Makiko was an amazing host! She provided me with so much information on the area and where to ski it was very helpful! The accomodation is beautiful, spacious and definitely value for money in what can otherwise be an expensive location. I’m so grateful to makiko and her family she even organised a taxi for me on the way home!! The accomodation is very close to the sakka slopes about a 5 minute walk so I didn’t even need to catch a shuttle bus each day! I hope I can come again!

The hospitality of the whole family was just so lovely. It was such a nice experience and I am really thankful of the kindness!

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Main concern I had before booking was how far from the ski fields it was. However, after getting there, the hosts showed that there was a short path through the forest (3-5 mins walk) - after which it was a short (<1 min) ski/ board down (green run/ pretty flat almost too much so) to the Sakka slope chair lifts + lift ticket office. There's also a way to return via the same/ similar forest path (walking or skiing through trees -> I had to walk) through a green run (slight modification -> ask the hosts) where you can end up above the accomodation (so it's a downhill walk back 5min~). Super convenient if Happo One is the main spot you're going to be skiing/ boarding at. Walking down to the town is about a 20-25 minute walk (would not recommend walking up it, especially with gear). I normally dropped my stuff off then walked to town to stretch my legs + took a taxi back when I was returning (sometimes taxi wait is long as there's a lot of tourists). There's a few hot springs in town as well as a private one closer to the accomodation (need to reserve). Foodwise, there's a bunch of places around the accomodation - I mainly went to Sakka Sansou as I wanted something Japanese. The advantage over the places in town is that there's generally shorter lines. Matsuri fireworks bar is also a bit outside of town that has a bunch of nice food trucks. I underestimated how slippery ice/ snow was so definitely bring good footwear. In terms of the accomodation itself, it's pretty good if you're fine with the basics (excellent standard of the basics). I was a solo traveller, so the rooms were pretty big/ I had the other beds to lay my stuff out on. I think that with two people it'd be fine (Japan room-wise). The bathroom is a bit small, but I mainly went to the hot springs anyway. There are stairs (1f) to get to the room, and narrow stairs (1f) to the basement where the gear is stored (also a door outside).

Decided to walk back one day when I had my snowboard gear + the weather wasn't bad/ roads weren't too icy + the taxi wait time was 1 hour - had walked down it so thought it'd be alright. Was definitely not alright. Should have called the taxi ahead of time since I had to catch it after dinner/ hot springs (~9pm which is a pretty busy time)

very

Close to lifts (short drive or longish walk)

Not enough places to hang clothes in the room.