Is this really a mountain lodge? It felt just like staying at a traditional inn. Since I had a private room, the atmosphere was calm, and I was able to really relax. The restroom even had a bidet and felt very clean. Since it’s a large mountain lodge, dinner was served in shifts. We couldn’t choose our time slot—I guess they assigned them based on arrival order? The portion sizes were just right, and the food was delicious. However, I think due to rising fuel costs and inflation, the beer prices were the highest I’ve ever seen at a mountain lodge: 1,200 yen for draft beer and 1,000 yen for a 500ml can. Breakfast was served at Sky Plaza with a spectacular view, though it was a bit foggy—which is common, of course. It was great that they served coffee after the meal. I had ordered a bento box, but there was no explanation of when I could pick it up, and I hadn’t received a voucher either. When I asked at the dining hall in the morning, I was told to go to the front desk; when I went there, I was met with a look that suggested I’d lost the voucher. I wish they had provided a polite explanation and shown some remorse. The Brocken spectre, ptarmigans, and various wildflowers—it was a whirlwind of wonder. Since the pandemic, all mountain huts have adopted a reservation system, and it’s quite difficult to secure a reservation in the Northern Alps as easily as I’d like. This time, too, I waited online at the start of the booking period to secure a reservation. I feel that the deposit system makes it difficult to make changes when traveling in a large group. This time, one person had to cancel due to illness. Since some people might insist on climbing anyway, it would be helpful if the period during which the deposit is charged could be set to end just before the scheduled stay. I was able to relax thoroughly—thank you very much.

Check-in went smoothly using a QR code. Since this year marks the 120th anniversary, there were events—including presentations on the history of Hakuba Sanso—which I really enjoyed.

Due to severe weather, we had to stay overnight on short notice, but we were able to make the reservation smoothly online. Even though we booked on the day of our stay, there was no same-day surcharge until 9:00 a.m., which was a huge help. Also, although we couldn’t go out due to the stormy weather, we were able to relax and read in the lounge area. What surprised me most of all was that the restrooms were clean and all equipped with Washlet bidets. The next day, the weather cleared up, and we were able to hike along the beautiful ridgeline of Mt. Hakuba. Both the stormy weather and the ridgeline made for a memorable mountain trip.

Compared to the Otenjo Mountain Hut along the Ginza Ridge Trail, the breakfast and dinner menus were too simple and didn’t live up to expectations.

It was amazing to finally get to stay at Hakuba Sanso Go-nen 🐴, a place I’d always wanted to visit 😊. The restrooms were clean and comfortable. Thank you so much 😊.

I stayed at the largest mountain lodge in Japan. I was very satisfied with the meals—I could have seconds of rice and soup. I was also surprised at how clean the washrooms and restrooms were. There was even Wi-Fi at the front desk. We stayed in a room with three people, but there were futons set out for eight. I thought that if the place were fully booked and eight people had to fit into that room, it would be so cramped that I wouldn’t want to stay there.

Thank you for your hospitality during our mountain hike with my daughter. I was thrilled by the highly recommended cake and coffee I’d been looking forward to, but I was also deeply impressed by the incredibly beautiful restrooms, the spotless cleanliness of the facility—not a speck of dust in sight—and the warm smiles of the staff. It really helped me recover from the fatigue of the climb, and I was able to enjoy the next morning’s hike from Gorae to Tsugaike. I hope to visit again and try a different route. Thank you very much.

Although we had to extend our stay due to bad weather, I’m satisfied because we were able to relax comfortably inside the safe building. The reception building was spacious and very cozy. As for the meals, they were nutritionally balanced and delicious. However, personally, I was a little disappointed that the menu was the same for each night of our stay. As for the room, since there were four of us, it was comfortable. Oh, and the toilet had a warm-water bidet—that was fantastic (it might help prevent unpleasant odors from used toilet paper). The Sky Plaza was really cozy, too. It turned out to be a great mountain trip.

Of course, it wasn’t as convenient as life down below, but it was a wonderful base that allowed us to escape our daily routines and escape into a different world in the Northern Alps.

The five of us stayed in a special 8-tatami-mat private room, and considering the space needed for our luggage, it was just the right size. Aside from the pillows being a little hard, there were no particular issues, and the room offered a great view of Mt. Tsurugi. The breakfast at Sky Plaza was particularly noteworthy. Enjoying croissants, omelets, sausages, salad, rice, and coffee while gazing at Mount Tsurugi was a luxurious experience on par with that of a hotel.