We had an incredible Japan trip, and I couldn’t wait to share our experience! We started off in Tokyo, where we booked our own hotel. The space was tight, but we made the most of our time exploring the bustling city. After a couple of days, we headed to Club Wyndham Sundance Resort Naeba for a three-night stay, and it was such a wonderful experience.

 

We booked the two-bedroom maisonette room, which turned out to be spacious compared to our cramped Tokyo hotel. The layout was perfect—one bedroom upstairs, another downstairs, and two bathrooms, one on each level. The loft even had a sofa bed! The room also came with a sink, microwave, fridge, kettle, and some cutlery, glasses, and teacups. It was such a relief to have all this space, and the view from our apartment was simply magnificent.

Getting there was an adventure in itself. We took the bullet train from Tokyo Station to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, which took about an hour and a half. Our plan was to take the bus from the station to the resort, but when we arrived, snow was pouring, and the bus was already full. The next one wasn’t due for another two hours, so we decided to take a taxi instead. It took around 40 minutes before we could get one since taxis were limited, and we were second in line.

At check-in, the receptionist seemed to understand English but couldn’t speak much of it. She used Google Translate to communicate, which worked just fine. She was incredibly nice and even helped us with dining arrangements. There isn’t a restaurant at the resort, but they offer a set dinner that’s brought to your room and set up for you. For breakfast, they set it up in a dining area on the second floor. There were also some snacks available for purchase at the reception, along with a vending machine on the first floor, while there were a few à la carte options.

One of the highlights of our trip was visiting Naeba Ski Resort, which was just a 5-10 minute walk from the resort. The Prince Hotel, which is attached to the ski resort, was about a 15-minute walk away. This area had plenty of restaurants, a convenience store, shops, and ski rentals.

For skiing, we booked an English-speaking private instructor for four people through Sherpa International Snow School, which is located at the Prince Hotel. Keep in mind that ski gear, equipment, clothing, and ski passes aren’t included, so you’ll need to arrange those before your lesson. We also tried snow rafting, which was a blast! We found a small shed office on the snow offering the activity and decided to give it a go. It’s highly recommended!

For our journey back, we decided to take a taxi again, worried that the bus might be full and we’d miss our Shinkansen train. The reception staff tried to book one for us the day before, but due to peak holiday season, all taxis were fully booked. Luckily, they tried again early in the morning and managed to secure one for us. If you’re visiting during peak season, I highly recommend booking your taxi as soon as you arrive to avoid the same situation. The bus is a much cheaper option, though.

We enjoyed Naeba so much that we are considering going back to Japan in the future, particularly in areas where Club Wyndham has resorts, like Chikuma or Shiga Kogen, or the property at Sapporo. We now prefer to explore the less crowded, more traditional areas because of our experience in Naeba.

All in all, this was one of our best holidays in Japan, and we enjoyed our stay at Club Wyndham Sundance Resort Naeba even more than our time in Tokyo! Huge thanks to everyone who previously visited our Japanese resorts and shared their experiences. It really helped us in planning this trip.

If you're heading to Japan soon, be sure to add Club Wyndham Sundance Resort Naeba to your list. It's absolutely worth the visit!