Shogetsu Grand Hotel

Had a fantastic stay with a group of friends! The hotel is very new, clean, and beautifully designed. The 'one night, two meals' package was excellent, with a delicious dinner. They also offer complimentary snacks and drinks at various times throughout the day, which was a nice touch. The beds were incredibly comfortable too. We'll definitely be staying here again on our next visit to Jozankei!

The room facilities are a bit old, but the Japanese do an excellent job with hotel maintenance, so the accommodation environment is still acceptable. We booked two rooms and were assigned 101/102, the innermost rooms on the lowest floor. After staying for three days, we noticed that all the guests on the first floor were Chinese, while Japanese and Western guests were on the higher floors (7th-8th). Even though the first floor is also on a hillside, it still felt a bit like we were being treated differently. The English proficiency of the front desk staff is limited, so be prepared with a translation app for check-in or when you need assistance; it will make things faster and more efficient. There's a lounge that always offers coffee and ice cream desserts, which is nice, and the kids loved it.

The value for money is decent, as it includes breakfast and dinner. The room was just okay, but the hot springs were pretty good, though not as impressive as those near Mt. Fuji. It's a bit closer to Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort, but the parking lot is quite far away.