Niseko Backcountry Lodge — Hotel in Niseko

Are you a 20-something guy who loves shredding slopes all day and doesn’t mind crashing anywhere as long as it’s indoors? Then this is the place for you! Otherwise, maybe reconsider.

While the staff is mostly young women, they’re about the only women you’ll see. And even then, you’ll only catch them between 4 PM – 10 PM and early morning – 10 AM, meaning there’s little to no help available during the day.

The setup caters heavily to men, who get better facilities than women. The female shower situation is incredibly uncomfortable, with frosted doors that men pass by on their way to their own showers, giving them a clear view of the shapes of women changing inside. The women’s bathroom has just two toilets and is constantly freezing thanks to an always-open window left that way to air out the smell. I am attaching pictures of the female showers and bathroom (sadly didn't think to grab one of the glass entrance)

Rooms are heated with kerosene heaters. Ours had a leak, filling the air with noxious fumes that made me feel nauseous every night while trying to sleep. The staff responded quickly when we reported it, but the smell lingered whenever the heater was on.

Thinking of a premium room? You’ll need to go downstairs every time you want to use the bathroom or shower. And those stairs? A disaster waiting to happen. Slippery, with a dangerously loose handrail. My only possible explanation for this not being fixed is that they like the adrenaline rush that is surviving the stairs every time they make it down safely.

Finding food and amenities was tricky. Breakfast was scrambled eggs, meat, white bread (you toast yourself), cereal, and milk—but if you arrived after 9 AM, you were left fighting for scraps. The izakaya was decent, but it got old fast. If you want food variety, you’re better off in Grand Hirafu. The nearest hotel with a convenience store was a 15-minute walk, or you’d have to book a taxi into town.

That said, the beds were comfortable for a hostel, the linens clean, and the staff—when you could figure out who worked there (no staff shirts) and track them down—were friendly and helpful. The pre-arrival guide they sent was a lifesaver and made our trip much smoother. Skiing at Moiwa was amazing, with fresh powder and fewer people.

But personally? Next time, I’d stay in Grand Hirafu, where there’s more to do beyond skiing. However, if this sounds like your kind of...

WASTED ¥67,760!!!! :( We planned to go to Japan together with my Family to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary and it will be our first snow experience unfortunately it didn't turn out well. When we arrived in Tokyo, my mother who is 74 years had an allergy attack and we needed to rush her to the hospital which caused us to delay and we were not able to ride a train going to Niseko. I informed Nick (I believe the owner) about what happened. I asked him if he could recommend a TAXI OR other transportation just so we could get to Niseko so we wouldn't be able to waste our hard-earned money and not ruin our planned trip unfortunately due to the time and weather no one was available to pick us up.. I asked Nick to see if there's a chance we can rebook it for February 4 instead and was told that it's no longer available. I checked it online feb 4 is still vacant.. I begged him to get a refund but was declined.. All I am asking is a consideration since the situation is no longer out of our hands but seems like the owner didn't understand. We're all heartbroken as we wasted it...

I’ve been at the lodge for a week and so far it’s been great. The staff is super helpful and friendly and they go out of their way to ensure you have a great stay. There is a restaurant that is connected to the lodge with delicious food. Breakfast is included in the price and dinner is a la carte. Pleasantly surprised that there is such a good restaurant attached. The free WiFi is fast, there is a washing machine and dryer, and the best drying room for gear. They have free shuttles to and from the various resorts which makes exploring without a car a whole lot easier. Highly...