Thank you for your hospitality during my traverse of the Hakuba Three Peaks. Perhaps due to the typhoon, it wasn’t very crowded. Even in the shared rooms, the layout provided plenty of space, so overall, my stay was very comfortable. The meals were more than sufficient for a mountain hut, both in terms of portion size and variety. The breakfast bento was also great. The restrooms were clean, and the drying room was at a comfortable temperature. If I have the chance, I’d like to try the beef stew at Sky Plaza. To mark the 120th anniversary, a lecture was held after dinner, and it was great to hear fascinating stories about the lodge’s history and the historical context of Hakuba Village.

It was a semi-private room, but I was able to relax quietly. However, since the lighting didn’t reach that part of the room—even before lights-out—it was a bit of a hassle to pack my bags. I understand it’s necessary to conserve electricity, so I suppose it can’t be helped, but that was a slight disappointment. The toilet was flushable and clean, which was great. Also, the drinking water was free, which was a huge help. As for the meals, I really liked the breakfast menu—it had a great variety. The weather wasn’t great this time, so next time I’d like to visit a place with better weather.

The walls in the room had been repainted since my last stay, making it feel even cleaner. The bento box was generous in portion, and the side dishes and pickles were delicious. Since I’m a slow eater, it was difficult for me to finish in 40 minutes, so I’d appreciate it if you could extend the time limit.

Compared to the meals at the Hakuba-dake Summit Lodge, I find the menu at the Summit Lodge—where you can get seconds of the side dishes—more appealing. As for accommodations, Hakuba Mountain Lodge has the edge 👊

With Wi-Fi, vending machines, and charging stations, it was so comfortable you wouldn't believe it was a mountain hut. The restrooms even had bidets.

I stayed at Hakuba Sanso for one night starting on September 19, so I’ll base my review on that experience. For my overall rating, I’ve averaged the scores across each evaluation category and rated it as “Good.” Below, I’ll provide details on each evaluation category. First, regarding the baths: Since Hakuba Sanso does not have any, I will exclude this from the evaluation criteria. Next, regarding meals: Both dinner and breakfast were very satisfying in terms of portion size and taste. As for the menu, I felt that dinner was thoughtfully designed to provide the nutrients needed to recover from the fatigue of mountain climbing. Breakfast featured a fish-based menu, and I appreciated the effort made to ensure the food was easy to eat. As for the room, since seven of us stayed in an 8-tatami-mat Japanese-style room, it did feel a bit cramped at times. However, it provided a great opportunity for close interaction with more experienced mountain travelers, and we had a wonderful time. The bedding was clean; although I had brought my own fitted sheet, I didn’t feel it was necessary. As for the service, since our interactions were limited to the front desk and mealtimes, my evaluation is based on those experiences. The front desk staff provided standard service—nothing particularly noteworthy. During meals, however, the staff worked hard, even clearing away dishes for us.

This was my first visit to the Mt. Hakuba Mountain Lodge. The staff at the front desk and in the dining room were incredibly welcoming! After dinner, the talk about the lodge’s 120-year history held at Sky Plaza was also wonderful! Hearing that story helped me appreciate the lodge’s charm even more! It’s now one of the places I’d love to visit again!

It’s a real luxury to be able to use electricity and water without a hitch at such a clean mountain lodge. Many of the staff at the lodge were cheerful, courteous, and wonderful people.

Thank you very much for your hospitality this time. When I previously hiked the Hakuba Three Peaks in a tent, I stopped by the Sky Plaza Café at Hakuba Sanso and was so impressed by the delicious black tea brewed from loose leaves and the cakes that I decided I absolutely had to stay here next time—which is why I came. Overall, it exceeded my expectations. What I especially liked were the incredibly clean restrooms equipped with Washlet bidets (which is a huge plus since using restrooms in the mountains is usually a chore), the anniversary slide show in the evening (the stories were both entertaining and informative), and the light meals at the café (draft beer and sausages, wine, cake, and tea— It’s great that they’re served starting at 5:30 a.m., so I could stop by before leaving), the spacious sleeping quarters (it was a large room in the building with the front desk, but the rooms were separated by gender, and the one next to me was empty, which I appreciated), and the kind staff. The collaborative products with Mauve—a brand I collect—were also lovely, so I bought a few. If I had to name a few areas for improvement, I’d say the Sky Plaza closes during dinner time, so I’d like it to stay open a bit later (I’d like to be able to buy wine or sake, even from a vending machine); and I’d like the beef stew dinner to be available by reservation for an additional fee (since the start times are all the same when coming from Tsugaike, and I can’t walk that fast), and—though this might just be a seasonal thing—it feels like there’s a smaller selection of goods at the gift shop compared to when I visited a few years ago (back then, there were lots of items with attractive designs, like lovely paper-cut bookmarks, and I had a hard time deciding which ones to buy. The Raizo T-shirts are cute, but I’d also like to see some designs that are a bit more stylish and elegant), and it might be nice to have a standout dish on the dinner menu—something that could become a signature specialty of Hakuba Sanso. That said, it’s still wonderful as it is. I was deeply impressed by the anniversary slide show, which highlighted how this company—which operates such a large-scale network of mountain huts—has consistently embraced new technologies and pursued a bold, forward-thinking management style, both in the past and present. I’d love to stay here again the next time I visit Hakuba.

I’ve stayed here twice. 1) The first time, I injured my ankle. When I spoke with the front desk staff, they gave me some medicated patches, and I was able to make it safely back down the mountain. 2) Following my first stay, I had the good fortune to book a second stay here. The food is always delicious, and I can see that the lodge’s philosophy and commitment to hikers—such as their efforts to serve warm meals—are reflected in the cuisine. Furthermore, their consistent attention to hygiene in the restrooms, washrooms, and other areas is nothing short of commendable. That is all.