I stayed there just before the lodge closed for the season. The staff at Mammoth Lodge were very kind and made a good impression on me, but I do think the pillows need some improvement. They were floppy and didn’t feel like proper pillows to me. Other than that, I had a comfortable stay at the lodge.

It was a clean twin room with plenty of space. Although there was no air conditioning, blankets were provided, so I didn't feel cold. The meals were delicious, and the portions were generous. Above all, the staff's dedication really put me in a good mood.

Since the room was right above the stairs, we were completely exposed without curtains, which was a shame, especially since it was in a high-traffic area. It was also a shame that the directions to the restaurant for dinner were hard to follow, so we couldn't make a reservation. Still, I was satisfied with the semi-private room!

The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the mountain lodge was in the perfect spot to watch the sunrise, so it was great. It made for some wonderful memories!

On the day of our visit, the weather was clearly bad and cold. We finally made it to Hakuba Sanso, dropped off our luggage, and were checking in when we saw a staff member—apparently because another guest had left their luggage on a chair—roughly set down their backpack while angrily demanding, “Please don’t leave your luggage here!” Since he was directing his comments at us—who had nothing to do with the situation—I was honestly annoyed. At the front desk, there wasn’t even a simple “Thank you for your hard work,” and I found his attitude disappointing—perhaps because he was still frustrated with the guest who had left their backpack there. Hakuba Mountain Lodge is a large and famous lodge, but it was the most unpleasant experience I’ve ever had at a mountain lodge.

I really appreciated the semi-private room for two. The price was reasonable—just an extra 2,000 yen. It was also a great deal because it included a beef stew set meal at Sky Plaza.

The pork miso soup for dinner was delicious. It really warmed my tired body. Flush toilets are the best. When I went to the restroom at 4:00, I noticed the used toilet paper was still piled up, so I thought it might be more pleasant to use the restroom if it were collected at night. The lecture on the 120th anniversary was also a great opportunity to learn about Hakuba’s history, and I really enjoyed listening to it. It’s a shame I couldn’t buy mauve’s 120th-anniversary ptarmigan pin because it was sold out 😢 I hope they’ll restock it❗️

The room in Building 2 was cold because of drafts. I was glad the restroom was clean. I had a lot of trouble because the water in the sink wouldn’t start running in the morning. Dinner was hearty and delicious, but one oyaki was enough for breakfast. It was a shame that the staff was generally unfriendly. The next day, I stayed at Asahi Cabin, where everyone smiled at me or chatted with me every time we passed each other—it was really nice—so it was a shame in comparison.