I stayed in a shared Japanese-style room. The room had power outlets and USB ports, and the lighting was indirect with a dimmer function. The toilet even had a Washlet, and there was free Wi-Fi—it was so well-equipped that it didn’t feel like a mountain hut at all, and I had a very comfortable stay. The meals were delicious as well, and all the participants were thoroughly satisfied with this mountain hut. Thank you very much. I have the following two suggestions: ・Since there is no cell phone reception in the rooms, it would be even better if Wi-Fi were available in the rooms as well. ・Regarding cancellation fees, considering the safety of hikers, I think it should be waived in certain weather conditions (such as when warnings are issued).

I made a reservation for several people at Goryu Sanso, but one person fell ill two days before the stay, so I tried to cancel. However, even when I clicked the “Change Number of Guests” option online, I couldn’t proceed to the relevant procedure at all. Is this a system glitch? If so, I’d like you to fix it. So I called, but no matter how many times I dialed throughout the day, the line was always busy. As a result, I submitted a message via the “Inquiries” form stating, “I want to cancel one person’s reservation but am unable to complete the process,” but ultimately received no reply (though I did get a confirmation that my inquiry had been received…). What on earth does it mean to receive no reply? I felt this reflected a failure in their customer service system. Also, at the lodge reception, we were informed about meal times. While meals are typically served in three sittings when there are many guests, we were told that because there were few guests that day, there would be only one sitting starting at 5:00 PM. What puzzled me was that we had planned to climb to the summit of Mount Gorō after arriving at the lodge, but since it would have been difficult to return by 5:00 PM, we had no choice but to give up on that plan. If dinner times are subject to change depending on circumstances, shouldn’t this be explained in advance on the website? There are surely many hikers who, after arriving at the lodge, aim to reach the summit before dinner, so even if there are few guests, some consideration should be given to the timing—such as offering at least two meal times—for those who are unlikely to make it back by 5:00 PM. It is extremely disappointing that the staff’s convenience is prioritized over that of the guests. Furthermore, at the front desk, I was shown a sheet of instructions listing room names and numbers. As I was reading it, the main staff member, who was looking at a screen, snapped at me impatiently, “Don’t you need to take a photo?!” Why did I have to be spoken to like that? It wasn’t even worth going out of my way to take a photo, and normally, the correct thing to say—even from a common-sense perspective—would be, “Please feel free to take a photo if you need one.” I’d like them to learn to be more considerate in how they phrase things, putting themselves in the other person’s shoes. I should note, however, that the rest of the staff’s service was not a problem at all; in fact, it was quite good.

Charging your smartphone is free. The curry for dinner was absolutely delicious. I even had a little seconds. The drying room has a jet heater running, so things dry quickly and you can pack them right back into your backpack. Part of the building has been renovated, and the restrooms are brand new—both the men’s and women’s are flush toilets, odor-free, and clean. I think it’s the best mountain hut there is.

I arrived much too early in the rain, so thank you for the warm drink. I also appreciated being able to check in early and the free smartphone charging. The renovations made the Washlet very comfortable. The food was also delicious. Curry rice at a mountain lodge is the best. There were five of us, so it was a shame we had to be split into two groups. Thank you for your hospitality. Representative: Hatsue Enomoto

・I was very pleased with the cutting-edge initiatives, such as barcode check-in—just like at major hotels— and cashless payments. ・The curry served for dinner, including the side dishes, was absolutely delicious. It truly lived up to its reputation as a local specialty. ・I was surprised by how clean the restrooms were. Also, the shower toilets were a revolutionary feature for a mountain lodge and very welcome. ・One area I’d like to see improved is that when I asked to exchange an unused T-shirt I’d purchased via PayPay for a different color, I was told it wasn’t possible. I don’t understand why I can’t exchange it, since all colors are the same price.

They handled any issues that arose during our stay with great care.

The room and bathroom were clean and comfortable.

One of our group members who was with us this time fell ill, but thank you for your quick and thoughtful response. Thank you also for providing a place where they could rest comfortably.

The staff were all very helpful. They handled my phone inquiries politely, which put me at ease as I prepared for my hike. It was a huge help to be able to ask the members of the Nagano Prefecture Mountain Accident Prevention Team about the weather and trail conditions without hesitation.

Thank you for your hospitality. The entire facility was clean and comfortable. In particular, the restrooms were odor-free and clean, and the private stalls were spacious enough to double as changing rooms. The meals were delicious as well. I was happy that for dinner, I could get seconds not only of rice but also of the curry sauce. Breakfast was served in a box resembling a Shokado bento, which made it look more upscale. The flavor balance was also excellent. It was a bit of a shame that the only lunch option was Cup Noodles. I suppose, given the kitchen’s circumstances, it might be difficult to serve a full lunch. I was happy to finally purchase the “I Love Mountains, I Love Sake” T-shirt that I’d been wanting for years. This is definitely a mountain lodge I’d love to visit again. But the Tomi Ridge is a long hike… (wry smile)