Customer Service: I was impressed by the young staff—who looked like students—as they worked hard to be cheerful and friendly. On the other hand, the arrogant attitude of what appeared to be a veteran employee was unbearable. For example, when I asked at check-in, “Is it busy today?” they didn’t answer right away but looked down on me with an attitude that seemed to say, “It’s a weekday, after all” (as if that goes without saying). My neighbor in the sleeping area seemed unwell and was resting, so when I was stretching on the adjacent sleeping platform, they yelled at me in a loud, high-handed tone, “Don’t just go in there without permission—we have to clean that area, don’t we?” Rooms: Even though only 20 people were booked for a 90-minute session, they blocked off more than half the space, forcing guests into rooms without windows (since weekdays and weekends have the same rate, weekdays should be prioritized. If this is the opposite of the dynamic pricing seen elsewhere, comfort should be a factor. I’m not giving it a 1 because the restrooms are decent). Dinner: It was supposedly homemade curry, but it had no ingredients and no side dishes. Guests were crammed into a narrow table and finished eating in silence within about 5 to 8 minutes—and that was it. (It reminded me of a standing-only soba shop.) The miso soup tasted good, so I won’t give it a 1, but the combination with the curry was odd. Overall: I’ve been staying at mountain huts all over the country for about 40 years, but this time, to put it simply, I felt like a “prisoner in a jail.” I was crammed into a windowless silkworm-rearing shed with no space to relax (if you’re in the dining hall, you’re kicked out during meal prep; the self-catering room is well-designed, but it’s enveloped in the overpowering, sweat-soaked stench of the drying room, making it unusable for anyone). The sense of liberation I felt when I left the lodge that morning made me vow never to be “imprisoned” there again. Since there are no other lodging options for climbing Mt. Goryu, I hope to see significant improvements—both in facilities and service—to better care for the physical and mental well-being of guests. *Although I’ve written harshly above, my love for the mountains and mountain huts remains unchanged; I hope you’ll take this as an expression of my high expectations for Gorō Mountain Lodge, which has great potential.

Since I’m self-employed, I like to go on weekdays depending on the weather, but I’ve found it inconvenient since reservations became mandatory. Since the rules regarding reservation deposits and such vary by campground, I sometimes get confused trying to remember which one had which policy. This time, I was told the deposit could be carried over even if I changed my dates, so I figured I’d just have to deal with it. In the end, I was able to go on the scheduled dates, so it wasn’t stressful at all. The campground was well-maintained and comfortable. The views were amazing. Well, the weather did start to clear up on the morning of the second day after we’d packed up our tents… It’s close to the mountain hut, and the staff at the front desk and the gift shop were very friendly. We knew from Instagram that they served draft beer, so we ordered some, but people around us drinking canned beer told us, “We didn’t know that!” so they should probably promote it more. The draft beer was absolutely delicious. The bento box we ordered for breakfast was also very tasty. I’m glad we ordered it! It was foggy at the summit of Goryu, so I’d like to come back. I thought it was a cozy mountain hut with a warm atmosphere.

I spent the night in a tent. I climbed the Tomi Ridge, but since I wasn’t confident in my stamina and thought I might have to turn back partway, I looked up a phone number to contact someone in case that happened—but couldn’t find one. In the end, I made it to the top. My cell phone was out of range during the ascent and descent, so I think it would be good to have a way to contact someone other than via the web.

It looks like they’ve renovated—the restrooms inside the building, in particular, are clean and odor-free. I chose a room with a silkworm rack, but the space per person was less than one tatami mat. However, perhaps because it was a weekday, they left one space open between me and the person next to me. The curry had an authentic flavor, and the miso soup was packed with ingredients. You can get unlimited refills on both.

I spent the night in a tent. Thank you so much for the wonderful campsite.

This was my first time staying at Goryu Mountain Lodge. From check-in to check-out, my stay was comfortable and went smoothly. The staff at the lodge were very kind. The restrooms and sinks were clean and well-maintained. The dining hall was also very clean. In addition to the beverage vending machines, there was hot water and a water cooler, which was very helpful. I stayed in a private room, and it was very comfortable. The lights in the hallway stayed on even in the middle of the night, so I was able to go to the restroom without needing a headlamp. Although it was only one night, it was a wonderful time and an unforgettable experience. Thank you very much for your hospitality.

We stayed there just before the summer season, and it was very clean, the food was delicious, and we were completely satisfied. I was especially impressed by how clean the restrooms were.

It's a very nice cabin with a clean, fresh feel. The food was excellent, too. There were plenty of restrooms, and they even had bidets, which made it very comfortable. It was just a shame that the Wi-Fi didn't reach the tatami room.

I’ve been staying here every year. This year, the place has been beautifully renovated, and it’s now clean and comfortable. I stayed in the “Silkworm Room” again this time, but it was a bit cramped. Compared to before the pandemic, I think it’s become incredibly comfortable. Since reservations now require credit card payment, it might be a bit of a hurdle for seniors who aren’t comfortable using smartphones. It might be fine once you get used to it, though. The drying room was also clean, and I enjoyed using it. Since the second floor of the “Silkworm Room” was open, I thought that if they had spread out the guests a bit, we could have slept without feeling cramped. The staff were gentle and pleasant to deal with, and I was happy to see some of the same people who were there last year. The curry was delicious.