The Kinta Naeba — Hotel in Yuzawa

To begin with something positive, the chef (owner's son) was a delightful person, very friendly, spoke good English and cooked amazing food. If he had been in charge of the hotel instead, the experience would have been completely different, but definitely in a positive way. ||||Unfortunately, this is about all the positive there was during our stay.||||On our date of arrival, we got in at 4.45pm (we had emailed and gave an estimate time of 5pm), the owner said he was expecting us but also questioned why we were early!? (and expected an answer!) ~ it was certainly a confusing moment as we didn't understand what he was implying.||||We had a pleasant enough dinner, although he did gloat a lot and talk about himself almost exclusively. At one stage he even asked my mother to feel his supposed 6 pack?!||||When we were shown to our room, we found out that we (3 of us) were the only guests in the whole property. This was a bit strange considering it was ski season, and the neighbouring Naeba Prince Hotel was chocka full. ||||We asked about rental, he spent around 10 mins, getting rentals organized for us, no fitting, minimal waxing, no sharpening the edges, and then we were done. ||||The real turning point came in a car ride to a restaurant that he insisted that we go to (his good friend's restaurant). He insisted that he takes us in his car, so he could make sure we were looked after. ||||In the car, we asked if we could have breakfast the next morning at different times, he blantly said "No! Why you want to make my life difficult?, I explained to you that breakfast must be at 8am already, what's wrong with you?" .||When we explained that we wanted to get on the slopes as soon as the lifts starts at 8.30am, he said again, "the gondola does not start till 9am, you don't need to go skiing till then, what's wrong with you!"||||We let it go, as we wanted to keep the peace.||||Then we asked if it would be ok for him to order a taxi for us after dinner to bring us back to his hotel, this is where he really went completely out of line. He said "it's only a short distance in the snow, why can't you walk back to the hotel?" You all say you are healthy and fit, like me, when why can't you walk back and why make it difficult for me?"||||By now I was feeling quite upset. My mother had fallen off her skis that morning and hurt her knees, and she was finding walking in the snow taxing. (not that this was the information I particularly thought I needed to share with anyone). I told him to please refrain making assumptions and to stop making silly comments as we are his paying (good money) guests. Kinta abruptly stopped the car in the middle of the road and went off his head. He basically said "how dare you call me silly, and you must know I am going out of my way to help you here taking you to my friends restaurant in my car, it's not my obligation, but my good heart! You have really upset me...."||||We checked out of his hotel the next morning, two days earlier than planned. At check out, he said again "why you leave early, what's wrong with you?!"||||Absolutely understand there may have been some communication breakdowns due to cultural difference, etc. but it's not hard to tell when someone's just being rude, and deliberately making you feel uncomfortable. We have never had an experience like this before.||||We ended up losing out on 2 nights accommodation, 2 days of skiing, and in return we had the worst ski experience in Japan in the 12 years we have been going. ||||We choose this place based on good reviews, unfortunately this as you can see was not our experience. We had a terrible time at Kinta...

To begin with something positive, the chef (owner's son) was a delightful person, very friendly, spoke good English and cooked amazing food. If he had been in charge of the hotel instead, the experience would have been completely different, but definitely in a positive way. ||||Unfortunately, this is about all the positive there was during our stay.||||On our date of arrival, we got in at 4.45pm (we had emailed and gave an estimate time of 5pm), the owner said he was expecting us but also questioned why we were early!? (and expected an answer!) ~ it was certainly a confusing moment as we didn't understand what he was implying.||||We had a pleasant enough dinner, although he did gloat a lot and talk about himself almost exclusively. At one stage he even asked my mother to feel his supposed 6 pack?!||||When we were shown to our room, we found out that we (3 of us) were the only guests in the whole property. This was a bit strange considering it was ski season, and the neighbouring Naeba Prince Hotel was chocka full. ||||We asked about rental, he spent around 10 mins, getting rentals organized for us, no fitting, minimal waxing, no sharpening the edges, and then we were done. ||||The real turning point came in a car ride to a restaurant that he insisted that we go to (his good friend's restaurant). He insisted that he takes us in his car, so he could make sure we were looked after. ||||In the car, we asked if we could have breakfast the next morning at different times, he blantly said "No! Why you want to make my life difficult?, I explained to you that breakfast must be at 8am already, what's wrong with you?" .||When we explained that we wanted to get on the slopes as soon as the lifts starts at 8.30am, he said again, "the gondola does not start till 9am, you don't need to go skiing till then, what's wrong with you!"||||We let it go, as we wanted to keep the peace.||||Then we asked if it would be ok for him to order a taxi for us after dinner to bring us back to his hotel, this is where he really went completely out of line. He said "it's only a short distance in the snow, why can't you walk back to the hotel?" You all say you are healthy and fit, like me, when why can't you walk back and why make it difficult for me?"||||By now I was feeling quite upset. My mother had fallen off her skis that morning and hurt her knees, and she was finding walking in the snow taxing. (not that this was the information I particularly thought I needed to share with anyone). I told him to please refrain making assumptions and to stop making silly comments as we are his paying (good money) guests. Kinta abruptly stopped the car in the middle of the road and went off his head. He basically said "how dare you call me silly, and you must know I am going out of my way to help you here taking you to my friends restaurant in my car, it's not my obligation, but my good heart! You have really upset me...."||||We checked out of his hotel the next morning, two days earlier than planned. At check out, he said again "why you leave early, what's wrong with you?!"||||Absolutely understand there may have been some communication breakdowns due to cultural difference, etc. but it's not hard to tell when someone's just being rude, and deliberately making you feel uncomfortable. We have never had an experience like this before.||||We ended up losing out on 2 nights accommodation, 2 days of skiing, and in return we had the worst ski experience in Japan in the 12 years we have been going. ||||We choose this place based on good reviews, unfortunately this as you can see was not our experience. We had a terrible time at Kinta...

We had the pleasure of staying at The Kinta in Naeba, Japan, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the lodge’s stunning design. The architecture and interior design perfectly blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern comforts, creating a serene, cozy atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. Every detail, from the wood accents, art pieces to the layout, is thoughtfully executed to enhance the overall experience.

The amenities at The Kinta are top-notch. The rooms are spacious, well-appointed, and impeccably clean, with a beautiful view of the surrounding snow-capped mountains. The lodge offers a wonderful balance of comfort and convenience, from private onsen bathing to wonderful breakfasts and dinners (don’t skip out on the restaurant!). There’s also relaxing common areas where guests can unwind after a day on the slopes, making it the perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea or chat with fellow travelers.

However, what truly sets The Kinta apart is the hospitality. The owner is an absolutely brilliant —exceptionally kind, approachable, and incredibly knowledgeable about the local area. He made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and provided invaluable recommendations for exploring Naeba, from hidden ski spots to the best local dining options. His personal touch really made the stay feel special. A special mention also had to go to the owner’s son who picked us up and dropped us off at the bus station, not to mention the excellent food he cooked and served in the restaurant.

Whether you're coming to Naeba for skiing or simply to experience the beauty of the area, I can't recommend The Kinta highly enough. It's an exceptional place with a wonderful owner/family run hotel and all the amenities you could possibly need for a relaxing and...