Courtyard by Marriott Hakuba

It takes over 6 hours one way, but it's worth coming back. Despite some restrictions, it is valuable to have accommodations where pets can stay in almost the same room and receive similar services as regular guests. The lounge service, dinner, and breakfast with a view of the outside offer truly extraordinary and wonderful moments. The room's bath is an Onsen, surprisingly spacious enough to stretch your legs. The only concern is that the room's air conditioning cannot switch between cooling and heating, which might be a bit worrisome during seasonal transitions.

This is my second stay following last autumn. As I mentioned before, in Japan, most accommodations that allow pets are pensions or lodges. Courtyard is one of the few hotel-style accommodations where you can stay with pets. Although it’s located at the far end of the area, the room and hallway access are comparable to regular accommodation areas. The room features a spacious bathtub with onsen water (not an open-air bath), making it very comfortable. However, with only tatami mats and floor chairs with cushions, there isn’t much space for humans to relax comfortably.The restaurant offers enjoyable meals and ambiance. It’s also nice that à la carte options are available at night. This time as well, I was able to use the lounge in the evening, which had a great selection of drinks and light snacks—very enjoyable.It’s unfortunate that coming from Shiga makes it quite far and difficult to visit often. If it were closer, I’d love to come every season. I hope rooms will be made available for stays with pets even during snowy seasons!