Shizukuishi Prince Hotel Review: Ski, Golf & Onsen

Shizukuishi Prince Hotel is a Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts property in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, positioned as a year-round mountain resort with direct ski-in/ski-out access to Shizukuishi Ski Place and a 36-hole golf facility. This practical review separates the hotel’s stable facts — the setting, dining, onsen, and slope access — from date-sensitive pricing and the mixed guest feedback that shows up across review platforms.

Last checked: 2026-10-15

Property: Shizukuishi Prince Hotel · Operator: Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts · Setting: Overlooks Mount Iwate · Winter use: Ski resort hotel with ski-in access · Warm-season use: Golf course facility in spring–autumn · Meal style: Buffet breakfast and dinner

Who owns Prince Hotels in Japan?

Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts operates the brand. The group positions itself around luxury city stays, beachfront escapes, and ski resorts — with Shizukuishi Prince Hotel belonging to the ski-resort category. The company lists 80+ award-winning hotels across Japan and Asia, giving the Shizukuishi property brand-level support for services like ski passes, equipment rental, and golf course management.

The hotel sits within that structure as a mountain-resort property rather than a city business hotel. That distinction matters when you plan a stay: the services and facilities are organised around seasonal outdoor activity, not urban convenience.

Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts at a glance

Beyond Shizukuishi, the group operates properties in Japan and internationally. For travellers weighing brand options, the group includes Seibu Prince Hotel Tokyo, Seibu Prince Shinjuku, and Prince Waikiki Hotel — each with a different seasonal or urban focus. Shizukuishi is the ski-and-golf entry in that spread.

How Shizukuishi Prince Hotel fits the brand

This property is the group’s Iwate Prefecture mountain resort. Its direct positioning is a ski-in/ski-out hotel with a golf component, which is a different product from a city hotel or a beach resort. The implication for guests: you book here for the slopes and the course, not for proximity to urban amenities.

Shizukuishi Prince Hotel reviews

Independent booking platforms give a broadly positive but not outstanding picture. Expedia lists the hotel at 7.8/10, KAYAK at 7.7, and trivago at 7.6. Tripadvisor’s rating is 3.5 out of 5 bubbles from 219 reviews. These numbers point to a property that satisfies its core audience — slope-focused skiers and golfers — without uniformly impressing every guest.

What reviewers praise

Positive themes concentrate on ski convenience, mountain scenery, breakfast variety, staff helpfulness, and the onsen. One Expedia reviewer described it as a “good ski in/ski out hotel” with comfortable corner rooms and good food. Another praised the convenience store on the ground floor. The buffet breakfast — served daily from 7:00 to 9:00 per Expedia’s property information — consistently appears in favourable comments.

What reviewers caution about

Negative themes focus on dated rooms, hard mattresses, crowded public baths, crowded dining areas, and occasional food-replenishment delays. One Klook reviewer said the hotel “is dated.” Another noted that the ski-in/ski-out convenience was priced at a premium that didn’t match the room standard. A single Expedia review warns that the location, while ideal for slopes, is relatively isolated and may require cash access.

“Prepared to pay a premium for ski in ski out but just wasn’t up to standard for the price.”

— Anonymous Klook reviewer, via Klook

These are individual comments, not universal patterns — but the recurring themes of dated interiors and busy dining areas are worth weighing if you prioritise modern rooms or quiet meals.

Shizukuishi Prince Hotel prices

No verified, stable nightly rate exists in the public sources we reviewed. Prices vary by date, room type, currency, and booking channel. The available samples give a useful band but not a firm figure.

What price signals appear in search data

KAYAK displayed sample rates from about USD 74 to USD 302 per night for different room and date combinations. Expedia Japan showed a sample October stay at JPY 22,839 per night, with a JPY 28,289 total. Tripadvisor’s displayed standard-room range was roughly USD 84 to USD 310. Klook listed approximately HKD 1,246.70 per night for a specified date. These are snapshots, not guarantees.

How to get current rates without unverified figures

Because rates change with season and occupancy, the credible move is to check the official property site or a booking platform for your exact dates. Seasonality is a real factor: KAYAK’s historical summary identified January as its most expensive month and April as its cheapest. Winter ski weekends will cost more than spring golf weekdays.

Shizukuishi Prince Hotel restaurant

Dining at this hotel is buffet-centred. Expedia’s property information describes breakfast as a buffet served daily from 7:00 to 9:00, with an approximate adult fee of JPY 2,500 and child fee of JPY 1,500. Dinner is also buffet style, and Booking.com confirms two restaurants on site: the French restaurant Kobushi and the Prince Room.

Buffet breakfast and dinner

The buffet format suits families and ski groups who want flexible meal timing. The adult breakfast fee of roughly JPY 2,500 sits at a mid-range point for Japanese resort hotels. The Prince Room handles the main buffet service; Kobushi offers a French-dining option.

Guest impressions of the food

Reviewers describe the buffet as rich in country cuisine with good taste. That regional angle aligns with a property in Iwate Prefecture, where local produce and seafood feature prominently. The main complaints centre on crowds during peak meal times and occasional slow replenishment — a common pattern at large resort buffets.

“Fantastic hotel, clean, friendly staff, convenience store on the ground floor is very helpful.”

— Anonymous Expedia reviewer, via Expedia

If you’re booking a plan without meals, the convenience store near the ground floor offers a practical backup for snacks and essentials.

Seibu Prince Hotel locations

Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts operates properties across Japan and Asia. In the context of this review, the relevant comparable properties are Seibu Prince Hotel Tokyo, Seibu Prince Shinjuku, and Prince Waikiki Hotel. Each serves a different traveller profile.

Seibu Prince properties referenced in search

Seibu Prince Hotel Tokyo and Seibu Prince Shinjuku are urban properties, suitable for business or city sightseeing. Prince Waikiki Hotel is a beachfront property. Shizukuishi Prince Hotel is the ski-and-golf mountain resort in the group. That distinction matters: the same brand runs all four, but the experience differs fundamentally by location and season.

How Shizukuishi compares within the group

Shizukuishi offers what city properties cannot: slope-side access, a golf course, and an onsen with open-air bathing. What it lacks is the convenience of a Tokyo base. For travellers weighing a Seibu Prince stay, the choice is between mountain recreation and urban accessibility.

Single-entity spec table

Pros and cons

What works well

• Direct ski-in/ski-out access to Shizukuishi Ski Place, roughly 0.1 km away.
• Outdoor mineral hot spring and open-air bathing facilities.
• Buffet breakfast and dinner, with the adult breakfast fee at approximately JPY 2,500.
• Free Wi-Fi and free parking in several listings.
• 36-hole golf facility for warm-season use.

Where it falls short

• Dated rooms and hard mattresses appear in multiple reviews.
• Crowded public baths and dining areas during peak periods.
• Isolated location; one reviewer noted the need for cash access.
• Food-replenishment delays at the buffet occasionally reported.

Best for segments

• Ski travellers — Ski-in/ski-out access, ski storage, rental, and snow activities make this a slope-focused base.
• Golfers — 36-hole facility with advance tee-time reservation for spring–autumn play.
• Tokyo-origin weekend travellers — About 3 hours by Shinkansen and bus from Tokyo Station suits a short escape.

Location and getting there

Shizukuishi Prince Hotel sits in Takakura Onsen, Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture. From Tokyo Station, the journey takes about 3 hours by Shinkansen plus bus transfer. The hotel is approximately 0.1 km from Shizukuishi Ski Place, which makes the final leg to the slopes a short walk. The property overlooks Mount Iwate, a defining feature of the local landscape.

Alternatives in set

Within the Seibu Prince group, travellers weighing Shizukuishi might also consider Seibu Prince Hotel Tokyo, Seibu Prince Shinjuku, or Prince Waikiki Hotel. Each serves a different need — urban convenience, business access, or beach recreation. If your priority is skiing or golf in a mountain setting, Shizukuishi is the appropriate choice; if you need city proximity, the Tokyo properties are better fits.

Sample one-day use case

A realistic stay flows around the slope and the onsen. Arrive in the morning via Shinkansen and bus; check-in at 15:00. Use the afternoon for ski storage, equipment rental, and a first run from Shizukuishi Ski Place. Return for a buffet dinner at the Prince Room, then finish the day at the outdoor mineral hot spring. The next morning, take the 7:00–9:00 breakfast buffet before heading back to the slopes. In warmer months, swap the ski run for a round at the 36-hole golf course, with tee times booked in advance.

Related reading: Mizno Hotel Review: Honest Look at Private Onsen and Views · Interlaken Hotels: Grindelwald vs Interlaken – Best Base for You

FAQ

Sources

• Expedia — Property information for Shizukuishi Prince Hotel
• KAYAK — Shizukuishi Prince Hotel
• trivago — Shizukuishi Prince Hotel