Hotel Dengan parking di Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Location: The hotel is situated at the foot of a mountain in Satoyama, a considerable distance from JR Matsumoto Station. However, it offers a unique charm with panoramic views of Matsumoto Castle from the hillside. Transportation: Unless you're driving or taking a taxi, here are your options: 1) The hotel provides a shuttle service to and from JR Station. There are two morning departures at 9 and 10 AM, passing by Matsumoto Castle before heading to JR Station. Return trips are at 4 and 5 PM. The pick-up point is at the temporary parking area to the right of JR Station Matsumoto Castle Exit (not a bus stop). 2) You can take the Meigahara Onsen bus line from the bus terminal downstairs at Alpico Plaza, opposite the temporary parking lot of JR Station, and get off at Fujii Station. You can find the bus schedule on Google Maps. Service: There are English-speaking staff at the front desk, but no Chinese speakers. Simple communication is not an issue. The service was impeccable. Dining: The breakfast is a buffet style with both Japanese and Western options, very extensive and delicious. There are also welcome drinks, including ice cream, juice, coffee, hot tea, and even draft beer! P.S. There are not many dining options near the hotel, so you might want to eat near JR Station before returning to the hotel, or dine at the hotel. I booked one of the few rooms with a private onsen. Soaking in the hot spring while enjoying views of the Northern Alps was incredibly relaxing. The hotel also has a large terrace, perfect for enjoying a drink during the evening 'blue hour' – truly one of life's most comfortable moments.

It was a really lovely stay but communication with staff was rather difficult. Overall a lovely hotel with great service to ski resorts but please not there there are no convenience stores or services around the property. Food however on site was amazing! Love the bus schedules to the different ski resorts!

The hotel is nice, from the station about 10 minutes walk almost in a straight line, wake up. The room was originally wrong, it was reserved for smokers, even though we don't smoke, the room was given the appropriate one, the smell in it was just not very good, like for those who don't smoke at all, it started already on the floor.But the staff, fortunately, were able to find us a replacement for a non-smoking room, yes, less, yes one big bed instead of two, but with stunning mountain views and a coffee machine. The breakfast at the hotel is just as great, the cuisine is Japanese, diverse, there are many drinks, including fresh juices, many desserts. non-smoking measures, yes, less, but one large bed instead of two, but with stunning mountain views and a coffee machine

Located in the heart of Shibu Onsen, Kokuya is a traditional Japanese inn that has been operating for over 400 years. It's the only inn in the area with its own six different 100% natural hot spring baths, featuring eight public baths and ten rooms with open-air hot springs. It has been passed down through 16 generations. Furthermore, the central area of ​​Shibu Onsen boasts a 1300-year-old hot spring town with nine public onsen (hot spring baths) for hotel guests and residents. The ninth onsen is the largest, featuring a golden bath and a sauna. Next to it is a hot spring shrine and foot bath, right next to Kokuya. Kokuya's hot springs are rich in minerals, beneficial for improving muscle, joint, and skin problems. A free shuttle bus (approximately 3km) takes guests to Jigokudani (Hell Valley) to see snow monkeys and enjoy the hot springs. A free shuttle bus connects to the train station, and freshly cooked onsen eggs (100 yen each) are available at the inn's entrance. The hotel boasts a clean and elegant interior with maze-like corridors and wooden staircases. There are dedicated luggage handlers (three floors in total), creating a perfect setting for a period drama, reminiscent of Yubaba's old house in Spirited Away… The hotel also offers traditional Japanese kaiseki dinners with over nine dishes. Ingredients are freshly delivered from Nagano. The menu changes monthly according to the season. Vegetarian options are also available (please inform us in advance). All guest rooms are designed in a traditional Japanese style, featuring Japanese-style bedding and a bathroom with a sink, TV, safe, refrigerator, towels, and yukata. Ten guest rooms have private outdoor baths. The hotel is surrounded by several temples of varying sizes and different springs nestled in the mountains. The water temperatures of these springs vary, with the highest reaching 56°C. Municipal water supplies are provided to each household. Several bridges connect the two sides of the river in front, including a red-painted bridge that resembles a scene from Spirited Away. I suspect that Miyazaki Toshiro may have drawn inspiration from this place… A very nice hotel and hot springs; the staff are polite and attentive.

The location is a huge plus, right opposite Nagano Station's Zenkoji Exit. The room was clean and tidy, and the bedding was soft, so I slept really well. My only minor gripe is that the AC vent was directly over the bed, and the airflow was strong and hard to adjust. It made my trip very convenient, definitely recommend it.

Overall, this was a rather disappointing hotel stay. Before our trip, our plans changed, and we asked the Trip.com concierge to help with cancellation/modifications. However, they were unyielding, and we couldn't cancel for free, so we had to proceed as planned. After checking in, I waited alone in the waiting area for a long time, expecting a staff member to accompany me to the room and explain the facilities. I waited for half an hour with no one attending to me. When a large group of tourists arrived, the front desk became crowded. After inquiring again, I was told there was no escort service to the rooms and I had to find my way myself. At 3:30 PM, housekeeping was still ongoing in the room areas. The room space was cramped, and the view was unremarkable. For a room rate of over 4,000 yuan, the hardware and service provided were far from satisfactory. The hotel's Italian restaurant had decent food, but it wasn't positioned as a high-end restaurant, and the wine list was very limited. The next day, I asked the front desk to call a taxi to the restaurant. For some reason, perhaps they didn't understand English, there was a long delay. After further communication, a car was arranged half an hour later, which was baffling. Considering all these experiences, I will not choose this hotel again in the future.

The room was a bit old but well-cleaned. Unfortunately, when I checked in, only smoking rooms were available, so there was a cigarette smell in the room. However, the staff was helpful and provided a scent spray. The breakfast was delicious and very diverse – I was really impressed! There's parking available next to the hotel for 750 yen per night.

This hotel is definitely one for the bucket list! The service is excellent, and the food is delicious. They also offer a shuttle service to Karuizawa Station, with a polite driver and soft music playing in the car. My only minor complaint is that the hotel doesn't provide bicycle rentals, but you can easily find rental shops nearby.

I’ve stayed at many ryokans throughout my travels—often making up half of each trip—but this one felt a bit different. It seemed to be run by just one person, who I assume is the owner. Everything was self-service, which might be understandable considering it was the most affordable option among the ryokans in the area. Most amenities required an extra fee, such as towels. Payment was made by dropping coins into a basket and making your own change, which wasn’t very convenient—especially since I didn’t carry much cash. One thing I appreciated was the luggage delivery service. I was able to leave my bag at the lobby before check-out and have it sent to Toyama Station (for about 4,000 JPY, cash only). What stood out was the creativity in the shared spaces. There were several common rooms designed for relaxing and spending time—perfect if you’re traveling with friends. You could play ping pong, read books, watch TV, or use the canteen, which had a microwave and dishes available. They even had coin-operated massage chairs and a small fitness room. However, I must mention two important downsides: 1. Limited nearby dining options – Many restaurants shown as open on Google Maps were actually closed. The only one that was open had extremely slow service—I waited nearly an hour for dinner. 2. Insects—large ones – Unfortunately, I encountered big insects in my room, which made it hard to sleep. (He even provided insect-catch tape for me while introduce the room) I stayed awake most of the night, worrying it might come back—especially stressful since I had to get up early the next morning to catch a bus to Ogizawa. Minds you, stairs only, need to carry your luggage down by yourself. Overall, while it offers good value for the area and has unique communal features, this ryokan may not suit travelers who prefer full service, cashless payment, or guaranteed comfort.

The hotel's location is excellent, very close to Matsumoto Station, and there are many restaurants nearby. It's in a lively area but just far enough away not to be noisy. There's a popular cafe nearby; we went early the next morning to get a number. It's trendy but reasonably priced, and the coffee was really good. We stopped in Matsumoto briefly after hiking Kamikochi and before heading to Karuizawa. We'll definitely come back to properly experience this great place next time.