Hotel berhampiran Iitsuna Shrine, Takayama

One of two former Sunroute hotels, one either side of Nagano station, both where we have stayed on previous visits. This has become a Sotetsu Fresa Inn, the other the Courtland. A couple of minutes walk from the station, and directly above a convenience store and with several restaurants very near the hotel, Fresa Inn is ideally located. Despite reserving months in advance, we were very disappointed to find that we had been allocated a smoking room on the 6th floor, directly above reception on the 5th floor. As two former smokers, we find the acrid stench of stale cigarette smoke extremely unpleasant. We asked for a non smoking room but none was available. The portable aircon/air freshener did not succeed in clearing the unpleasant odour. The room was reasonable in size, with good facilities and the buffet breakfast was very good, though the slowness of the two toasters was a bit annoying. Good hotel in general, but unfortunate in receiving a smoking room, at the front of the hotel, on the lowest floor, subject to noise from the street below.

Absolutely stunning ryokan Our corner room had great views of the surrounding mountains (the town has 360 degrees of mountain views) The private onsen was a real treat just get in when ever you wanted. Amazing food and the staff were super friendly and very accommodating, even the hotels owner stops to have a chat with all the guests. Only down side for us, is we didn’t book extra nights there!

Nagano is a quiet city. The only tourist spot would be Zenkoji temple and chestnuts sweets. Choices of Restaurants and shops are not what tourists usually expect. This hotel is just right next to the JR and high speed train station or you could say “in the station” as there is a bridge connecting to the 2nd floor of the hotel ( reception at 1st floor). Supermarket at the station is small and just like convenient store. But there are souvenir shops in the station. So do consider and plan for dinner. The hotel also offer good deals for body massage services. In short this is a up to standard business hotel but not quite recommended for tourists.

駐車場が広いので、よく出張で泊まります。 コロナ禍のときは、閑散として寂しい時もありましたが、今回は駐車場も混雑してて 久々に活気がありました。 夕方5時半にチェックインをしたところ、部屋の準備がまだなので、喫茶コーナーでお待ちください。とのこと・・・ 思わず、なんでこの時間で部屋に入れないんだ！と少し怒りましたが・・ 仕方がないので、喫茶コーナーで待ちました。 ほかにも、７～８組待っているお客さんがいました。 ホテルの係員が部屋の準備ができ次第　案内してましたが 平身低頭、お客さんを案内して、少しでも早くと一生懸命動き回ってました。 支配人もお客さんそれぞれに謝っていて、ホテルの係員みんなで何とか早くご案内を！って気持ちを感じました。 考えてみれば、これだけ大箱のホテルが旅行支援でいきなり満室になったら、 人手が足りる訳がありません。 都心じゃなく、地方なんだから。 そんな中、一生懸命　走り回って頑張ってる係員を見ていると クレームどころか、また泊まりたいな。と思いました。

Great location, super convenient to train station. In addition, there is a nearby 7-11 which allows for quick purchase of essential supplies. The hotel provides washer and dryer for guest to clean their clothes which is good at affordable pricing. Only downside is the room is really small but that is the norm is Tokyo, will get used to it.

I booked a night in Yudanaka with my partner so that we could visit the Snow Monkey Park. Most places were already booked up, so we went for Yorozuya (sometimes romanised as Yoroduya) even though it was a little beyond our budget. At £300 a night for a double room with dinner and breakfast, I thought “this had better be good…” Honestly, it was probably worth double that. The ryokan itself is massive; the atrium has a scale that almost defies sense. We were greeted by staff who were awaiting our arrival, and took our luggage up to our room while we enjoyed a complementary matcha tea. A guide led us up the stairs, handed us XL yukata to wear during our stay and explained the situation with towels. She took us in the lift to our room, and showed us how to access the onsens and where the dining halls would be. We took a few moments to settle into our tatami-floored room, change into our yukata, and investigate the albeit pretty boring view from our balcony. For the record: the joy here is _inside_ the ryokan rather than outside. We tested both the on-site onsen; they operate on schedules so that male guests and female guests bathe separately, but can both enjoy both of the baths. It is worth trying both. It’s a cliché to say, but particularly coming from Europe without much experience of this kind of venue, they made me feel like I was in Spirited Away, if Spirited Away was a series of Hokusai prints. I loved relaxing in the heat of the outdoor bath surrounded by rocks, trees and classically Japanese sculptures, with snow gently falling. Suitably relaxed, it was time for dinner. This was worth the whole booking price alone. We were served a 10-course kaiseki dinner, in a private booth, with attentive staff bringing us fresh water and sake whenever we desired. Every single bite was exquisite. While not 10 courses, this extended into breakfast which was a similar luxurious experience. I was sad we only had one night there, and would go back in a heartbeat. The experience of staying here creates a stronger draw for me to return to Yudanaka than the snow monkeys. We were treated so well, and truly unwound in a setting that felt almost too good to be real.

大浴場はあまり大きくありませんが、とても綺麗で良かったです。部屋もまだ新しくとても清潔感があり利用して良かったと思います。またチェックインが遅くなっても非常に良い対応で気持ち良かったですです。 朝ごはんも種類が多く、全種類食べきれない程のボリュームでした。また機会があれば利用したいと思えました。

Amazing experience in Japan! I have been flying to Japan as airline staff for many years. Our experience in this Ryokan was exceptional. The food was the highest quality, the design and art of the hotel and the service was over and above! Being able to experience the Snow Monkeys in the hot springs early in the morning before the crowds was such an intimate and incredible event for me. I have pictures that are a once in a lifetime capture. Next we were abe to do spring skiing at the highest altitude in Japan! Coming back after a fun day to the cozy onsen experience and wonderful meal was a great comfort. There is also a beautiful bar and lounge for dessert or happy hour on the lobby level. You can watch the ski and Snow Monkey videos on the big screen.I can’t wait to return to this Inn again!

Thanks Mr Shimaya and all the staff! We were 4 people and we spent two nights in this traditional Japanese-style room, very comfortable. All the essentials were present. The futons were very soft and warm. The room consisted of an entrance hall, a fairly large main room, a small room with shower, a sink, an outdoor room divided by paper walls with a table and two chairs and the necessary to make tea and enjoy the view of the panorama offered by Yudanaka, a small closet immediately alongside containing a toilet, and finally an external balcony. Inside the structure it is possible to have breakfast (we have not opted for this service so I cannot express myself on the matter), but the most important thing is the presence of an internal onsen (no mixed gender), that you can use how much do you want. It was beautyful. There is also the possibility of getting a very characteristic public onsen's key right behind the hotel. The first morning the Shimaya staff accompanied us to the Snow Monkey Park for free. In the early afternoon we have Booked the private onsen where you can go dressed a bit like in the pool, to bring even the most reluctant to bring this wonderful aspect of Japanese culture. Mr Shimaya was great to advice us for where tò eat or what to do nearby, and he was very kind with all of us. Thanks again from all 4 of us, we loved every minute spent there. ありがとう ！ ＜3

I visited Nagano both to visit family and to work. The reception was completely understanding of my need to have the hotel room for video calls overseas and kindly helped me arrange servicing of the room accordingly. The room size for one was comfortable enough for a foreigner about 6 foot 1 in height. The bed was cozy, and overall the room was quiet despite being there over the New Year holiday. The Chinese dinner box was pretty good, and the 16th floor breakfast buffet has both an amazing view and a delicious buffet. It's quite Japanese-themed, but has enough western food variety to make trying it more than once during the trip possible.