Umitoyama Hakuba — Hotel in Hakuba

I cannot recommend Umitoyama as a place to stay. The facilities are basic and as described, though the rooms were unclean with bottles, socks and rubbish swept under the beds. Staff appear overworked though very helpful. Location is also perfectly situated in hakuba. My main issue is with the owner who lacks personal skills commonly associated with hotels. He asked me to close doors for him whilst talking to other guests, and was unimpressed with us playing uno in the common area. This came to an head as we were leaving this morning, he told me that I needed to be quiet whilst removing bags in the morning despite grinding coffee and previously having a raucous evening with friends in the common room the night before. He told me that everything isn’t about me that would wake the whole house, then proceeded to follow and try to intimidate me as I went to fill up my water bottle asking me repeatedly when I was going to leave. I asked him if he was okay and he stopped himself short of saying something that obviously would have stepped over a line. I apologised to try calm him down, but received no such sympathy in return. This man has soured my holiday experience and has no respect or care for his guest.

Edit: in response to the owners comment please find my response please note that that he does not apologise for intimidation tactics or his own antics, it is purely the guests fault and cannot be anyone else's. Respect is a two way street and we were afforded none throughout our stay by the owner.

“In the early hours of the morning you were making noise and moving luggage that would wake most guests.” We had cleared leaving early with your staff the day/night before. If there is a means of removing any luggage without making noise, then I’m all ears.

“Even when asked to reduce your noise and exit quietly you choose to walk in areas where guests are sleeping to quench your thirst.” For reference there is no other place that i could think of to fill up a water bottle. Save for returning upstairs to refill. I hope all future guests do not intend on being hydrated or using water to defrost windshields.

“The rubbish you speak of was yours and was left in your room.” This is a blatant lie and un factual. Though rubbish was left in our room, it was mostly uneaten 7/11 items or beverages and place either in the book case, near the bin or on the floor near the bin.

What I’m talking about is our arrival on day 1, the unfinished bottle of coke with a half eaten packet of chips. Also, that sock in the pile, not any of ours, was found under the bed. Clean your rooms properly and don’t try to blame your guests.

“I do hope you learn from this experience that how you conduct yourself in another country in someone else accommodation may not go well when you don't respect others.”

I have had no other issues with any other accomodations, so I suggest you look introspectively.

This establishment makes no apology for intimidation tactics and apparently actively encourages it if you make noise or...

I had the absolute pleasure of staying at Umitoyama Hakuba, and I cannot speak highly enough of the experience. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this was more than just accommodation – it was a thoughtfully run retreat where every detail had been considered to ensure guest comfort.

Martin, the owner, is a true gentleman whose warmth and professionalism set the tone for the entire stay. His team were equally impressive – every staff member we encountered was exceptionally pleasant, helpful, and genuinely committed to making our visit as enjoyable as possible.

The location is outstanding – perfectly situated to enjoy all that Hakuba has to offer. Meals were more than adequate, with additional options available when needed, and the overall quality and variety exceeded expectations.

Sleeping arrangements were clean, comfortable, and more than sufficient. While showers were shared, they were well-maintained and never presented any issues. All common areas were spotless and thoughtfully managed.

A particular highlight for me was the ability to work in a quiet, dedicated area during our stay – a facility I sincerely appreciated, as it allowed me to remain productive without compromising the enjoyment of the trip.

On top of all this, the pricing was very reasonable, offering excellent value for money. For the level of service, comfort, and hospitality received, it was truly a standout experience.

A massive thank you to Martin and the entire team for making our stay at Umitoyama Hakuba so comfortable, welcoming, and memorable. It was a genuine highlight of our time in Japan, and I would not hesitate to recommend...

Umitoyama is located in Echo-land which is well located in Hakuba near plenty of bus stops and terminals and lots of food around, this family run lodge is simple, warm and clean, some elements are a little dated but renovations are going on constantly I believe. ||||The communal showers and toilets are brand new and state of the art, we had a bedroom that had a small bathroom and toilet en-suite. The bedrooms are a good size and the beds are comfortable, the linen is clean and fresh, there is no turndown service but for a Ski accommodation this is not common, each room has a heater although we didn't actually use it as the room is warm and cosy enough. ||||The communal facilities include a board/ski room, well stoked bar and stylish living room and drying room for wet ski gear. Breakfast is included and consists of cereal and toast, I would have liked to have seen some eggs and fruit but otherwise was all okay, the proprietor did actually make some eggs for us which was a nice touch, the coffee was very nice also which is rare in Japan, Marty the owner who is mixed Australian/Indonesian sources some excellent coffee from Indonesia.||||Marty and his son have done a number of seasons in Hakuba and are both ski instructors so are a great font of local knowledge and very accommodating and helpful with regards to mountain advice, bookings, restaurants and pretty much anything related to the resort.||||The lodge was relatively quiet, service was good and the premises are very clean and well maintained, this lodge would be good for families or groups looking for a well priced lodge with a great...