jan (10/5): Exceptional - We were 7 adults with 3 rooms, 2 with bathroom and 1 with toilet and sink - 2 couple and 3 guys. Rooms were clean and nice to have toilet in the room. Very comfortable rooms - 2 with European and 1 Japanese style beding. Tea making in each room. Breakfast was good as was dinner. Staff were excellent. Hired our ski equipment from Aspen Shiga, also purchased 2 and 3 day ski pass from them. Easy to get to on public transport - train from Narita to Nagano via Tokyo, then bus from Nagano Train Station to top of gondola. Hotel is 3 minute walk from bottom of gondola. This is a very reasonable priced hotel. Great cafe downstairs for lunch, good pastries - yum deep dish apple pie. Onsen not hot enough.
- Marco (9/5): Superb - The position, real ski in ski out option and at the same time very near bus station and parking area. Very nice staff.
- Jan (10/5): Ski, ski, ski - Great place to stay for ski ski out. Easy to get to from Nagano via bus. Friendly, helpful staff. Clean rooms, comfy beds, good breakfast and dinner. You can hire all your skiing equipment plus 2 and 3 day lift tickets here at Aspen Shiga. Cafe downstairs for lunch and they opened the downstairs bar a couple of nights. Good onsen. N/A
- Jan (10/5): Exceptional - Great for a skiing holiday. Would also be lovely in summer and autume. Easy to get to from Nagano. Lovely, friendly staff, ski hire, lift tickets and meals. Clean rooms, comfortable beds, onsen, good wifi with breakfast and dinner available.
- Jan (10/5): Ski with family and friends - Position for skiing and easy to get to via bus from Nagano and then down on the gondola, a minutes walk to Aspen Shiga. Easy and friendly checkin, clean room, very comfortable. Hired our skies etc from the Aspen Shiga. Plus 2 and 3 day ski tickets purchased from Aspen Shiga are good value. We stayed 10 days, good weather and great snow. Good selection of foods at breakfast and dinners. We were a group of 7 family and friends who occupied 3 rooms. They also have a cafe downstairs with hood food and baked goods. The cafe turned into a bar in the evening which was fun. N/A
- Jacqueline (10/5): Very much enjoyed it. - Good location. Although not central to all the Shiga Kogen ski areas, it was easy to get around using the ski lifts and was very convenient to the Yamanoeki bus station.
Our host was very helpful and the meals were authentic Japanese fare. All good
- Leanne (8/5): Very good - Fantastic location which has kept its Japanese heritage. Ski in and ski out and the buffet is excellent Somewhat isolated with not much nearby
- Paul (10/5): We loved our stay at Aspen Shiga, the location is perfect. - The staff are fantastic, the onsen is amazing and how about that location!!! Nothing not to like, it was great
- James (10/5): Exceptional -
- Manliu (5/5): Passable -
- Dan (10/5): Exceptional -
- Meiwang (8/5): Very good -
- Matthew (10/5): Amazing place, can't recommend enough! - Amazing hotel, access directly onto the slopes and amazing hosts. The apple pie lives up to the reviews. Just an amazing place all round. That we can't eat the apple pie now we have left
- Leanne (8/5): Central ski location but no private shower - Location was central and could ski to lifts. Room was clean and serviced everyday (although we didn't require). Breakfast and dinners had a lot of variety and were good. Staff friendly. No private showers - nude onsen not really suitable for most western families. Installation of at least one private shower in the hotel would be a great addition. Hallway paint/carpet etc pretty dated. Skis we hired from hotel were cheap but fairly old.
- Jason (10/5): Exceptional - Proximity to the ski area
Great service
Excellent breakfast and dinner
- Gary (8/5): Very good -
- Peter (9/5): Always enjoy our stay here. Would definitely come back again. - Great staff and great food. Ski in, ski out location.
- Ivan (8/5): Very good - very friendly staff, very good selection buffet breakfast. 2500 for buffet dinner.
Good size drying room and storage for winter gear.
Easy access from Yamanoeki bus stop and down the Pulse gondola.
Great ski in/out location in Shiga Kogen Central.
- Fiona (8/5): Ski-in-ski-out - It’s VERY quiet if you like quiet. It’s a ski-in-ski-out, great for family with kids, or a big group of friends. But keep in mind there is no village. You have to eat dinner at the hotel, unless you have a car. But the owner was super lovely! Would stay there again just because of the owner! No village unlike Nosawa Onsen, but that’s not the hotel’s fault.
- Aaron (10/5): Exceptional -
- Leonard (10/5): Exceptional - Everything at Aspen is great. Homely and chilled out vibe. The staff were great and very attentive. Satou-San was especially helpful with all my queries and questions. This is a true ski in ski out accommodation. What you get for the price you pay is unbeatable.
- James (7/5): Ski in, ski out. - Close to slopes. Tatami mats are uncomfortable to sleep on.
- Lin (8/5): Very good -
- Natasha (9/5): We had a fabulous time at Shiga Kogen largely because of the wonderful hospitality at Aspen Shiga! - The staff were extremely friendly - went out of their way to try to be accommodating. The onsen was also great, the rooms warm, the food tasty and exciting. I was a bit nervous about the snow in mid-March but higher up the mountain the snow was fabulous and we had a great time meeting the guests of the hotel too. Nothing - this was the first place we stayed in our trip and it was a great place to start!
- Cevat (10/5): Exceptional - the food was really good and well thought. I recommend to eat dinner at the hotel. The staff was very kind. The room was warm and clean
- Judy (9/5): Excellent Japanese stay - The inn sits at the base of the Giant ski slope behind Yamanoeki. It is currently reached by gondola but the owner will fetch you from Yamanoeki if it is required. The rooms are tatami mat rooms and you sleep on futons. Some rooms have a private toilet, bathing is done in the public bath on the basement floor. In the basement there is the ski rental area, dry room, ski locker room, toilets and laundry facilities. On the first floor is the reception and cafe. The second floor is the dining room and children's play area with a fire. Breakfast is buffet style, dinner is a Japanese kaiseki meal. Every dinner was excellent and is really good value at 2000yen per adult. The hotel also serves the local craft beer on draft. The first floor cafe can be used for lunch and also includes a small bakery section. Guests are encouraged to spend their evenings in their rooms, use of the common areas is not encouraged. Maybe due to the season the room heaters do not work all of the time.
- Christian (9/5): perfect slightly old school family getaway - perfect location and set-up for family ski there aren’t really any shops so bring your own bits and pieces but friendly staff, nice meals and ski rental all on site so not much more needed
- Virgile (10/5): Exceptional -
- Ben (9/5): Superb -
- Elizaeth (9/5): Superb - Lovely traditional ski chalet. Staff friendly and helpful. Good size rooms with comfortable futons. Great location. Meals enjoyable. Nothing
- Natarsha (7/5): Good -
- Ellie (10/5): Exceptional -
- John (8/5): A great value for money trip with great accommodation and meals giving a true Japanese experience. - Staff and service were excellent.
Food was generous and good with a wide variety.
Proximity to multiple ski lifts. True ski in/out. The common areas/dining room were a bit cold at times and nowhere to spend the day if you decided not to ski. Rooms are really for sleeping only and only a small dark lounge/kids area. But if you are out skiing in all weather this is not an issue. We had rain one day and blizzard conditions another.
- Jeremy (9/5): Superb - The location is great as it’s right next to the ski hill. The breakfast was also very tasty and filling. The Wi-Fi hardly worked at all and the garbage bin wasn’t cleaned from the previous stay.
- Ong (8/5): Good location for snow facilities! - Staff met us at the Yamanoeki bus stop and took us to hotel by Gondola.
Both breakfast and dinner were very good and value for money. The pastries were especially good. Ski rental is available and can get cheaper ski tickets through them. Excellent service from staff. Baths are shared at onsen. Toilets are shared on each level. We requested for room with private toilet.
- Dwannylyn (8/5): Very good -
- Barrie (10/5): Great location, friendly and excellent value - The staff are so helpful and friendly.
This is truely ski in ski out.
Genuine spring water onsen.
Rooms are comfy and warm.
I had shared toilet, and this was ok, but next time I'll book with my own toilet and wash basin ... no need for bathroom as Onsen is so good.
Great location ... just catch the bus from Nagano to Yamanoeki bus station, down the gondola (free) and you are 30m from Aspen Shiga.
Breakfast is good and dinner for Y2000 also good.
- David (8/5): great experience and owner and his team very helpful. - Location, food and friendly staff -
- Brock (7/5): Good - The room was basic but functional. We had one Western style room and one Japanese style room. Both were fine. The hotel is well located for access to skiing but don't expect any night life. The food was fairly basic but there was lots of it and we all found a couple of items that we liked. It was fine - and a good place for a family ski holiday.
- Silvia (9/5): Coming back soon! - The kind attention of the staff. Mr Sato is a real gentleman that helped with all queries and needs. So well located at the base of the slopes. Real ski in/out!
- Ken (9/5): I like staying here. - This is a good ski in ski out place to stay. The accommodation is clean and pleasant being good value. You can get breakfast included and a very reasonably priced dinner, available. Staff try hard. I have stayed a number of times but felt that the supplied breakfast particularly if you are late was more basic and less available than in the past. Dinner which you pay extra for, at a more than reasonable price, is certainly suffering the same fate. Especially if you are not on the early side, to eat, and there are big meal eating families present.
- Jan (7/5): Good - Location, location, location for ski in and out. Easy to get to - bus from Nagano Station approx. 1 and a half hours. Hop off and gondola down to the hotel. Good size room with bathrooms across the hall from our room. Internet was good in our room 416. Rooms with bathrooms at the front have a good view. The onsen was a good size and very clean plus good hours to use. The hot chocolates and the baked goods - eclairs, cream puffs and deep dish apple pie were great in the cafe downstairs. The lunches options looked good - pizza, spaghetti, ramans, noodles etc. Vending machine for drinks. The ski hire was OK and the ski room/dry room was big. Choice of gondola and two chairs to many ski areas is great. The heating in the hotel was great. We hardly turned ours on the the room, when we did it heated up very fast. The kimono etc provided were very comfortable. The food served for breakfast - 7.30-8.30am - and dinner - 6-7pm - was extremely disappointing. The quality was not what is expected in Japan or Australia. You had to be there just before or at the start of service to get food. The food was never hot, just luke warm or cold - who wants cold bacon or scramble eggs. Once the scramble eggs finished there were no more provided and each morning people missed out. The bread, rolls and croissants were good but again never enough for the amount of guests. There was plenty of fruit - apples and orange. There was very good apple juice. The first night the miso soup was good but the other 4 nights we had dinner it was just awful - not sure how you can mess up miso. After a day skiing you want the meat and vegetable dishes to be hot. The food was served up in bain-maries but they were never lit. There is very little choice of eating elsewhere.
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