Skala Inn was a wonderful place to stay for our visit to Hakuba. We came for the skiing/snowboarding, and the inn is conveniently located near a shuttle bus stop for the main resorts. We also got picked up/dropped off at the bus station at the beginning and end of our trip which made everything so much easier with all of our gear. There is a dry room for snow equipment, cheap laundry, and also public bath downstairs in the property. The main shared space is great for chatting to other visitors and having a drink at the end of the day. And there is a free massage chair! Please try the homemade plum wine - it is outstanding! And the breakfast was fabulous as well, including hot and cold elements and plenty of choice.

The only downside was we could everything from the next room, and for 2 nights had very loud neighbours coming in late and keeping us awake. Earplugs fixed this, but good to be aware if you are a light sleeper.

Osamu and Asiko are great hosts. Their family looked after us so well. We were collected from the bus station at Happo, then taken to rental, then to Skala. Our room was very light and airy. Beds very comfortable. Good breakfast with homemade bread etc. There is a relaxing lounge for the evening with a fire and massage chair. A 3 minute or 5 minute stroll to 2 different bus stops for skiing. A 10 minute stroll to restaurants, cafe, supermarket etc into town. There are many other restaurants in the side streets near Skala or the Marriot. There is a vending machine for beers, soft drink or from the bar at Skala. Tea is available self help from the bar all day. This is our second time staying at Skala and it did not disappointment.

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I stayed at Skala Inn in early March and caught some of the best snow days of the season. It was my first time back in Hakuba since my childhood and the hospitality at Skala was above and beyond. We really enjoyed this classic “pension” style inn for so many reasons but here are a list of the top 5: 1. Super friendly family-run business. This is a second generation run business (grandmother passed on the business to her daughter but grandmother is still working/helping out). Needless to say, I really hope these small, family owned businesses can continue to survive in these ski resort destinations. They are such a gem. 2. The free shuttle that stops right in front of the Skala during the winter season that makes the stops in town and to all the mountains in the area. 3. The overall vibe of Skala is just peaceful and full of warmth. I hope to stay there again in early Fall (for some hiking) and winter. The rooms were perfect and our bathroom was really spacious. 4. Breakfast was great. They changed it up everyday for us and every morning it was a delight. 5. Skala has this amazing collection of Azechi Umetaro prints. His prints are hung throughout the Inn and it’s amazing. The innkeepers even gave us a little tour and showed us some prints that are kept in the back. This is the sort of place you’d want to come back to year after year, whether solo traveling or with family. Can’t recommend it enough.

everything is excellent

Skala Inn is an exceptional place to stay in Hakuba and you quite literally will not find anywhere better. Osamu and his lovely family are beyond accommodating and will do anything to assist you or make you more comfortable. Beautiful shared areas with massage chair and sunken bar are amazing. Daily breakfast is exceptional - buffet with fresh pastries, fruit, vegetables, miso, rice, cereal, toast and condiments as well as a daily-changing cooked hot breakfast. Rooms (double western and japanese-style we booked) are quite, warm and comfortable with amazing views out over the forest. Great dry room, ski/board storage and washing facilities. Something reviewers leave out is that the inn in Echoland is actually perfectly placed for the ski bus route to most resorts - not only is it right outside the property, but it is at the start of the route meaning you always get a seat. The Inn is also only an approximate 10 minute walk from Echoland main street and you can cut through the forest and be in Hakuba town in a 15 minute walk. Exceptional property and hosts - will be coming back.

Everything was exceptional. Osamu and his family work extremely hard consistently to make sure everything is perfect for their guests and it shows.

I feel very fortunate to have booked such a wonderful homestay in Hakuba. The landlord and his wife were incredibly friendly. We stayed in Hakuba for 6 days, and every day was very clean and hygienic, for which we are very grateful to the staff of Skala. The location of the homestay is right next to the food street, and there is a shuttle bus station right outside the door, making it very convenient to reach various ski resorts! One thing to note is that restaurants on the food street need to be booked 1 to 3 days in advance. You can ask the landlord for help with reservations, otherwise you might end up like us, wandering around the food street with nowhere to eat on the first day :( Fortunately, we bought instant noodles at Jiahjiah supermarket and thanks to Asako for providing us with a microwave to heat up food, she's really friendly. And the breakfast at this homestay is very, very delicious. The first thing every morning is to have a hearty breakfast before going skiing, making life simple and happy. This was truly an unforgettable trip, looking forward to meeting Skala again!

nothing

The Skala Inn is a quaint, family-run inn that is only about a 10 minute walk from the main drag of Echoland. The inn has a lounge with an upright piano, a massage chair, a couple couches, and a full bar. I can’t remark enough on how nice and hospitable the owners are. On our arrival day, we were picked up by one of the owners from the bus station and were driven directly to a ski shop (Lion Gear Rental, formerly Rainbow Rental)** where we rented skis and ski gear. He was very kind and waited for us while we selected all of our equipment. On the day of check-out, we were driven to the bus station. My partner and I stayed two nights in a private room with a private bath. The inn has prepared breakfast buffet complete with juices, coffee ,and tea. The owners also take a photo of your party at check-out to save to a series of memory books, which date back to the late 1980s! The Skala Inn is also very close to a bus stop that will take you to the ski areas only minutes away. Be sure to arrive to the stops earlier than the planned departure. For ski passes, the Skala Inn offers discounted ski passes via card that is purchased for 100 JPY per ticket. **Lion Gear Rental offered a 20% deal for staying at the Skala Inn, *AND* they even picked up the ski gear from the inn after our day of skiing.

We had the most amazing trip in Hakuba at the Skala Inn. Osamu and his wife made everyone feel so welcome and couldn’t do enough for you. Fresh breakfast every morning, a cosy homely lounge area with a wood burner for relaxing evenings after skiing. Lovely clean rooms with a good shower room. Ski equipment storage room with laundry facilities was very handy. Bus stops very close for free shuttle to various resorts. Would highly recommend and hoping to return next year!

Nothing… everything was fantastic!

This inn is the cosiest and most comforting place to return to after a day on the slopes. You’re greeted by the warmth of the fireplace and golden glow of ornate lamps and lighting. Being a comfortable size, you don’t have to worry about trekking far from your room to the many available ammenities and you’re always warmly greeted by the gracious hosts Osamu-san, his wife Asako-san, and their lovely staff.

Everything was enjoyable and you well accommodated for.

Everything about our stay was incredibly convenient. The owners picked us up/dropped us off at the bus station and took us directly to the rental shop before arriving at the inn. The inn is a few steps from the free shuttle to the slopes and is less than a mile walk from the small “downtown” area with restaurants, coffee shops, and a convenience store. The hosts of the inn were incredibly helpful and kind, and the room itself was cozy and clean. My husband and I had a wonderful experience and would gladly stay again!

We absolutely loved staying here. Super beautiful and clean building and an absolutely amazing breakfast which was carefully and thoughtfully presented. It was different every day and there was always home made bread, miso soup, fruits and juices. The onsen is small but works a dream, and the massage chair was excellent. The beers are tasty, and the on site bar was well stocked. The best thing was the hosts, who went above and beyond to help us in every way. They collected us and dropped us from the bus, stored our bags for the weekend whilst we went to Nozawa Onsen and even made our beds and gave us fresh towels every day. Thank you for making our holiday special.

Perhaps a TV in the lounge with a chromecast would be nice, so we could watch something on Netflix or Youtube if there was a rainy day. But this is just a minor suggestion. I think most rooms have TVs, but we got a more budget room :)