We overall enjoyed our time at this hotel.
Some notes:
* generally good command of English among staff - generally better English at Okushiga Kogen area than lower down the mountains.
* rooms were large enough for the price
* large fireplace and bar upstairs for apres
* convenient ski lockers/place to suit up and access lifts
* two good, but expensive, restaurants in house. Restaurants had limited availability per time slot. Booking was essential.
* economical meal options v. limited. Sports bar at central station is main option. Supposedly 7 days a week, but closed twice during our 8 day stay. Can catch a bus elsewhere but we didn't.
* certain sameness of food up and down the mountains. Try Cafe Rocky at Ichinose Family.
* ski in, short walk to lift on way out
* Okushiga Kogen is at one end of ski area. No school groups. To get to the far end took us about 2 hours of casual skiing.
* fair bit of traversal required to get between resorts
* weather was great - even counting a couple of low visibility days. Tons of snow. Low visibility was not such a problem as felt we could trust the snow.
* lifts were a little conservative about closure for wind.
* bus from "central station" (5 min walk) to/from monkey park.
* first bus to Nagano station arrives just after 2 trains to Tokyo leave.
* wifi was comparatively good (not obviously under provisioned)
* Hotel has lots of extras you can try (sauna/igloo, massage, onsen, snowcat)