Scout loves
- Excellent service
- The outdoor onsen (Rotenburo) is the best in the area
- The large western style rooms
- The food which will impress discerning foodies
- Kodama-san and his son/manager Yoshihiro-san who are very friendly and accommodating
- The snow monkeys which usually hang out at the windows of the rooms. They are adorable but a little sneaky so don’t leave your windows open as they might just steal your snacks!
Scout tips
- Half-Board (Breakfast and Dinner) is the only option
- Ski-in/ski-out in the Shiga Kogen Giant ski area
- It’s quite far from Ichinose Village
- Shuttle service is available to and from the Hasuike bus stop
- Free wifi
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Hotel Alpenberg is an authentic Japanese experience which may pose challenges to some travellers. Read our story about Staying in a Japanese hotel.
SCOUT REVIEW
A fusion of the best of the east and the west, Hotel Alpenburg was built in the 1990s in preparation for the area’s hosting of the 1998 Winter Olympics. It is a ski-in/ski-out hotel that enjoys a 60% repeat customer base. It has Austrian style and was built by European carpenters who were brought in just to build the hotel, so everything is authentic both inside and out. Not surprisingly, it was the home of the Austrian ski team during the Olympics including the giant slalom gold medallist, Hermann Maier. But the king of ski racing isn’t the only Royalty that has stayed here, there was a room built especially for Japan’s prince and princess to use during the games (the room is available for rent and is, not surprisingly, called the Princess Room).
All the rooms are western style and feature lots of woodwork and traditional European style furniture. Rooms types are standard twin, deluxe twin and special rooms. All the rooms have bathrooms and are very spacious and comfortable; and most of the rooms have balconies and great views of the slopes and of the Giant ski area. The larger rooms have sofas which can be turned into sleeper sofas.
All the rates include breakfast and dinner served in a lovely dining room (It is not possible to get only breakfast since there are no nearby alternative restaurants for dinner). The dinner alternates between western style dishes and Japanese cuisine. The menu is in English so you know what you are exactly eating. The dining room also serves lunch. The hotel has a bar with a nice fireplace where you can relax and chat with Kodama-san who will be more than happy to share some Japanese whisky, beer or sake with you, and he seems like the sort of guy who’ll be very happy to share more than one.
You will love the outdoor onsen of this hotel which Scout thinks is one of the best in the area. It’s set in stones with lots of snow around and the natural hot spring water emits a slight sulfur smell (which means it’s great for your skin!). The hotel also has an indoor onsen, swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi.
Hotel Alpenburg will make you feel like you are in Europe but in a different setting and with Japanese hospitality and warmth. No wonder, it is a long-time favorite of skiers who come to Shiga Kogen to enjoy the skiing.
Who should stay here
Hotel Alpenburg is perfect for couplesor families looking for ski-in ski-out accommodation in Shiga Kogen that don’t need to be based in a village.
Location
Hotel Alpenburg is located in the Shiga Kogen Giant ski area. Shuttle service is available to and from the Hasuike bus stop. A shuttle bus is required to get to Ichinose Village, and sadly this shuttle finishes service at 7pm, meaning it’s almost impossible to get there to enjoy the restaurants or a bar once it stops running.
- Ski-in Ski-out or slopeside
About Shiga Kogen
Shiga Kogen is an intermediate groomer lover’s paradise. It’s one of the biggest (and highest) ski areas in Japan with 21 mostly interlinked resorts scattered among five valleys. There’s a variety of accommodation in Shiga Kogen, much of which is ski-in ski-out. It’s the perfect place for families or couples who love cruising and who want to explore somewhere different to the masses of Australians. Just be ready to bring out your Japanese phrasebook from time to time!
Read more about Shiga Kogen and other hotels in the area.
Hotel Policies
Arrival Details: Hotel Alpenburg offers a pick up service from the local bus station. If you would like Scout to arrange this for you we will need to know your arrival details at least 1 week prior to arrival. No dinner is available after 6pm so if you are arriving later than 6pm no meal will be available.
Hotel Alpenburg is a typical Japanese hotel with onsen facilities. Please read our guides on staying in a Japanese Hotel and to Onsen Etiquette.
Property T&Cs:
- All guests may be required to give their full name, age, passport number, postal address, nationality and occupation on or prior to check-in, in compliance with Japanese Law.
- Property is non-smoking.
- Cots (cribs) and highchairs can be requested at time of booking and are subject to availability and an extra charge.
- Guests accept responsibility for damage to the property, fittings, furniture, keys and other chattels caused during their occupation, including any consequential losses incurred.
- Credit card details and authorization may be required to be provided upon prior check-in as a security deposit.
- Check-out is 10AM. Late check-outs may be possible on a request basis and a charge applies.
- Parking during winter months is severely restricted and must be requested and confirmed for each booking if required.
- Children aged 2-6 years are at a reduced rate. Please contact Scout for an updated quote based on the ages of those travelling.
Available: This selection is currently available for this price. Once you submit an inquiry our agents will confirm your booking via email and send you an invoice for a deposit. You will need to pay a 25% deposit within 7 days (unless otherwise specified) to secure the booking.
On Request: Our agents need to confirm availability of this room. Once you submit a request we will endeavour to get back to you by the next business day to confirm availability (some properties may take longer). If prices are listed they are the exact prices for your dates, room selection and room occupancy. Where prices are not listed we will confirm the price when we confirm availability. In either instance, you are not committed to your selection until after we confirm availability and price. Once you agree to that confirmation, you will be sent an invoice and will need to pay a 25% deposit within 7 days (unless otherwise specified) to secure the booking. If your requested room is not available, we will present alternative options.
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