LOVED so many things about this place: •The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. •Our tatami room was perfect - traditional and very spacious. •The onsen’s were the best we’ve had in our Japanese travels to date. Large areas, multiple pools (including cold plunge in females), small saunas plus a lot of body products available to use. • Breakfast included was extremely convenient with lots of food options • Dry room for ski gear • The crew at the ski/snowboard rental place were also extremely helpful and friendly. • The shuttle to/from the train station was extremely helpful (have to pre-organise date and time) • We travelled as a group of two families with toddlers and were catered to very well

• The location was a fair walk from the lifts and ski school. Realistically, it isn’t too far but when you’re lugging ski gear and a small child it can be a bit of an effort. We headed up Akakura Kanko most days so it was just a bit further to walk. There is a free town shuttle bus though if you’re willing to wait.

Fantastic outdoor onsen, the onsen facilities were in good condition too. Great breakfast buffet with both western and japanese options. Numerous eating and drinking options within and just outside the hotel - the lobby lounge, two food trucks, a small bar and larger 'night venue' downstairs. Plenty of English-speaking staff in the equipment hire shop. Location is pretty good - the driveway is no more slippery than the rest of the town under similar conditions, so bring good shoes notetheless or buy shoe chains from the lobby shop.

Be mindful that the japanese-style rooms don't (all?) have their own showers, however bathing in the onsen was great anyway! The ski/drying room could use some work - it's functional but quite basic, and only accessible via some often wet and slippery stairs. Some assigned lockers, racks or hooks could be good. The lobby shop could have a better/larger selection of combini-type snacks - would be great to have easy access to cup noodles, beer nuts, chocolates, ice-creams etc.

It’s quirky and a bit dated but it works. The Japanese rooms are surprisingly large and comfortable with a wonderful view. The Dexter and the young western crew who run the cafe bar and ski shop make the place- and provide Aus quality coffee. it’s a good base and easy walk to lifts.

I loved the employees at Hotel Taiko - particularly the lovely lady who gave me some throat lozenges when I was sick. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and made my stay really smooth. Thank you so much. The onsen was great and I met a few amazing people while bathing in the outside onsen. I also absolutely love the drum game and pino (icecream) so that was a great find halfway through the trip.

The downstairs room that I transferred to halfway through my stay had a strange smell. There was also some water leakage/ spills in the hallways. Please organise to fix the other set of elevators/ lifts so it's easier to move around the hotel when knees are sore from skiing all day.

This was our second year at Taiko and it keeps getting better. Staff organised the taxi to pick up up from MyokoJoetsu station at 8pm, which was great as I was travelling alone with a small child. Staff are very friendly and helpful, organising taxi drop off and pick up to the ski school and other locations. The Sessions Cafe is a great place to hang out and the large TV was great for my child to hang out with all the other children at the hotel after a day of skiing to watch a nice Christmas movie. Breakfast is great and extensive! The onsen is wonderful - both indoor and outdoor. Our room was huge this time and it was great having a bed instead of tatami mat. Already looking forward to our next stay at Taiko.

This traditional Japanese onsen hotel is perfectly located an 8 min walk to the closest ski lift & right by the main street. Breakfast had both Japanese & Westrn options. The pancakes were delicious! Mizuki at the front desk of hotel Taiko went above & beyond to ensure that we were happy throughout our stay.  Every interaction with her was warm and welcoming. We were always greeted with a smile. She helped with our check-in, coordinated our transfer to the train station, helped with dinner reservations, lift ticlets & gave lots of great recommendations.  Her recommendation to enjoy the hotel onsen was greatly appreciated after a long day of travel. We visited the onsen after every day of skiing as well! Everyone at the hotel was very friendly and helpful, but Mizuki stood out in her customer service abilities. She should be the customer service manager. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and can't wait to return & spend more time at this lovely establishment that is staffed by incredible people.  Thank you very much for all your help, Mizuki & the team at Hotel Taiko D'Artagnan Heath & Ching Lin

For some reason, something in the hotel room made me stuffy every day.

Hotel Taiko is located at the far end of Akakura Onsen Street, just a few minutes’ walk from Akakura Onsen Ski Resort 🚡, making it super convenient for skiers. The hotel retains a retro Showa-era design with a 70s aesthetic, yet it is well-maintained, clean, and comfortable. It offers free parking 🅿️, making it a great choice for those on a self-driving ski trip. ♨️ Facilities The hotel features large public baths and an open-air onsen♨️, perfect for soaking in while enjoying the snowy landscape at night. There’s also an in-house ski rental shop 🎿, great for those who prefer an all-in-one service. However, I personally prefer renting from a familiar ski shop in town, where prices are more reasonable, quality is reliable, and there’s a chance to get discounts on lift passes. The hotel has several restaurants, including kaiseki cuisine🍱, a Western restaurant🍷, and a tempura specialty shop🍤. However, I didn’t book dinner at the hotel and opted to explore local eateries in the onsen town instead. Breakfast was a buffet-style spread 🍙, offering both Japanese and Western options. The Niigata rice 🍚 was exceptionally good, and the miso soup & grilled fish 🐟 were of high quality—perfect for fueling up before hitting the slopes!

Staff were friendly and efficient, with smooth check-in & check-out. Housekeeping was tidy and consistent, ensuring a comfortable stay. The hotel is quite large, and with a high number of guests, service wasn’t overly personalized, but overall, it was a solid experience.

The room was very spacious, very clean and serviced everyday which is a nice touch. Had great views over the mountains from our room. Free parking on site and within easy walking distance to the town and akakura onsen ski area. Great facilities - the outdoor onsen looking over the snowy mountains is a highlight. Breakfast options are good, they make you omelet’s and pancakes on the spot. A few different bars in the hotel, table tennis and an arcade. Would definitely stay here again!

Could do with a few more modern touches but most of the accomodation around this area is a bit dated.

The breakfast was great, The manager ‘Dexter’ and all the staff are very friendly and helpful. We were able to hire skis and boots at the hotel with knowledgeable staff in the ski shop. The Onsen is great and always nice and hot. There was live music a few nights in the downstairs bar which was great, even at the end of the season when we were there. There is also a nice bar/cafe upstairs to relax après skiing.

Would prefer a soft western mattress bed to a tatami… but when in Japan right? 🤗

The location was great. Loved the bar in the main Lobby; it was really relaxed and the music was great but not too loud, so you could still talk. The room was really cute and the toilet being separate from the bathroom was a plus. great breakfast with lots of options. Overall it is really good value for Money

Although the rooms are cute and a good size, the furniture and decor is a bit dated. The shop in the lobby area was very sparse, but I'm not sure if that has to do with us being there at the end of the season.