Scout loves
- This boutique hotel strikes the perfect balance between Japanese and Western style.
- Service is friendly, and guests are treated to a lot of extra little bonuses.
- On site is one of Hakuba’s best fine dining restaurants, Mimi’s – featuring an international menu and a sommelier.
- The location is peaceful.
Scout tips
- The hotel’s location in Lower Wadano means that you can walk to all the restaurants in the Wadano area, as well as Happo Village (via a quiet road).
- There is no elevator.
- Some rooms do face the car park. This can be noisy with snow clearing equipment early in the mornings, after a big snow-storm.
SCOUT REVIEW
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.
Who should stay here
Couples wanting a more boutique and modern Japanese experience.
Location
Phoenix Hotel is situated in the lower part of Lower Wadano. You can walk to all the restaurants and bars in Happo Village down a hill that can sometimes be icy (about 7 minutes’ walk). It’s also a bit dark at night so you may prefer a taxi home. The Wadano village restaurants and bars are all within easy walking distance. The hotel is about 350m from the Kokasi lift – about a 10 minute walk along a fairly busy road. But the hotel provides a shuttle service to Happo-one gondola and Iimori resort each morning and afternoon. The public ski shuttles run from the Tokyu Hotel (just up the road from the Phoenix).
- <10 min walk to lifts
- Hotel shuttle provided
About Hakuba
The Hakuba Valley is one of Japan's most popular ski destinations for Westerners. Made up of 10 ski resorts, including the most well-known Happo One, Cortina, Iwatake, Goryu, and Hakuba 47, there are plenty of options for skiers and snowboarders of all ability levels. Whether you're a powderhound in search of some epic pow turns, or just looking for some mellow cuisey groomers, you're sure to fall in love with the Hakuba region. Happo (the main village) and the surrounding districts of Wadano and Echoland have everything you need for your ski holiday, including international snowsports schools, rentals, guiding options, convenience stores, and countless restaurants and bars. The area is particularly Westernised to cater for the international skier, however, you can still experience glimpses of Japanese culture via local restaurants, onsens, and day tours. Close to Tokyo, Nagano and other ski resorts in the region, Hakuba is a perfect option for first time families, couples, and those who enjoy the Western comforts of home.
Read more about Hakuba and other hotels in the area.
Hotel Amenities
- Restaurant and Bar
- Steam Saunas and Private Showers
- Japanese Style Baths
- 2 x Private Shuttles
- Under Cover Parking
- In-House Physiotherapy and Massage
- Free Wireless Broadband Internet
- Free Guest IPad at Mimi's Bar
- Free Play Station 3 and Games Available
- Huge Free DVD Library, Board Games and Reading Library
- Guest Laundry
- Large Drying and Ski Storage Room
- English and Japanese Speakers
Hotel Policies
- 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.
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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