Six of us stayed here for one night. This was our first time staying at Hakuba Sanso. I’d heard it was the largest mountain lodge, but I was simply amazed by the sheer number of guests. We visited right in the middle of peak season, and I was truly impressed by how smoothly they managed to serve dinner to about 150 people across four seatings. I was also impressed by how carefully the meals were plated—there wasn’t a single sloppy detail. Given its size, facilities, and even a medical office, staying here provided a great sense of security.

The beef stew was really delicious.

I was really looking forward to dinner, but the rice was mushy, and even though I was hungry, I couldn’t really bring myself to eat much. The rooms are one tatami mat per person, which is standard for a mountain lodge. The restroom, which had been renovated, was clean and comfortable to use.

The smell from the bathroom wafted up at dawn, which was unpleasant 💦 Other than that, I was very satisfied. Thank you very much.

If I had to pick just one thing, it was during dinner when a foreign staff member was wiping down the tables to prepare them for the next group. It happened while they were spraying some kind of disinfectant—or was it just a spray?—and wiping the tables down with a cloth. We weren’t wearing slippers, but the foreign staff member was dropping all the trash that had accumulated on the tables onto the floor. This happened at every table. Naturally, food and other trash were scattered all over the floor, and there was even trash on the chair at my own seat. When I asked the foreign staff member to lend me a cloth, they wiped it down for me, but they just ran the cloth over the surface—it wasn’t actually clean—so I asked for the cloth and wiped it down myself. I didn’t have time to look at the floor, but on my way out, I saw there was a lot of trash on the floor, and it stuck firmly to my socks. I suppose it’s inevitable that people from different countries have different levels of consideration, but other guests have had the same experience. I think if you could provide some retraining, we’d be able to enjoy our stay much more.

The futon was damp, and the moisture even transferred to my clothes. I had brought a pair of fleece-lined pants—even though they were heavy—hoping to stay comfortable at the mountain lodge, but they ended up soaking up all the moisture. Also, the rooms near the restroom had a pretty strong odor. Compared to other mountain lodges, everything was more expensive. It was hard to figure out how to change my reservation plan. Other guests were saying the same thing.

I stayed in a special private room. The woman at the front desk guided me through check-in in a clear and cheerful manner, which was very pleasant. The room had an outlet where I could charge my cell phone, and there was Wi-Fi (though the connection was a bit spotty—maybe due to heavy traffic). The restroom was brand-new, which I really appreciated. The only downside was dinner: since it was a Saturday right after the rainy season ended, the place was crowded, and the policy was a fixed 40-minute time slot—once you finished eating, you had to leave your seat. I understand they have to serve hundreds of people, but I think weekdays might be a better option. For breakfast, if you’re staying in a special private room, you can eat at Sky Plaza starting at 5:30 a.m. without having to wait in line. If you’re in the regular dining hall, breakfast is served on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:00 a.m., but there was already a line at 4:30 a.m.

It was my first time staying at Hakuba Sanso, and I had a very comfortable stay. Thank you very much.