Wakata Lodge Hakuba

Just finished with the kindergarten lottery, so I took some time off to bring my two kids to Hakuba for an off-peak relaxation trip, and this hotel was a great experience! 1. **Excellent Service**: They have staff who speak Chinese, so communication was seamless. The owner and staff were incredibly friendly and proactively recommended many local activities suitable for kids. Even though it's not the peak ski season, bringing the kids here for outdoor activities in Hakuba during this time was so comfortable and enjoyable. 2. **Comfortable Stay**: The room was clean and tidy, and the facilities were well-maintained. It was very comfortable for us and the kids. The room has its own private toilet. The showers are on the first floor, which I knew beforehand from my research, and it was perfectly fine for both me and the kids! 3. **Lovely Atmosphere**: The overall feeling was like staying at a relative's house in Japan – warm and cozy, without the impersonal feel of a typical hotel. The kids felt very relaxed playing here. 4. **Incredible Value for Money**: To have such a great experience at this price is truly fantastic value!

The accommodation is close to the ski resort, but the downside is that there's no en-suite bathroom, only a toilet. The description wasn't clear about this. You have to get naked and shower in a communal bath, like an onsen 😅

👍Amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing!

I booked this hotel 4 days and 3 nights in advance for a skiing trip in Hakuba, but the facilities were so bad I'll never come back. The room was basic. My 'mountain view' room, which was supposed to have a private shower, had paper-thin window coverings that made it feel like daytime even at 9 PM. Being near the road, there was also vehicle and machinery noise until 10 PM. The windows were thin and had no proper curtains, so it was too bright to sleep by 6 AM. The toilet in the bathroom was decades old and broken. The entire bathroom was small and run-down. When I booked, it said 'mountain view room' wasn't available, so I chose a 'standard twin.' The hotel didn't mention on the booking that it required shared bathrooms, which is misleading information and deceptive to consumers. I only found out at check-in that there was no private bathroom and I'd have to use the public showers. The walk from my room to the public showers on the first floor was incredibly cold and damp. My room was on the second floor, and I had to carry my own luggage downstairs. The so-called 'mountain view' room actually faced a graveyard right outside the window, and the parking lot was also next to a graveyard. Paying 1698 yen a night felt like staying in a youth hostel. Since it was a three-day holiday weekend in Japan, I couldn't book any other hotels. I've been to Japan five times, each trip lasting over half a month, and this is the worst hotel I've ever stayed in. To make matters worse, the hotel is owned by Chinese people. It's truly disheartening to be scammed by fellow Chinese abroad.

Our stay was absolutely wonderful. The hotel's interior was beautifully designed, and the bed was incredibly comfortable, allowing us to sleep soundly. Its proximity to the Iwatake tourist area was especially convenient. We also truly appreciated the staff's attentive and heartfelt service. We had a very comfortable and satisfying experience and would love to stay again.