Minakami Kogen Hotel 200 — Hotel in Honshu

We just came back from a ski trip to Minakami Kogen where we stayed at Minakami Kogen Hotel 200. The day we arrived was Monday, and many families who stayed over the weekend was leaving. To say the least this is a family-friendly hotel; if you don't want to encounter small children perhaps this is not a place. In our plan meals were buffet-style at 1st floor or 11th floow restaurant, but the hotel also has an Italian restaurant. The 11th-floor restaurant boasts a great view of Tanigawa Mountains - that we could not get in there for the breakfast of the morning we were leaving because all tables were already full! (we were redirected to the 1st-floor one where there were ample tables.)|There are certain appeals of this hotel - one is obviously surrounding nature, which offers golf and other activities during summer and skiing and other activities in winter. For skiing, the ski area isn't too large; it has 4 ski lifts; but what is outstanding for family with kids is that it has rather large area of mild slopes where kids can practice easily. It has snow parks for kids as well, featuring Pokemon. It has a ski school for kids (from kindergarten age) and adults. Instructors were kid-friendly, too.|Another is its hot springs. They have one (well, one for men the other for women) onsen in the building and the other outside the main building. Unfortunately, because I sustained cold before and during the stay, I did not get to the second one. But from the first one the snowy moutain view was beautiful, too.|Generally the staff were friendly and kind; the lobby has a high ceiling (and so it was a bit cold...) with a fire place and a rocking chair in front of it, a pool table (can play with fee), a shop, etc. With many facilities and activities I am almost sure that you can find something to do even on days with unwanted weather... which is a plus. It is accessible from Tokyo with about 70 minutes' Shinkansen ride (to Jomo-Kogen) and a 50~70 minutes' free shuttle ride to the hotel (prior booking needed). Going back into Tokyo by Shinkansen, it was disappointing to see so many buildings and houses around Takasaki (one stop from Jomo-Kogen by 'Toki'), though still in Gumma Prefecture. But at Minakami, you can see mountains, trees, monkeys,...

We just came back from a ski trip to Minakami Kogen where we stayed at Minakami Kogen Hotel 200. The day we arrived was Monday, and many families who stayed over the weekend was leaving. To say the least this is a family-friendly hotel; if you don't want to encounter small children perhaps this is not a place. In our plan meals were buffet-style at 1st floor or 11th floow restaurant, but the hotel also has an Italian restaurant. The 11th-floor restaurant boasts a great view of Tanigawa Mountains - that we could not get in there for the breakfast of the morning we were leaving because all tables were already full! (we were redirected to the 1st-floor one where there were ample tables.)|There are certain appeals of this hotel - one is obviously surrounding nature, which offers golf and other activities during summer and skiing and other activities in winter. For skiing, the ski area isn't too large; it has 4 ski lifts; but what is outstanding for family with kids is that it has rather large area of mild slopes where kids can practice easily. It has snow parks for kids as well, featuring Pokemon. It has a ski school for kids (from kindergarten age) and adults. Instructors were kid-friendly, too.|Another is its hot springs. They have one (well, one for men the other for women) onsen in the building and the other outside the main building. Unfortunately, because I sustained cold before and during the stay, I did not get to the second one. But from the first one the snowy moutain view was beautiful, too.|Generally the staff were friendly and kind; the lobby has a high ceiling (and so it was a bit cold...) with a fire place and a rocking chair in front of it, a pool table (can play with fee), a shop, etc. With many facilities and activities I am almost sure that you can find something to do even on days with unwanted weather... which is a plus. It is accessible from Tokyo with about 70 minutes' Shinkansen ride (to Jomo-Kogen) and a 50~70 minutes' free shuttle ride to the hotel (prior booking needed). Going back into Tokyo by Shinkansen, it was disappointing to see so many buildings and houses around Takasaki (one stop from Jomo-Kogen by 'Toki'), though still in Gumma Prefecture. But at Minakami, you can see mountains, trees, monkeys,...

Stayed at this hotel for the 3rd time. ||||It seems to improve every time we come, and we appreciate the attention to details. ||||For example, we like that the Cloak counter (where you can have your luggage stored until the room is available for check-in) was on the Lobby floor this year, instead of downstairs in the Ski Center. It made it much easier with the suitcases, and we used it for the first time.||||The activities desk & ski school counter moving down to the Ski Rental/Locker area this year, was also good. It made it easy to make all of our arrangements each morning.||||We really appreciate how the hotel converted to non-smoking in December 2017. It makes our stay much more enjoyable, as we no longer have smoke smell in the elevator halls and ski center.||||We also noticed the ski boots and ski mobile were new. We always enjoy these activities, and appreciate the new equipment.||||The ski wear however, seem to be getting quite worn out. We have been given the same ones each year, and notice it getting more and more faded and tattered each time. ||||The bathrooms by the indoor onsen and restaurant are also quite old, and sometimes smell unpleasant. There was a problem with one of the toilets (it was being repaired) on the Ladies' side, and the wait to use it was long at times. A mother in front of me in line ended up sending her young daughter into the men's room because her daughter had just come back from ski class and had to go very badly.||||The heater was a little too warm in the 11th floor table tennis area. ||||The snow activities were enjoyable as always, and the condition of the slopes were good for mid-March. We even had some light snowfall. ||||The food at the restaurant is always good, and we didn't mind eating the buffet for 3 meals during our 3 night stay. ||||We always enjoy our stay here, and having the shuttle from the station makes it very easy to visit. We look forward to our next trip to...