If I could give Skala Inn 100 stars, I absolutely would! This is, without a doubt, the most incredible place I have ever stayed. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with such warmth and kindness by the staff, instantly making us feel at home. Our room was spotless, incredibly comfortable, and the bed was wonderfully spacious—perfect for a restful night after a day of adventure. The bar and lounge area was a dream, with cozy couches and a heavenly massage chair that we appreciated so much after a long day. Enjoying a beer or a glass of their homemade plum wine after unwinding in the onsen after a big day at the snow was pure bliss. Breakfast was an absolute delight, with a delicious variety that changed daily. The freshly baked in-house pastries were the perfect finishing touch—such a treat! The location couldn't be better, right by the free shuttle to the resorts and within walking distance of fantastic restaurants. But what truly sets Skala Inn apart is the incredible hospitality of the family who runs it. Their warmth, generosity, and genuine care for their guests make this place so special. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and we felt completely at home. Saying goodbye was truly difficult, but there is no doubt—we will definitely be returning!

Absolutely loved our stay at Skala! This family-run inn is managed by a wonderful couple, Osamu and Asako. The rooms are clean and good sized, and the location is great — a 10-min walk to the main street of Echoland, with a shuttle bus stop conveniently right outside. We also enjoyed the delicious breakfast spread every morning. We visited Hakuba for a few days of snowboarding and were fortunate to arrive at a time when pick-up could be arranged. Since we hadn’t rented our gear yet, Osamu kindly drove us to the rental shop on the way to the inn. They even handled the gear returns for us, which was a huge convenience—no need to lug our equipment around or walk long distances in heavy boots. There's also a basement storage area to dry gear after a day on the slopes. After a day of snowboarding, it was nice to unwind in the cozy lounge with a beer by the fireplace or relaxing in the massage chair. Osamu and Asako went above and beyond to assist us multiple times during our stay, including arranging a ride to the bus station when we couldn’t get an Uber and helping me get my phone back after I left it on the shuttle bus. They put their hearts into running this place, and it shows in their warmth and hospitality. Thank you Osamu and Asako! Highly recommend Skala, and we would definitely stay here again!

The space is amazing! I had the room with private bathroom, the breakfast included is simple but very nice and changes a bit every day. The staff os great, super friendly and helpful, they take photo of their guests and print them on a Guest Book of that year so I can’t wait to come back again and see our photo there! They also have their own onsen which was empty when I went there to check. The living room is super cozy and even has a massage chair!

Everything is great, but if I’m being super picky I’ll just say the bathroom doesn’t have the warm japanese toilet seats (but apparently the shared bathroom does) and the pillows were a bit too big for me. But those are very small details.

The cozy lounge/bar is the perfect size for the accommodation capacity. I particularly enjoyed the bar, the massage chair, and the friendly conversations with the owner’s family. The breakfast was excellent, featuring freshly baked bread and pastries made by the owner, along with a well-balanced meal to fuel a day of skiing. They offer discounted day lift tickets for Hakuba Goryu and Hakuba 47, which is a great perk.

The bathtub in the common bathroom was under maintenance during my stay, so I couldn’t enjoy a hot bath this time. However, I look forward to returning and experiencing it on my next visit to Hakuba.

I have never experienced hospitality as amazing as this. Staying at Skala Inn was one of the biggest highlights of our trip. I highly, highly recommend it. It is an incredibly special experience! The rooms were spacious and so comfortable. The breakfast was phenomenal, so many fresh pastries and bread plus a cooked meal. The amazing family that run this inn go out of their way to make you feel at home and help you every step of the way, they even drove us to get our skis sorted. The bus stop just outside the inn is so convenient, we skied a different resort every day and caught the busses directly from the inn. The area is peaceful but also just a 10min walk to great restaurants and bars. I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Hakuba!

From the moment we were picked up from the bus station, to the time we were dropped back off our stay was incredible. The family run inn was the perfect mix of a traditional Japanese stay and modern comfort. The other guests mingled well - there were no kids, and was all adult guests. The morning breakfasts were so fresh and delicious. The bus stop to the ski resorts were just a few seconds walk, and about a 8 min walk to restaurant row. I would absolutely stay here again.

There is nothing I can report on here.

Skala Inn was a wonderful place to stay for our visit to Hakuba. We came for the skiing/snowboarding, and the inn is conveniently located near a shuttle bus stop for the main resorts. We also got picked up/dropped off at the bus station at the beginning and end of our trip which made everything so much easier with all of our gear. There is a dry room for snow equipment, cheap laundry, and also public bath downstairs in the property. The main shared space is great for chatting to other visitors and having a drink at the end of the day. And there is a free massage chair! Please try the homemade plum wine - it is outstanding! And the breakfast was fabulous as well, including hot and cold elements and plenty of choice.

The only downside was we could everything from the next room, and for 2 nights had very loud neighbours coming in late and keeping us awake. Earplugs fixed this, but good to be aware if you are a light sleeper.

Osamu and Asiko are great hosts. Their family looked after us so well. We were collected from the bus station at Happo, then taken to rental, then to Skala. Our room was very light and airy. Beds very comfortable. Good breakfast with homemade bread etc. There is a relaxing lounge for the evening with a fire and massage chair. A 3 minute or 5 minute stroll to 2 different bus stops for skiing. A 10 minute stroll to restaurants, cafe, supermarket etc into town. There are many other restaurants in the side streets near Skala or the Marriot. There is a vending machine for beers, soft drink or from the bar at Skala. Tea is available self help from the bar all day. This is our second time staying at Skala and it did not disappointment.

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I stayed at Skala Inn in early March and caught some of the best snow days of the season. It was my first time back in Hakuba since my childhood and the hospitality at Skala was above and beyond. We really enjoyed this classic “pension” style inn for so many reasons but here are a list of the top 5: 1. Super friendly family-run business. This is a second generation run business (grandmother passed on the business to her daughter but grandmother is still working/helping out). Needless to say, I really hope these small, family owned businesses can continue to survive in these ski resort destinations. They are such a gem. 2. The free shuttle that stops right in front of the Skala during the winter season that makes the stops in town and to all the mountains in the area. 3. The overall vibe of Skala is just peaceful and full of warmth. I hope to stay there again in early Fall (for some hiking) and winter. The rooms were perfect and our bathroom was really spacious. 4. Breakfast was great. They changed it up everyday for us and every morning it was a delight. 5. Skala has this amazing collection of Azechi Umetaro prints. His prints are hung throughout the Inn and it’s amazing. The innkeepers even gave us a little tour and showed us some prints that are kept in the back. This is the sort of place you’d want to come back to year after year, whether solo traveling or with family. Can’t recommend it enough.

everything is excellent

Skala Inn is an exceptional place to stay in Hakuba and you quite literally will not find anywhere better. Osamu and his lovely family are beyond accommodating and will do anything to assist you or make you more comfortable. Beautiful shared areas with massage chair and sunken bar are amazing. Daily breakfast is exceptional - buffet with fresh pastries, fruit, vegetables, miso, rice, cereal, toast and condiments as well as a daily-changing cooked hot breakfast. Rooms (double western and japanese-style we booked) are quite, warm and comfortable with amazing views out over the forest. Great dry room, ski/board storage and washing facilities. Something reviewers leave out is that the inn in Echoland is actually perfectly placed for the ski bus route to most resorts - not only is it right outside the property, but it is at the start of the route meaning you always get a seat. The Inn is also only an approximate 10 minute walk from Echoland main street and you can cut through the forest and be in Hakuba town in a 15 minute walk. Exceptional property and hosts - will be coming back.

Everything was exceptional. Osamu and his family work extremely hard consistently to make sure everything is perfect for their guests and it shows.