Square 8 Hakuba Retreat by Unplan in Hakuba

I had a great stay here. Location is great, less than 5 minutes from the Iwatake slopes. They have a ski-in/ski-out facility - a rear door leads to a snow-covered path that leads to the slopes. Tatami beds. Great onsen within the hotel, with indoor and a lovely outdoor bath. Staff are warm and helpful. Would stay again.

We really loved our stay here for 5 nights in February. Cozy, friendly and a super well organised set up for skiers and boarders (including arrival pick up and drop off from bus stop). We had a 6 person family traditional room for only 2 of us, so lots of space and the ability to sleep on doubled up futons, which was fine for us. Our western frames aren't made for easily getting up and down on the floor, but we made do, and the cozy tatami mats, plus mountain view, table, TV and great heating were totally worth it.

The two main draws for here were location and onsen in the building. While not entirely ski out (ski in could work with enough speed and snow conditions), a 2 minute skate-ski and 3 minute road walk put you at the base of the gondola. At the hotel uou could buy a lift card with 1 day on for Iwatake, then top up online each day for any resort (use the number on the front of the card). Huge drying room - the hotel was fully booked and still lots of space, plus warm dry boots every morning!

The hot spring bath is kept super clean in great working order and temperature, but this also depends on the other guests (ie leaving things open, not washing first). The indoor and outdoor bathing is chlorinated, but amazing to soak the muscles at the end of a day on the slopes. Five shower stations, enough space for 5+ people per onsen and sauna, but rarely busy. I loved it and it's a definitely a big draw to come back.

My only feedback is the women's outdoor onsen is near the boiler and with wind there was a fuel smell. But I could live with that to enjoy snow falling all around while soaking in the lovely hot water.

We brought our own food as we're vegan, but those eating with the halfboard package were very complimentary about the food and service. No food to buy onsite, but there is a vending machine with soft drinks, beer and hottish coffee and tea in bottles. If eating out, there are some places about 20 minutes walk in Iwatake Shinde, but you need to book restaurants and taxis early. Great lunch options at the top of the slopes also.

Fantastic location, 3 minute walk to Iwatake ski fields, rooms and facilities are clean and tidy, staff are phenomenal so friendly and accommodating 👌🏼

3 minutes walk to Iwatake gondola lift. On site dinners are delicious. Onsen is really nice. Facilities are a bit old but well maintained. Staffs are very friendly. Only downside is that there are not many restaurants around here.

The staff seemed to be mostly part-time foreigners; they were very friendly and had a strong service attitude. The facilities include a hot stone sauna and a private hot spring! It was very relaxing to rest and rejuvenate after skiing! Although the location is a bit inconvenient for those without a car, there are plenty of places to eat nearby, including a small cafe. I really liked it and would consider staying again.

We had such a great stay at Villa Schole Hakuba. The staff were incredibly kind and genuinely went out of their way to take care of us, it really made a difference.

We loved the room size (very spacious and comfortable), and the mountain view was beautiful, especially in the morning. The onsite onsen was amazing after skiing, and breakfast every morning was solid and comforting. We also decided to eat dinner there one night and the wagyu shabu-shabu was really, really good ! Honestly better than we expected.

For skiing, the location is super convenient. There’s a dry room for ski gear, easy access to the shuttle bus to other resorts, and it’s only about a 5-minute walk to Iwatake.

Everything just felt easy and well thought out. We loved our stay and would 100% come back next time we’re in Hakuba.

Fluency English reception.👍
The room is bigger than I expected. Absolutely clean. The overall is cozy and relaxing. Because of the snowing time the parking is a bit far from the hotel. The other else is 💯💯💯💯. Thank you.

There is no elevator, so it is difficult to carry things. The room is not cleaned during the stay, only the towels are changed. The staff is warm and friendly. The public area is very comfortable.

We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 day stay at Schole Hakuba. The room exceeded our expectations with cleanliness and more space than usual for a private inn. The onsen is spacious, clean, and well-kept. The ski room is easily accessible and well heated.

We opted for the half-board plan which included a great breakfast buffet and a traditional Japanese dinner. Be sure to consult with the front desk ahead of time if you have dietary restrictions.

Most of all, the staff were incredibly helpful and accommodating. Despite our limited understanding of Japanese, they went out of their way to make us comfortable. On our last day, our car got stuck on ice in the parking lot and they helped us get it out. I hope to return some day to repay them for their kindness!