Zao Onsen, as the name suggests is a town popular for its natural onsen hot spring waters, and many of the hotels have wonderful hot spring facilities and Hotel Hammond is no exception! What's more, as a partner hotel of the "Takamiya Group," guests staying at Hammond can visit other member hotels and use their hot springs. "Onsen-hopping" is a thing in Japan, people wander around the town in their yukata robe from one onsen hot spring to another. Give it a try and we guarantee you'll get hooked!

The hotel itself is a great mid-range place to stay, with spacious rooms suitable for staying with family or friends, with choices of a western room for up to two guests, or the large Japanese rooms for up to five. Each guest room has a private toilet and sink, and guests have access to the onsen hot springs, which are separated into male and female. There is a communal lobby area, as well as a dining hall where breakfasts and dinners are served.

Once you fill up on the satisfying breakfast spread, head out to the lifts, the closest one being Zao Sky Cable five minutes' walk away. Experience Zao's famous powder snow and ski alongside the "snow monsters," large trees clumped with so much powder their silhouettes are likened to giant monsters.