Japan Snowsports — Hotel in Myoko

Finishing up our second family ski trip/stay at Japan Snowsports lodge in Madarao. I can’t recommend this place enough! The owners, Annie and Dutchie, hail from the Netherlands and their place truly is a hidden gem. They provided one-on-one ski lessons for our 4 year old, who was initially reluctant after a bad lesson experience elsewhere, and she loved it so much the first time we had to come back a second time a month and a half later. They are extremely flexible with instructing at different slopes- such as Madarao, Nozawa Onsen, and Shiga Kogen- to ensure the best conditions for learning/skiiing. The food here has been the best I’ve had staying anywhere in Japan and is perfect for foodies as Dutchie is a professional chef who worked in various restaurants in the Netherlands prior to coming here. We had freshly baked homemade crusty sourdough and wheat bread every morning and all the breakfasts were amazing; we had eggs benedict, shakshuka, gourmet French toast with a berry compote, and omelets with local herbs and vegetables. They also can do course dinners (whether you are staying there or elsewhere) with wine pairings and can accommodate any dietary or kid friendly restrictions. For mom and dad, we were able to enjoy a beautiful multi-course Mediterranean style dinner -with wine pairings- while our 2 and 4 year old played in the little side room off the main dining room that was perfect for kids. The girls were so comfortable with the owners and the lodge that convincing them to go home was quite difficult 😅. Even after the snow season is over I would highly recommend Japan Snowsports just for the food and scenery alone! I only regret that I don’t have pictures of all the delicious food we had as I was too busy stuffing my face...

Everything about this place is absolutely perfect! We stayed at Japan Snowsports for 12 nights (we actually extended our stay because it was so amazing). The rooms are newly renovated and include everything you need. Staff is super friendly and very service minded. They helped us with all we needed and gave us rides everywhere we wanted to go, including different resorts. The breakfast was absolutely amazing, the best Western breakfast we had in Japan. Everyday is a buffé and one special hot dish everyday. Plus the bread is home made 🥰 We also had the 6 course dinner one night which is also highly recommended. The quality of the dinner was like going to a super nice and trendy restaurant back home, but for a fraction of the price.

Our main focus during our stay was off pist skiing (backcountry and sidecountry) and we had five days of guiding with the owners Dutchie and Annie. I had the best technique lesson I've ever had one day in the slopes, we went touring (skinning) in the backcountry one day and then spent the rest exploring Annie and Dutchie's secret sidecountry spots in nearby resorts - you could tell they knew the area very well. They're both super knowledgeable guides, in skiing and snowboarding technique, as well as mountain safety (avalanche risk and snow conditions). Before each guided day they asked what kind of skiing we wanted to do, then checked the weather forecast and snow conditions to find a suitable spot. They also gave technique lessons for those who only want to ski/snowboard in the slopes and I know that other guests were super happy with their lessons too.

All in all, we're super happy with our experience and we recommend everyone to stay at Japan Snowsports for their...

Wonderful place to stay, eat, and relax! Annie and Dutchie were amazing; absolutely the best hosts! Our experience was nothing short of breathtaking. I highly recommend reserving your next weekend getaway here. What made it great was not only the fabulous skiing, but the amazing customer service we received from Dutchie and Annie! This was the best ski trip and experience my family had in Japan due to our knowledgeable hosts. Annie and Dutchie are not only knowledgeable about Japan and the culture, they are skiing/snowboarding experts as well! If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ll love the superb coffee! The accommodations are cozy and family oriented. This facility is a one stop getaway. When you stay, you must reserve the 6 course meal prepared by Chef Dutchie! If you’re into wine paring, please partake in the experience as well. Each course was equally delicious. Each morning we had a healthy breakfast from freshly baked bread prepared by Dutchie, freshly squeezed orange juice, full spread of Greek yogurt and toppings and an omelette that left you wanting more. Everything served was fabulous, including the craft beer. Annie and Dutchie provided 5 star customer service from the room and establishment aesthetics, scheduling our ski rental reservations, reserving our day 2 dinner reservations to blowing off our snow impacted car. This couple is a dynamic duo filled with kindness, hospitality, and passion. Our family will definitely visit again! Thank you Annie and Dutchie for making our Christmas...