Lodge Clubman nice Hachimantai ski base
Lodge Clubman is well known in Hachimantai as a popular hub for year-round adventure activities in Towada-Hachimantai National Park and surrounding areas for over 20 years.
Father and son owners, Ikuo and Junya Kuragane, are backcountry legend ski guides in winter and all manner of things in summer – kayaking, biking and more. They run Hachimantai Cat Tours, a great little cat ski operation just up the road from the lodge.
They speak more than enough English to get by, and unlike western guides who visit the area occasionally they know it – and the snowpack – like only locals living and skiing there all season can, so they are your best bet for guiding in the Hachimantai/northern Iwate area.
They live and breathe outdoors lifestyle, and Lodge Clubman reflects that. The rustic setting is complemented by the design with big log beams and a wood burner in the middle of the lounge.
Off the main common room/lounge/dining area there’s an outdoor gear store featuring the brands they are sponsored by and work with – including Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange and Arc’teryx.
They have comfortable rooms from twin, triple or four share with western beds or more tatami style.
Clean share washrooms are near the rooms and the onsen hot bath is downstairs.
Lodge Clubman is good value, with rates from Y7,000 plus tax with breakfast, or 9,000 with breakfast and dinner.
There are a couple of restaurants in the village close by, and plenty of izakayas and shops 15 minutes or so away in Hachimantai city.
They will shuttle you to their Hachimantai Cat Tours cat skiing operation or the local resorts like powder gem Hachimantai Shimokura, and are available for back country guiding to show you more of the untouched terrain and superb snow in the area.
Well known Appi is only half an hour away too, and they can show the best of the side country there as well.
Both father and son are keen telemarkers too, so if you’re into free-the-heel free-the-soul skiing you will have a great time with them.
For Lodge Clubman bookings simplest is to message them off their Facebook page here.
