The Phoenix Hotel in Hakuba is a great find. It has a modern, boutique feel and despite its Australian ownership, it has retained many of the charms of a Japanese hotel.
For instance, most of the rooms are furnished in the Japanese style with tatami mats, futons and rice paper partitions. But you should be aware that not all of the rooms have their own shower, storage can be minimal, and there are no couches to laze around on.
These drawbacks are minimal however considering the added luxuries that guests are treated to. These include Bose sound docks, smart TVs (with streaming apps and Netflix).
The Combination Room is particularly spacious for just a couple, or a couple with a young child. The extra living space really allows you to spread out more.
If you can’t handle the idea of sleeping on a futon, there are a couple of rooms with Western-style beds.
Since some of the rooms do not include a shower, guests must use the onsen-style baths to bathe (note these are not natural hot springs). In addition to the baths there’s a steam room and massage facilities.
The Phoenix Hotel has one of Hakuba’s most highly regarded fine dining restaurants – Mimi’s. It has an innovative, international and modern menu with a wide selection of wines, and of course Sake.
The managers of the Phoenix are super knowledgeable about the area and can help with any bookings around town. They operate a shuttle for arrivals and departures, as well as a shopping shuttle each afternoon. Although it is possible to walk to the ski slopes, it is a bit far for most. Instead, the hotel runs a shuttle service to the slopes (Happo-one gondola and Goryu) in the mornings and evenings. If you want to head further afield, the public shuttles to most ski resorts stop very close by.
