Lodge Nakajima

We stayed at Lodge Nakajima for a week recently and can highly recommend. It is family run so has a personal vibe and the owners are extremely friendly and caring. It was snowing heavily the day we left and we could not get a taxi so they drove us to the bus station. Our room was spotlessly clean, and quite spacious by Japanese standards. We had plenty of space for luggage, clothes and our personal effects. We had a heater (which we used rarely) and tea making facilities. Towels were refreshed every second day.I was concerned about no ensuite but in fact we had a toilet and basin right outside our room which seemed to be for our exclusive use - I never saw anyone else using them. The ski storage/drying room facilities are more than adequate, there is a washing machine (200JPY) and a little sitting area on the top floor with drinks vending machine and free coffee. Breakfast was western style - fruit, cereal, toast and always a cooked plate of eggs of some description. It is a small lodge so the guests get to know each other and dining room is a real meeting hub. It also doubles as a cafe/bar for the public until 4pm. They do not serve dinner but it is a short stroll down the hill to the centre of the village where there are lots of eating options. The best bits were the in-house bath house/onsen and the location - just 10m across the road to the main gondola and ski back to the front door. Loved it - we will definitely come back here again.