The world's only ski-in, ski-out capsule hotel, Moiwa Lodge 834, in front of the Moiwa lifts, is popular with powder hounds who have no patience for the morning queues in Hirafu. The lodge has done a pretty good job tweaking the capsule format: there's plenty of secure space for your gear. Capsule rooms are sex-segregated.
Buffet meals (of mostly Western food) are served in the cosy lounge, which looks out towards the mountain. The hotel does free pick-ups from the nearest highway bus stop at Kanronomori.
Outside the snow season, rates drop considerably, with no meals.