We have the local knowledge for our guests to discover the best terrain in the region
Owners Ben and Ruka first moved to Myoko from Tokyo in 2015. They started off with a small airbnb style investment near lake Nojiri while ben worked as a tailguide. When the stars aligned, Gozan Lodge was purchased and renovated from an old "minshuku" style pension to emulate the simplicity and quality of serviced Alps huts which they visited in their travels of Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. The Cozy lodge has been initially built and renovated using locally milled Japanese cedar and we have re-furbished many features of the building to retain its original charm paired with modern comforts such as King size beds and a beautiful open plan lounge with fireplace. We aim for Gozan Lodge to be comfortable and social with our food and drink focused on japan centric ingredients with a fusion of many cultures (try our home made yuzu margarita or ginger highballs!). Most importantly we want our guests to leverage our 13+ years experience we have had exploring Nature & Riding the many resorts and backcountry options in the region to truly make it the best ski holiday they have ever had!
Ben is originally from Australia but has lived in Japan since 2011. Ruka was born in the US but has lived in Japan most of her life. They were married in 2015 and moved out to the mountains shortly after, abandoning their careers to start a new life in the mountains.
Ben is working on the pathway to be a mountain guide and currently holds Japan Avalanche Network Operations level 1 (CAA Equivalent) and WildMed Wilderness First Responder 80hrs certifications. They both love the backcountry in all seasons but spend the summer surfing typhoons and farming in Western Japan.
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Lucy is a German Shepard - Labrador mix and Lenny is a shepherd mix. They are both fit for winters in Myoko and are the ultimate powder hounds.
