Reviews - Hakkoda

Berjaya Hakkoda Ski Resort Resort guest reviews

01 February, 2025

This was our third trip to Japan and Hakkoda. In previous years we have divided the trip into one week in Hakkoda and one weak at another ski resort, but this year the entire period was in Hakkoda. And we are super satisfied with our stay.

The first weak we stayed at Berjaya Ski resort and the last days we stayed at the old hotel Sukayu Onsen.

Berjaya was the best, The short distance to the ropeway was super.

We had strong winds six out of ten days but it didn´t matter much. We went up with skins from the top of the old chair lift instead, it took a long time but it was still a great ride down.

Have a nice day/Claes

Mid feb 2024

Your service is always wonderful

Hakkoda Resort Hotel is looking tired -needs a big refurbishment

Hakkoda resort itself is getting too crowded especially on weekends -we only go back because of our friends

Regards
Soni

22nd January 2023

The rooms are adequate but have a big step into the bathroom. The food was totally Japanese and served at your table. Probably a Covid thing, but got a bit too much after 6 days. Not ski out with a decent hill to climb to the lifts. The resort is hard work unless you are fit, younger and strong.

Thomas

Mid Feb 2020

We had a great time at the Hakkoda resort hotel although we found the lift lines are getting longer and longer each year.

Best wishes

Sonja

Early Feb 2020

Thank you for arranging our trip in Japan, your service was excellent.

I enjoyed Hakkoda skiing and both places we stayed at.

My concern with Hakkoda is the number of sight seeing tourists filling up the one and only rope tow (cable car) this created enormously long waiting times in between ski runs. Without another lift just for skiers to take to the top of the mountain I would not look to come back in the future.

Thank you

Georgie

Mid January 2020

It was great! Above everything else I'd have to say the staff were fantastic. Great bunch of people who were so welcoming and friendly. They made our stay really enjoyable. Rooms were clean and serviced daily. Food was really good too. Overall, excellent stay. Will certainly recommend and hope to be back again next year.

Tom McManamon

Mid January 2020

Hakkoda Resort Hotel was as usual very good, the staff are always very welcoming and helpful. The evening meals are always beautifully presented and there are a range of options for breakfast.

Hisae at Japan Snow Accommodation as always arranged everything for us and everything went very smoothly. I highly recommend Hisae, she is one of the best travel agents out there.

Sorry we didn’t take many photos this year as it wasn’t the best season snow wise this time, it actually rained a couple of times, but we still had a good time.

Cheers

Annie

Early March 2019

Unfortunately snow conditions at Hakkoda during our visit weren’t great. Back country was closed due to the icy conditions.

Skiing the trees was OK but limited but conditions on the main trail from the top of the roadway to the base were very hard and somewhat icy until lunchtime. Even though skiing was far from optimal the Resort Hotel continues to impress. Accomodation is clean and warm, food is outstanding and service excellent. New management are keen to improve the hotels offering.

15cm of fresh snow on our penultimate night provided some fun on our last day.

Thanks again for your assistance

Regards

Greg

Late Jan 2019

We are back and we had a great time.

Hakkoda wasn't as good as it was last years, we had high winds and the ropeway was closed 6/10 days. However, we made the best out of it.

The service and food was excellent as always.

Thanks again.

Best regards,
Gerhard and Gerhild

Mid Jan 2019

Easy to get to with your directions, thank you

Great location.very comfortable

They do try very hard with lots of food samples. I prefer hearty meals as we had for lunch. Altogether very good.

They try hard to be friendl,y but once their English is not good enough, they shut out.

Peter

Early March 2018

Ski Resort – The ski resort is very different than others. There is only one gondola that accesses two ski courses/runs. However, most people access backcountry from the top of the gondola. We did two backcountry tours with a guide and had a great time seeing the different parts of the mountain. The top of the gondola normally has white out conditions, but marks the two courses/runs with poles and signs. The snow is amazing in Hakkoda and the lack of crowds make it a great powder destination. I will be back to Hakkoda again, it is truly a special place!!!

Accommodations – We stayed at Hakkoda Resort for the second time. Breakfast, dinner and onsen are included in the cost. The onsen is small, but not normally crowded, and is still a great way to end the day after skiing. The meals at Hakkoda are amazing! Breakfast is served buffet style, but dinner is a pre-set meal that includes many dishes/courses. The staff is great too.

Japan Snow Accommodation –Hisae was great and very helpful when booking a 6 night, 2 resort ski tour in Japan. She helped book accommodations, guided tours and taxis. I would definitely recommend booking with Japan Snow Accommodations and especially Hisae!!

Thanks,

Stephanie

Early Feb 2018

Thank you for your enormous help in getting my trip organised so last minute.

Hakkoda Resort Hotel was great- the staff were incredibly welcoming. Hakkoda was definitely my preference, more to explore on the mountain.

Attached is a photo of us in the local paper for an article on tourism.

Thanks again,

Joe

Early Feb 2018

As always everything was just perfect. The service, the food, the room, everything.

On top we've got at least 20-30cm new powder every day, it want get better.

Cheers,

Gerhard

Tohoku February 2018

Well what a fantastic trip we had across the Tohoku region from Aomori into Iwate!

All 3 accommodations booked through Japan Snow Accommodations were superb and offered us different experiences.

We were a group of 4 travelling around the Tohoku region of Japan.

Hakkoda Resort Hotel – Excellent location, great skiing and snow but the ropeway can be wind affected, large relaxing onsen and the food spread each night was simply fantastic. What a unique place it is… and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful.

Aomori Springs Rockwood Hotel – What a beautiful setting and resort. Plenty of powder and skiing that could go into the night for an exceptional powder experience. The hotel was fantastic and was located right on the slopes with easy access and plenty of support amenities. An amazing inside and outside onsen could be enjoyed as the snow fell down around you. Stopping for a satisfying lunch at the ramen house was a highlight to look forward to each day. This place was a gem and worth the effort of getting too! The local Ajigasawa sake is pretty good as well.

Geto Camp 88 – How good is this place?! Yes you are in a large dorm and sharing facilities but it is a fantastic experience where everyone is there with the same appreciative and respectful attitude. Being right on the slopes, plenty of snow, good food and after skiing all day you’re in bed early because your exhausted and feeling great after a couple of beers or sake… it is simply a delight to be able to enjoy such a place. The communal areas allow you to relax whilst the inside and outside onsen are a marvellous place to soak up.

We did this mainly by train which, with a bit of preparation for options, was relatively easy to do and the Japanese people were very friendly, helpful and respectful throughout our travels. Thanks for helping us organise this and we really appreciated the service you provided. Skiing Japan is an adventure to be savoured and a privilege to experience. We’ll be back to all 3 places and more for sure!

Cheers

Pete

Mid Feb 2018

The ropeway was closed 2 of 4 days so my review was probably effected by that as well.

Pros:

Excellent dinners
Great, friendly service
Convenient to Aomori

Cons

Our room was at ground level facing directly into the car park so we had no privacy unless the blinds were shut
Every morning they clear the car park for HOURS starting around 3-4am. The snow clearing tractor beeps loudly and constantly meaning we were woken and kept awake by this every single night through until breakfast
They have a beautiful communal bar area but it was kept closed every night, this meant guests would socialize in their rooms. Walls offer very little sound deadening so we were kept awake most nights
Being a tram which was originally designed for summer sight seeing rather than snow it is not ideally placed on the mountain, so fall line runs are quite short and each run requires quite a bit of traversing. In the past I understand the mountain was very quiet but that's no longer the case. Lines for the tram were long and the easily accessible runs tracked out quickly.

All that said - I enjoyed my visit there but doubt I would go back.

Will

Early January 2018

Your service was great. You arranged the hotel, guide, and transportation and everything was high quality and on time. The food at the hotel was fresh and very tasty. The staff was helpful. The facility was clean. My room was warm and comfortable. Hakkoda is a rustic ski area that requires a either a guide or local knowledge of the area. The guide you provided was knowledgeable, friendly, and prompt. And as you can see from the photos we had very good powder skiing!

Thank you again for arranging this.

Reed Koch
Seattle, WA USA

IMG 0177Edited

Late January 2018

The trip was pretty awesome, we really enjoyed Hakkoda. You really could be closer to the action. We will be back in touch when we want to go again.

Regards

Aaron

Late January 2017

The hotel was great and the lovely staff gave me a nice thank you letter (I suspect with the help on Google Translate) on departure. My wife, son-in-law and daughter also had a very good time. Food was excellent as usual. I will certainly be going back next year. Thanks Mark

Early Feb 2016 We left Hakkoda this morning and I would like to say that we had an excellent stay there. We lived Hakkoda for powder skiing, and we loved staying at Hakkoda Resort Hotel, warmest welcome, great rooms, great onsen, outstanding food! We definitely look forward to coming again next year! Thanks, Isabelle & famiil

Mid March 2015

We had a wonderful time at the Hakkoda Resort Hotel this past weekend. We enjoyed the Ropeway and skiing. The food was very good at the hotel. The rooms were also very nice. We had one complaint. The hotel allows smoking in the main lobby and upstairs in the sitting area. There is no place in the hotel to go and sit without sitting in smoke. That was very disappointing. Thank you again for your help in getting us this reservation. Nina Carr

Early February 2015 I had a fantastic trip thanks, I really enjoyed staying at the hotel, particularly being able to ski to the door, great food, great onsen, friendly staff and comfortable rooms.

Thanks
Geoff

Mid Jan 2016

Just to thank U for everything, we are EXTREMELY HAPPY with the vacation, the amazing skiing the local guide were perfect, and we already plan to be back again!! We loved the skiing and the place, it was great!

Leif

EARLY FEBRUARY 2015

FIRSTLY I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO THE STAFF AT HAKKODA RESORT HOTEL THEY WERE AMAZING,SPECIAL THANKS TO NARITA ,MANUMI AND CON . THE HOTEL LOCATION DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER ,SET IN THE MOUNTAINS AND SHORT WALK TO THE LIFT AND GONDOLA. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING EVERY NIGHT AFTER A BIG DAY ON THE SNOW YOU SAT DOWN TO A BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED 5 COURSE DINNER,BREAKFAST WAS GOOD AS WELL AS IT WAS AN ALL YOU COULD EAT BUFFET. HOTEL WAS KEPT CLEAN AND ROOMS WERE CLEAN EVERYDAY . THE HOTEL ONSEN WAS GREAT TO SOOTH TIRED LEGS. THE MOUNTAIN WAS GREAT HAD PLENTY OF SNOW ,I BOOKED BACKCOUNTRY TOURS WITH SIMON POWDER GUIDES.

DANNY

Early February 2015

We had an amazing time at hakkoda, the accommodation was great, simple rooms which were clean and warm and we loved the traditional feel of the hotel with large onsens, great japanese food and good hosts. Definitely good value. Easy to get to. Got good conditions and some adventurous skiing and exploring. Hardly saw anyone else once off the telecabine. Worthwhie using a guide for a day or two to get the lay of the land. One thing that was a negative was difficult to get back to the hotel if you take one of the longer routes that dont end at the bottom. E.g. at the onsen. Couldn't figure out how to arrange pick ups. Would definitely go back. .

Video Japan Powder Backcountry - Myoko, Hakuba, Hakkoda: {youtube}9SyOdaRbXMQ{/youtube}

Thanks
Paul

Early February 2015

Terrific hotel with a very calm and nice japanese touch to it. We loved the variety of food and good choice of sake. Superb hosts and great staff. Hakkoda as a mountain is very special. Not the steepest but with a good range of backcountry experience. Bring a guide if you want to access the more remote areas as you will need a shuttle service back to the ropeway. We didn't have any new snow but it's said to be one of the places where it snows heaviest in all of Japan (maybe the world?). Would love to visit both Hakkoda and Hakkoda Resort Hotel again. 5/5!

David

Early February 2015

we had a terrific time visiting Hakkoda and the resort hotel. We were lucky to enjoy the mountain with clear blue skies and views were wonderful. I can also testify to the beautiful quality food that we enjoyed at the hotel. Most enjoyable. Thank you as well for organising the accommodation and transfers. As you know the Japanese trains work like clockwork and we were delighted to have our transfer waiting for us following our arrival. We have plenty of photos and some movie and will send to you a little later. Thanks again for you assistance.

Regards
Justin Robison

Early January 2015

We really enjoyed Hakkoda Resort Hotel. The staff were excellent. Friendly and helpful, with excellent English skills. I must apologise for my difficulties trying to speak Japanese. The location works very well. Close to the chair lift and a bit of a walk to the cable car. The public bus stop is reasonably close but fortunately we had a maxi taxi for travelling to and from Aomori. Evening banquets were superb. It was a varying treat each night. Breakfasts were substantial with western options. Like most places the choice cereals was limited. We had a western room, one of only 4 in the hotel. They are quite spacious but like most accommodation we have stayed at there was limited storage and hanging availability. One needs to live out of a suitcase. The onsens are generous and functional. No view or highlight but most satisfactory. There is not much around the Hakkoda base but we were there for the skiing and the mountain and weather treated us to some superb kona yuki skiing.

Regards
Murray McAlister

Late January 2015

Hakkoda was FANTASTIC. The mountain was epic with the amounts of snow we got, sometimes even too much causing you to get stuck. also quite scary and disorientating when the weather comes in. GPS, snow shoes, whistles and powder boards/ skis are a must really on this mountain when the weather is bad.. In saying that, when you get your bearings, there are endless tree runs in almost every direction, and fresh tracks last all day! The accommodation was great, the staff were friendly, and the food was AMAZING! I have attached photos! thanks for all your help getting us there, you made it super easy and we will be heading back for sure!

Shane

Late January 2015

I had the most wonderful time with your crew at Hakkoda Hotel Resort. Lodging very comfortable and convenient and the food and people most amazing! I am planning on returning next year and probably for the next several years.

Thank you.
Steven F. Nerger Guest/ Next year guide

Late January 2015

That’s me having fun in Hakkoda. (in the pic below) My husband and I had a great time and in fact will soon be booking again for next year. The Hakkoda Resort Hotel is very nice and friendly and the food was outstanding. The staff could not be more helpful.

Best wishes
Sonja McAlister

Late January 2015

We loved our stay at Hakkoda Resort Hotel. We stayed in a western room which was spacious & very comfortable. The food was exceptional, the service good & the mountain awesome. Hope to get back there.

Sue

Mid January 2015

As for your service, it was outstanding. You went out of your way to help me, even after my trip started. I will surely do business with you guys again. The hotel was great. The food was also amazing. But you have to be aware, this is a typically Japanese experience. Only thing though, there was some pretty heavy smoking going on in the hotel. This was problematic for me. But aside from the smoking, the hotel was super. Pretty much ski in/out. What can you ask more ?

Thanks for everything,
Me Jean-Frederick Dicaire

Early January 2015

We really enjoyed our stay at Hakkoda. It snowed alot and the skiing was good. The lodge quiet, our room was clean and comfortable , the food was great and the small onsen a real treat after skiing. Smoking is allowed in the common areas in the lounge and we did not expect this, so the lounge smelt smokey.

Cindy

Early January 2015

Thank you so much for all your help with organising Hakkoda Resort Hotel! You made it very easy in booking the accommodation and organising my return transfer to Aomori Airport. The hotel itself was amazing The food was simply to die for! The rooms were fantastic - always clean and well attended to. The staff always smiled and although they spoke little English, they always made the effort and appreciated when I attempted to speak Japanese! The onsen was clean and of course the snow was out of this world! Thanks again for helping me to organise this (being a solo traveller it can be a bit daunting) and I will definitely be back!

Nick P

Early March 2014

Love this place. I've been 5 times in the last 8 years. I have boarded every single major resort in Japan, and quite a few of the smaller ones, over the last 15 years, some of them multiple times, and Hakkoda is the best for untouched backcountry. The quieter backcountry routes within an hour's drive of Niseko (Hirafu) for example see more backcountry traffic per week, than Hakkoda sees per season in my guesstimation. Long untouched runs. Fabulous nature and views. The hotel is fabulous as always with extremely kind and helpful staff, and good Japanese food. If you are going backcountry get Simon to take you ... for his unparalled knowledge of the mountain, backcountry safety, local insight, and witty stories" The hotel was great as always. Only complaint is that my room was overlooking the carpark and the snowploughs woke me up very early every day ... but what to do !

Regards
MATT

Mid January 2014

I had a very good time in Hakkoda ! It's quite a unique experience to ski there, it's good that I booked a guide otherwise I'm sure I would have gotten lost! The hotel was very nice and walking distance to the ropeway, and the booking process was pretty smooth.

You can find some videos on my Youtube page

Filippo Olivetti

Mid February 2014

Everything at the Hakkoda Resort Hotel was fantastic. The service and food were excellent, and I felt very welcomed there. I also very much appreciated your help in not only making the reservation but also helping when I experienced travel difficulties. Please thank the hotel for their excellent service.

Andrew Crowley

Mid February 2014

Firstly your service was excellent. Prompt, efficient and helpful. Onto the mountain, I loved Hakkoda. It helped that it snowed both days, so the conditions were fantastic. Being fairly quiet without too many Westerners also added to the experience. Tram / lift tickets were very reasonably priced, as was lunch at the restaurant. As for the Resort Hotel, amazing ! The staff couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly. I liked the basement onsen, particularly the fact there was a hot & cold bath, the rooms were comfortable and the facilities in general were as expected. Dinner was a sensation every night. I just loved what was on offer. It was both a visual and a taste sensation and on reflection some of the best meals of my 3 week trip, and I went to some nice places. The only 2 small niggles were: - the rooms were incredibly hot at night, even with the radiator turned down. If I opened the window, the bleeping from the guy clearing the car park early in the morning was incredibly loud. - bus stop wasn’t that obvious. We waited outside the ropeway, only to discover we had missed the bus to Shin Aomori as it left from the peaked wooden huts 50 m away Hardly any major issues. Attached below are some holiday snaps

Martin

Mid February 2014

Let me start of by saying that your service at JSA was second to none. I meet many Australians whilst traveling in Japan and I mentioned your company and the great service to many of them. In regards to the holiday, it was fantastic. In regards to the Hokkoda Resort Hotel I would like to make the following comments Overall I was very happy with the hotel and would definitely book there again. The staff were all fantastic and very helpful. The rooms were adequate. The one huge surprise was the quality of the dinners at the hotel. The meals were spectacular and better than many of Melbourne's finest Japanese restaurants where you would pay well over $80 AUD for the same meal. The only negative comment I have in regards to the hotel was the state of the Onsen. The staff stated it was cleaned regularly but every days I could see things floating in the water. There was mould everywhere on the rook and walls. I visited many Onsens whilst in Japan and this one felt the least healthy. However, that did not distract from my enjoyment of the hotel. Trust that I will be using your services when I return to Japan next time.

Many thanks
Scott Mahony

2014

I thoroughly enjoyed staying at your hotel, i had a traditional room and found it very comfortable. The hospitality from you and your staff was fantastic, along with your eagerness to help in anyway. The meals were a combination of traditional Japanese and western food which was a good combination. I cannot wait to return,

Thank you,
Mike Bolzon

Early February 2014

We loved our stay!" The staff are extrem

Hotel Jogakura guest reviews

Early January 2025

We enjoyed Jogakura -the staff were friendly, the rooms were nice and the food was lovely .

Regards
Soni

Late Feb 2019

We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Jogakura in Hakkoda and can recommend it highly.

The snow in hakkoda was unfortunately not what we are used to there. Hardly any fresh powder days and a lot of heavy “wet cement” afternoons during our 8 days (only half at jogakura, half at sanso). Still, we got plenty of touring in, with better than usual viz, and compared to Australia it was great anyway! Our room at jogakura was on the other side of the building compared to last year which was even better. We love how quiet it is. Food was excellent again. We met an acquaintance of yours who is on the jogakura guiding team!

Thank you again for organizing our stays. Your service around organizing my gluten free meals is so appreciated. We had 3 days in Kyoto last week on our way home from Spain and the whole food thing was very difficult for me by comparison. It was wonderful in cortina to be able to contact you about the problem with the food upgrade and have you sort it out in no time, even when the misunderstanding was more on my part. We will always book thru you and will continue to highly recommend you to our friends and family.

See how shallow the snow cover in hakkoda was below. But still awesome!

Debbie

Early Feb 2019

Hakkoda and Jogakura fantastic. Great, small hotel, would stay again. One of the guides (forgot his name!) says Hi to you.

Thanks for your work with the bookings.

Cheers, Steve &Judy Pearson

January 2018

My wife and our two other friends like to thank you for the kind arrangement of transport to pick four of us up from Shin-Aomori station. We thoroughly enjoy our stay at Jagakura hotel. Unfortunately the weather is not on our side during our two days stay at Jogakura hotel. The snow storm hit the area during this period. We cannot go up to the hill to see the snow monster during our two days stay. However, our onsen bath was wonderful. We hope to have more luck on the whether the next time we stay there. Hisae took the trouble to follow up on our trip journey and we appreciate it very much.

Regards
Dr Cheng Bon Teng

Hakkoda Hotel guest reviews

Early Feb 2018

Hakkoda Hotel was great. Impressive quality for such a distant location. Meals cost were a bit of a surprise, but you are across that. Great meals, just a bit expensive. Skiing was good, guiding was good, the length of the lift lines was a major problem - skier numbers were okay, but the number of big bus tourist groups that took up limited spaces on the tramway was a serious frustration. On balance, happy we went, but not something we’d repeat. Did appreciate your help on all counts though - thanks

Regards,

Grant Parkinson

Late Jan 2018

Thank you for organising our very enjoyable holiday.

The Hotel Hakkado was great and in particular the staff were caring and attentive. The food was delicious and the onsen a beautiful experience and a great place to recover after all the powder skiing.

The guide you organised for us was very caring although his English is limited. The ropeway is getting very crowded with day (walking and sightseeing) tourists which detracts from the experience as sometimes you had a 45 minute to an hour wait (standing on the stairs in ski boots) which was quite exhausting.

Thank you for organising our stay.

Regards
Katrina

Mid Jan 2016

I really enjoyed staying at the Hakkoda Hotel for a couple of nights. It feels more like a lodge than a hotel, with a large lounge area that is perfect for reading or couch surfing (free wifi), spacious western style rooms and a friendly but professional staff.

The Japanese breakfasts were excellent (western breakfast also available), as was dinner, although the menu was fairly limited. I was skiing with Simon's Hakkoda Powder

Guides, and the staff were really helpful in getting me there on time and picking me up at the end of the day.

Another highlight was being able to walk to Sukayu onsen, an historic onsen with a lot of atmosphere and well worth a visit. Overall, if you feel like staying somewhere that feels a little more luxurious and don't mind the commute to the rope way,

Hakkoda Hotel is a great option.
Geoff

Early Jan 2016

I am truly impressed with both the quality of the food, accomodation and service of the people on Hakkoda hotel. It was amazing! Also the service you provided with almost instant answering e-mails with all of my questions. We had 5 amazing days skiing. Would love to go back, and will also be using JSA again without a doubt.

Evan Bakoey
Happy Customer!

Early Jan 2016

Just a quick note to thank you for all of your assistance with my trip to Hakkoda. The Hakkoda Hotel was very nice, the staff extremely helpful, and the food was absolutely amazing. Everything was as expected, including transport from and back to Shin-Aomori. I had two really wonderful days of skiing with guides that the hotel helped me organise. And I was pleased to be able to use Sukayu Onsen. I really can't thank you enough for everything you did and the advice you provided. I will definitely contact you when I am organising future ski trips to Japan.

Andrew W

Sukayu Onsen Ryokan guest reviews

01 February, 2025

The first weak we stayed at Berjaya Ski resort and the last days we stayed at the old hotel Sukayu Onsen.

We had strong winds six out of ten days but it didn´t matter much. We went up with skins from the top of the old chair lift instead, it took a long time but it was still a great ride down.

Have a nice day/Claes

Mid Feb 2020

Your service is the best and sakayu is that good ! don't really want to tell anyone about it! ha ha…

Thanks,

Pete

Mid Feb 2020

We had an incredible trip in Japan. We’d definitely like to spend longer periods of time there in the future!

Sukayu Onsen was our favourite place we stayed on our trip. The location, accommodation, onsen and staff were amazing. We did the ski guiding with the hotel and it was the highlight of our holiday. We can’t wait to come back again. It’s a truly magical place. Unfortunately we don’t speak Japanese so Japan snow Accommodation helped greatly in booking this trip for us. They were very helpful and even booked us in to our ski guiding group. We will be back!

Best wishes,

Lauren

Early Feb 2019

Fabulous!

It really was wonderful. We had really stormy weather but that actually was great because the snow was truly exceptional. Our guide, who was really perfect by the way, said it was perhaps the best for 10 years. Like feathers!

It snowed so much we lost one day as everything including the road was closed.

We adored the Ryokan and everything there.

The only one negative is that the cable car was too crowded so there were long waits and we got a lot less skiing as a result. There were a lot of tourists just going up for the view! Fair enough but as skiers we would prefer they did not. But of course that is just the way it is and it is a special place, not just for us.

Cheers

Charles W Etherington

Late Jan 2019

Just a touch isolated . Hard to get back if finish early. Hard to mix with other people and food good, but not great. Good transportation to train

Peter

Early Feb 2018

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay @ Sukayu Onsen Ryokan. Lots of character & a lovely welcome. Staff very helpful & polite with us non-Japanese speakers! The food was excellent, rooms very comfortable & warm. We loved the onsen. One night, the communal onsen had a couple of men on the female side, playing ignorant I think.

The skiing & guiding was excellent. We couldn't have been luckier, we had great snow conditions. Richard ( husband) said don't tell anyone! It's to late for that. We'll be back.

Thank you Hisae for your patient assistance. It was a big help.

Warm regards,

Cristina

Early Feb 2018

We all loved this place and would go there again. The sashimi was fantastic. The building was ancient but the wing we were in had been renovated beautifully. Parts of the building were cold but that was mainly in a connecting corridor. The shop was good. The shuttle bus worked well.

We used the guiding service provided by the onsen and that was excellent although we only got a few runs in per day due to size of the group and the pace the guide set on the downhills. But he took us to great snow. And the pick ups by the bus worked well too.

Just one comment was that again there wasn’t a bar or seating area provided in which to sit around before and after dinner for a drink. We used the area at end of our accommodation wing to meet in but we had to take seats there each time we used it.

Cheers

John

Early Feb 2018

Sukuya Onsen Ryoken was really nice and had good buffet-style food, areas to sit in the public space, including a small lounge at the end of our bedroom wing that we used for pre-dinner drinks – purchased from a vending machine or at the in-house shop. The in-house ski guide service was excellent. We ended up using them for 5 days with varying numbers of participants each day, but the daily rate per person remained the same. Whilst the principal guide spoke no English, a junior guide with good English was also assigned to our group. He was extremely helpful. The advantage of using the guides was that we continually found untracked snow to ski and we were able to make extended trips out and down the side of the mountain, where the guide would arrange for a van or bus to return us to the ropeway.

I have attached a photo that shows the natural snow depth being almost double the height of the parked cars – but it has been an exceptional year, plus the refurbished wing of the hotel where we were accommodated.

Regards,

Chris

Early Feb 2018

Neil and I had a great time at Sakayu Onsen.

The rooms, food and especially the onsens were really very good (traditional Japanese accomodation).

The skiing at Hakkoda was varied and challenging. We were assisted by the Guides at the hotel which made hiring skis and touring much easier.

We had a great time.

Regards

Gillian

Late January 2018

We had such a good time at Geto and Hokkoda! The snow just fell and fell. No crowds and a true Japanese experience at both the accommodation locations.

Weather was quite tough at times, but if you want new snow, have to expect it! Don't tell too many others about those gems!

Our transport worked well. Shinkansen and local trains, plus those shuttles. Most of us went on to a weeks back country tour in Hokkaido. Lots of great tree skiing and mostly lovely snow.

We can't think of why we'd go back to the USA or Europe, so will be in touch again.

Many thanks, Tony

Late January 2018

We had such a good time at Geto and Hokkoda! The snow just fell and fell. No crowds and a true Japanese experience at both the accommodation locations.

Weather was quite tough at times, but if you want new snow, have to expect it! Don't tell too many others about those gems!

Our transport worked well. Shinkansen and local trains, plus those shuttles. Most of us went on to a weeks back country tour in Hokkaido. Lots of great tree skiing and mostly lovely snow.

We can't think of why we'd go back to the USA or Europe, so will be in touch again.

Many thanks, Tony

Early Feb 2017

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for organising our Japan accommodation. Your recommendations were fantastic and we loved every place we stayed, particularly enjoying the ryokan experiences at Hakkoda and Geto Kogen. I also want to say thanks for answering any questions we had via email.

Sharon

Late December 2016

Sukayu Onsen was great and nice with friendly staff, of course not speaking Japanese (for us) or no English for the staff, is really a limitation but we found in the hotel Japanese guest , english speakers who helped us when needed. The weather was at that time quite ok, lots of snow fall ;-) ….The team for backcountry skiing from the hotel were super helpful AND extremely professional -All of them! Really adorable! They deserve to have foreign people coming …when I am seeing so many limitation on internet just around the langage barrier…I can tell you they speak enough English to bring you on tour! Our private guide named Satoshi was english speaker and we have had a super nice day of discovering and skiing with our son of 9 years old. Satoshi has been very patient, very kind and he really has customised our day in order to make it safe, agreeable and super fun.

Scenery in HAKKODA are just amazing!! Of course if the weather turns bad, there not a lot to do, however staying at Sukayou is a real plus….you can enjoy the onsen after a full day of ski or even without going to ski.Not sure staying there a full week could please anyone, specially in case of bad weather, the public snow resort is super minimal (just 2 slopes) and if you are in Hakkoda for the first time not recommended at all to go alone on back country-really to risky-Nevertheless, back to Paris now, we are super Nostalgic, and I am sure we will come back to Hakkoda. Our stay was a magic stay!!! really!!

Thanks for everything and your great support!

Sincerely,
LEILA

Feb 2017

Hakkoda trip and accommodation, snow etc was fantastic last February. Hakkoda is a little gem and what a beautiful park.The accommodation was really good. Like an old fashioned ‘hunting lodge’ with a very traditional feelin

Cheers,
Rick

Late Feb 2016

Sukayu Onsen Ryokan is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for traditional accommodation at a reasonable price. The highlight of the hotel is the large onsen on the ground floor which is a great place to warm up and soothe aching muscles after a day on the slopes. The onsen is mixed but it’s very steamy so don’t let that put you off! Rooms are tatami rooms with futon beds and are very clean and comfortable. Meals are a highlight of the stay, with an excellent buffet breakfast and a ‘semi-buffet’ dinner, ie. several small dishes are served at the table, then you can help yourself to the main dish, rice, miso soup, salad and dessert. The breakfast comprises mainly Japanese dishes, but you can also have cereal, fruit and yogurt and toast if you wish. Excellent coffee is also available. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus each morning to the Ropeway (cable car), returning in the afternoon. There is also one free bus a day to Aomori station. If you miss this, there are three scheduled buses per day, or you can take a taxi. The skiing can be summed up in one word - powder! Although there are groomed pistes, the reason to come to Hakkoda is to find fresh tracks down the mountain, particularly through the trees. You could happily days here just skiing runs accessed by the lift, though for the more adventurous, hiking snow-shoes or skins will open up more opportunities. Hakkoda is easy to get to from Tokyo and well worth a try if you’re looking for something different.

Julie Sheard

Late January 2015

The trip was very good, thank you! I appreciate all the organization and time you spent answering emails prior to the trip. The staff at the onsen spoke sufficient English to get by. It would be better if you had told me there is an option for room only, not including meals, as it is a bit expensive, and the food is only so-so. The mountain was amazing. We snowboarded in both whiteout blizzard and blue skies conditions. The snow was fantastic, and the guides are very organized. The other Japanese guests are very friendly as well. They knew it was my first time in back country and helped me a lot. One of the best trips I've had, thanks a lot!

Simon

Early Febuary 2015

This was my third ski trip to Japan. I have now had 3 months in total over 3 seasons. I have skied many resorts all over Hokkaido. This most recent trip was my first time skiing Honshu and took us to Nozwa onsen, Madaro and Myoko before our stay at Hakkoda. Over the past 30 years I have skied USA, Canada , France, Austria and of course NZ. I have had thousands of days on skis but never anything quite like our 3 days in Hakkoda. It will always stand out as a special time for my family and I. As we came prepared for backcountry skiing we loved the Hakkoda experience and fortunately we had the visibility to explore the endless terrain safely. The snow monster trees were spectacular. I certainly would not recommend to anyone but the most experienced or super adventurous. Without good weather you would require a guide for certain. The Sukayu Onsen was my favorite of the many onsen visited over the years. We enjoyed the authentic traditional feel and Japanese food. The free shuttle to the lift was much appreciated. Overall it was a brilliant few days and we feel lucky to have discovered the Sukayu Onsen before the inevitable crowds of foreigners.

Regards
Mark Grenfell

Late January 2015

It's my last night here at Sakuya Onsen. It has been a wonderful experience staying here, perhaps one of my best ever in Japan, and the sking was great too. I just want to thank you for all your help, the accommodation you found me was top shelf. If you need some more detailed feedback, or any kind of endorsement please just ask. I am sure this trip will not be my last so I look forward to planning the next one! Sincere thanks - Ian A few photos of my time here...

The front desk Staff were great, especially Yasuda Mika, so friendly and helpful.

Skiing Hakkoda with Hakkoda Powder Guides (not the most professional outfit but they got the job done)

Mid January 2015

The trip went well, it was great. Great skiing and a very nice cultural experience. I am glad we went to the Sukayu Onsen, because of the traditional japanese type of accomodation it provided. The mountain was good, lots of snow :) We skied 2 days around the lift, when it was dumping, and the rest of the time we did tours of most of the peaks there. It was a really great trip, thank you very much for the help on the booking.

BR Mårten

October 2014

The stay was lovely. My friends enjoyed ourselves very much at your onsen and ryokan. Appreciate your kind arrangements.

Best regards
Janet A

Mid Feb 2014.

We had a fantastic time, and really achieved harmony at the Sukayo Onsen We would ski all day and then relax in the hot springs and eat great dinners together. The snow just kept coming, and we had 5-15 inches of fresh snow every morning. We slept really well on the Tatami mats, and enjoyed great Japanese food. This felt like a very genuine Japan experience. I would recommend Sukayo Onsen and Amori skiing to all passionate skiers or people who are just looking for a reset. Please check out my snaps below

Regards,
Bjorn

Early February 2014

We had an excellent time at Hakkoda while staying at Sukayu Onsen. The sheer uniqueness of Hakkoda makes it a must visit while in Japan. It was nice to get away from some of the more tourist hot spots and visit somewhere which had a more traditional feel. The snow at Hakkoda was incredible as well as the scenery. The traditional style of the accommodation was nice and the staff were most helpful even though they did not speak much English. The only downside was that some of us got some food poisoning from one of the dinners while staying there. However in saying that we would probably still come here again but avoid some of the raw seafood dishes. The communication that you provided with the Sukayu Onsen was excellent and very helpful while in Japan especially when organising small things like baggage delivery. Thanks for your help Please see my photos attached below.

Ashley Montagu

Mid February 2014

Sukayu Onsen was actually the highlight of our whole Japan trip! Fantastic traditional japanese place with great service, tasty food and a wonderful onsen. Next time we will come 6 instead of 2 nights!" Photos below Cheers from Berlin,

Johannes Emigholz

Late January 2018

We had such a good time at Geto and Hokkoda! The snow just fell and fell. No crowds and a true Japanese experience at both the accommodation locations.

Weather was quite tough at times, but if you want new snow, have to expect it! Don't tell too many others about those gems!

Our transport worked well. Shinkansen and local trains, plus those shuttles. Most of us went on to a weeks back country tour in Hokkaido. Lots of great tree skiing and mostly lovely snow.

We can't think of why we'd go back to the USA or Europe, so will be in touch again.

Many thanks, Tony