We (two couples) stayed in a 2-room apartment at Hinode Hills for 6 nights in early February, having booked it about 18 months earlier at the height of COVID. It was worth the wait - the service was excellent - both front of house and in the ski and boot room. The rooms and living area were huge and very well-appointed with some luxury touches, and we had fabulous views of Mt Yotei from the 5th floor (when she wasn't covered in cloud). Breakfast was good (though not great) and the onsen was a welcome retreat after a day on the slopes. Location-wise, the hotel is a bit out of the way in terms of dining and nightlife, but there are plenty of free (and paid) bus services to Hirafu, Annapuri, etc. either from out the front or just up the road at Green Leaf. If you want to stay out late you'll need to get a taxi back however. There is a covered "magic carpet" out the back of the resort, from the top of which you can access the mountain and lifts. There is a track beside that allows you to ski board/down to the back door of the ski and boot room. Rather annoyingly, the Higashiyama gondola was not operating during our stay, which limited the number of runs you could access immediately from the hotel. Overall we loved our stay and would return in a flash.