Accommodation & Meals
10 nights accommodation in summary:
- 6 x nights accommodation at Hotel Omodaka in twin share Japanese style rooms with private bathrooms
- 4 x nights at Tenjin Lodge in twin share Japanese style room
Hotel Omodaka
Hotel Omodaka in Yudanaka Onsen, sits adjacent to the Yomase River, and the onsen and many of the guest rooms enjoy lovely views of the surrounding mountains. The open-air onsen baths overlook the Five Mountains of Hokushin.
Omodaka is owned and operated by an amazing family who make your time there a true authentic Japanese experience.
Rooms
Most of the rooms at Omodaka Hotel are washitsu ie Japanese style rooms with tatami flooring. All twin/triple/quad share rooms have a toilet and handbasin and a shower, or you can bathe in the onsen. The single supplement rooms have a toilet and wash basin, with bathing in the onsen.
Beds are futons, and if you like a soft bed, there are extra futons to double up.
Rooms are larger than most in Yudanaka and all rooms have a flat screen TV, small fridge & kettle. Your room also has a traditional yukata (cotton kimono), which is not mandatory to wear at this hotel, although it is definitely comfortable attire after a day on the slopes.
You can upgrade to the deluxe western room which is double the size of the Japanese style rooms and sleeps a maximum of 4 people. It has 2 oversized twin beds plus a large tatami seating area for 2 futons. This room has a large bathroom, with a bath and rain shower.
Facilities
The hotel has an onsen, with gender segregated baths on an elevated floor, and the balcony of the rotenburo (outdoor bath) offers views across towards Mt Myoko and other mountains. In addition to the outdoor onsen, there are indoor baths and a sauna which is rare in Yudanaka.
Other amenities:
- Small lounge in lobby
- Gift shop that also sells some sundries
- Free wifi throughout the hotel
- Bar and River Cafe that serves up great burgers and toasties in case you're hankering for a non-Japanese meal
- Massage services available
- Drinks vending machines
- Table tennis room
- The hotel does not have clothes washing facilities however there is a public laundry a short walk away.
Dining
The breakfast dining room has traditional Japanese décor such as shoji screens and tatami flooring, along with comfort of western-style tables and chairs. Breakfast (included) is served buffet style and includes some classic Japanese breakfast fare such as miso soup, rice, salad, dumplings, pickles, mini sausages, and omelette rectangles, as well as a few western staples. Coffee and juice are also provided.
Evening meals are multi-course Japanese cuisine served in a traditional dining room by your personal waiter. Dinner is a great opportunity to sample lots of Japanese fare.
Location
The hotel is located adjacent to the river and it is 1.1km southeast of the Yudanaka train station, and arrival and departure shuttles are provided by the hotel. The main hub of Yudanaka restaurants and the bar district are about 1km from the hotel, and you have the option of getting the one-way shuttle to get to restaurants in the evening.
Omodaka has a free drop off service to the snow monkey park 20 minutes earlier than the other accommodation in town so that you get the luxury of arriving at the park early, so you have the place to yourself for a length of time (it is a tourist attraction so gets busy).
Tenjin Lodge - Gunma
Tenjin Lodge is a Tenjin Lodge is a mountain lodge deep in the Joetsu National Park, and just minutes away from Tenjindaira Ski Resort. Your hosts Kieren and his team provide a homely experience for travellers and the family pet Lucky is the ever-attentive receptionist.
There are two types of rooms, Western or Japanese style, with their own bathroom. Each room has a powerful winter heater with a fridge and free WI-FI throughout the property. The western rooms are first in best dressed as they are limited in number.
The male and female baths downstairs are fed by the same natural mountain spring which supplies water to the lodge. They are not onsens as the water is heated to temperature and the room has a pleasant ambiance with views of the forest outside. The water is not re-circulated so the baths are operating on a constant flow.
Breakfasts are served in house and are made up of either the western breakfast consisting of a hearty serving of scrambled eggs and toast or the mountain breakfast consisting of warm oatmeal served with chopped seasonal fruit and yogurt. Both breakfasts come with coffe/tea or juice.
On two nights the group dines in at Tenjin Lodge and also travel into the local town of Minakami for other nights to sample some of the tasty cuisine from the local restaurants. A must is Restaurant Daruma – Japanese izakaya in Minakami where the Master is always welcoming and serving up some great value cuisine.
Be aware this is a different accommodation experience to that of Hotel Omodaka which is very Japanese. Tenjin Lodge is owned and run by westerners and is very remote and experiences more extreme weather conditions, so it will give you a different level of service to that of a Japanese property. Variety is the spice of life.