Shigakogen Prince Hotel

The room was small for the price And the furniture is old. There was no snow which affected feeling otherwise it should feel much better

I stayed at Prince Hotel at Shigakogen in March 2024. Most of the hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. But there was one front desk female staff called A. Fushimi (伏見) who was very rude to me when I requested her for help to change a restaurant reservation. I made a reservation at a restaurant for 4 people and wanted to change it to 5 people. As I do not speak Japanese, I politely asked this staff A. Fushimi to help me call the restaurant and inform them of the change. Fushimi told me there is no need to make reservations at that restaurant (which was wrong as the restaurant staff told us that reservation was required). I told her we already made a reservation and just want her to help change the number of people from 4 to 5. She refused o help and told me to call the restaurant myself. I asked her if I could use the phone, she told me to use the phone in my room. And Fushimi was not busy at all (no other customer around at the time). Throughout the whole conversation, I had been polite as I know Japanese people are very polite and gentle. However, Fushimi was very rude which was very surprising to me considering Japanese culture. It seems to me perhaps she dislikes English speakers. Below is a photo of this female staff A. Fushimi (伏見). If you are English speaking and need help at the front desk, do try to avoid her. Other staff are very friendly.

Wonderful ski holiday! Could not fault the location, it is perfect if you are after a proper ski holiday. Not so much if you are after entertainment and going out. Our room (5th floor) was large and comfortable with breathtaking views. The staff were, without exception, very friendly and helpful. Every question and query was promptly answered and they helped with dinner reservations at other hotels and restaurants. We did not have any trouble finding delicious dinner options and the free shuttle bus after 5pm was great and 100% reliable and it only took 10 minutes to town and even less to the other Prince hotels. We dined at the Ramen Corner, the Japanese bar at West wing, the Chinese restaurant and another place in Ichinose town. We only went to he hotel bar once and then had drinks from the vending machine or shop in our room enjoying a great view, but the bar was good too. Was great value for money and we will be back.

I would have loved this hotel except for one thing that ruined my whole experience. After checking out and arriving at our next location, we realised one of our beloved toys was left behind. We knew exactly where it had been left, and called the hotel repeatedly. Each time they claimed they never found it. This was a large item, one that is now sold online for $200+ and is rare to come across. There is no way this wasn't seen while cleaning and either they disposed of it or stole it. Quite heartbroken that this has happened. While we understand it was our fault for it being left behind (we weren't feeling well and rushed out early in the morning), I've never before had a hotel that didn't hold onto left behind items for guests in a lost and found.

Stayed at Prince east. At reception informed that no restaurant was open in the hotel and we would have to go to one of the other two sites by shuttle bus. Food outlets in south and west awful and as we found out when easts restaurant opened, awful there too. Also extremely over priced because. Dinner buffet in east yen 8000+ per head for a low quality buffet, no sushi or sashimi and a thumbnail sized piece of steak. Captive market, no other alternatives and they take maximum advantage. The dining room is like a school refectory, two indoor gyms in size. Breakfast, similar quality and very regimented. Their attempt at European options was dreadful and the Japanese options no better. Biggest beef. Over 30 cm of snow but none of the lifts at east open and none of the slopes prepared. Only two uplifts open, one at south and one at west and only the lower runs. Snow conditions on those open runs were fine and Ichinose runs also open including upper runs. Seemed that Prince had made a management decision to limit the available runs maybe because they had insufficient booking to make a full opening worthwhile. They said the snow conditions were not good, but there was definitely enough depth to piste and people were touring the steeper sections and nothing was moving. All in all an extremely disappointing experience at an hotel that has definitely seen better days and seems to be milking guest with an expensive and substandard product.

If your looks for a snow holiday in Japan that is not crowded and is away from everyone you would see at home, shiga Kogan prince hotel is the place to go. If you go to the east wing it is much better than the other wings and you can easily ski or snowboard to the others or catch the free shuttle bus