Hotel 2-Star di Nagano Prefecture, Japan

This ryokan is the furthest from Main Street. But I love the hospitality from the owner and the authenticity of this place. There is a private onsen available in the ryokan, just need to pre register. They provide access to shibu onsen as well. Recommended to book your dinner with them. Restaurants in shibu onsen either close very early or not open regularly. We missed our dinner, but the owner is kind enough to prepare a simple oyakudon for us. Though this place is at the beginning of forest trail to snow monkey park. But it is close during winter. Just take note.

I stayed here for three nights. It's a bit of a walk from the train station, but still an acceptable distance. The breakfast selection wasn't huge, but everything tasted good. The front desk staff were very friendly. It's also a short walk to Matsumoto Castle.

The location is super convenient, really close to both the train and bus stations. There's even a Daiso in the same building, though we didn't have time to check it out. The soundproofing could be a bit better; a few times we thought someone was knocking on our door, but it was probably just people walking by in the hallway. Our stay was pretty short, so we didn't get a chance to enjoy the hotel's hot spring or read any of their manga (they had so many classics!). The room itself was huge, definitely the biggest we stayed in on this trip to Japan. Overall, it was a comfortable stay, and having restaurants nearby for dinner was a big plus.

The staff really went above and beyond to make two ignorant Canadian tourists feel extremely welcome at a traditional Japanese Ryuken. Though there was a small language barrier, we never felt that we could not communicate our needs. The hot and cold onsen was very refreshing after walking post towns along the Nakasendo Way. The river next to the hotel made for a relaxing experience and deep sleep. Somehow, I missed the option when booking to select the dinner option, there is really no other food options in the area, and the clerk (owner) said he would put a 'simple meal' together for us for a small charge which we found acceptable. The kaiseki that followed was some of the best and most authentic Japanese food we experienced in our two weeks in Japan. The woman serving us was an absolute gem and the cat that ran the establishment was adorable. Our room was very comfortable and had a nice sitting area with a view of the river. Only points of contention would be that that it's a little out of the way if you don't have a car, but is conveniently accessable by bus with ~10 minute walk. The facilities are a little dated, the onsen is discoloured, but I assume that is from the natural minerals. There was a stale smell (smoke) in the rooms which is a bit off-putting to non-smokers. It would appear smoking is allowed in the facility which might be a plus to some.

Amazing Stay at Hotel Iwasuge – A Hidden Gem for Ski & Onsen Lovers! We had an incredible stay at Hotel Iwasuge, which truly became the highlight of our trip. While the interior may be a bit dated, the five-star service and exceptional food more than made up for it. We stayed for two nights on a half-board plan, and every meal was different, delicious, and thoughtfully prepared. The hospitality was outstanding—every staff member was incredibly helpful and made us feel right at home. The location is perfect for skiing, with ski-in, ski-out access. There are two lifts right next to the hotel—one going up and one going down. The slopes nearby offer a mix of red and green tracks, making them ideal for beginners and families. Our kids especially loved the wide, easy slopes. We also rented ski equipment directly from the hotel (though helmets were not included). After a long day on the slopes, the Hoppo Onsen was the perfect way to relax. The onsen itself is so good that we noticed some visitors coming just for the hot spring experience! We have stayed in many four- and five-star hotels, and Hotel Iwasuge is truly one of the best. It may not be as widely known, but it absolutely deserves more recognition. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic ski, onsen, and gourmet experience in Shiga Kogen. We can’t wait to return!

This hotel is definitely an older building and it does show. It’s well maintained but know that going into making a booking here! The staff are really incredible, I had an incident with my door and they immediately fixed the problem for me. Additionally I was hoping to get to the Snow Monkey park earlier than the shuttle service was set to depart and they were nice enough to take me! There were some minor cleanliness things like cobwebs and the fridge had a slight mildew scent to it that made me weary to put anything open inside. Additionally there was no hair dryer, I probably could have asked because it’s such a staple amenity but I was in a rush and never did. It’s about a 7 minute walk from the station and there’s a Lawson and Pharmacy en route if you need to grab anything. It’s about 4 minutes from a bus that can take you deeper into the area with more food and shops too. There isn’t much else in this area but it is about an hour from central Nagano. If you’re a solo traveler looking to explore the area but not wanting to spend too much on one of the famous ryokan’s in the area, I definitely recommend!

Fukashiso could be one of the loveliest accommodation that I have ever stayed at. The staff were very polite, attentive and extremely helpful and courteous. The place itself is so beautiful and quaint. Traditional garments are provided as an option if you want to dress up for dinner. Made for great photo ops! The Kaiseki was the most beautiful equivalent of a degustation I’ve tried, and it was served in a lovely separate intimate dining area. During dinner Nobu-San a fourth generation family member of the owners greeted us which was a lovely touch. Soba was freshly made at the accomodation. We stayed two nights and the Kaiseki menu was different each time. Breakfast was a nice assortment of Japanese and Western options and the coffee machine was actually pretty good. I enjoyed the onsens, there are two public ones that switch locations for men and women and a private one. They were well equipped and relaxing. Our room was on Level 1 with a private bathroom, seating area and little garden view. Overall this place is highly recommended. For a traditional ryokan experience, it was so nice. Even after we checked out, the receptionist gave us a little gift, and even walked us outside to where our car was parked. Such a warm and lovely place. Stay here for sure!

I’m so excited to share a review for this amazing couple. Kazuo-san and his wife were very kind and caring throughout my entire stay. They had the right amenities for a Bed and Breakfast that caters to ski lovers and snow boarders. The B&B is also a more traditional and heritage kind, preserving the authentic looks through time, they’ve been running this for 35 beautiful years. If you’d like, dinner is also available as an add-on, nothing beats a high value home-cooked food, made from the heart. I’ll highly recommend this location, Kazuo-san also goes the extra mile to drop you off at the pick-up points if you don’t have your own car. Beyond that Kazuo-san is also very knowledgeable and informed with the latest news, so he’s able to recommend good ski resorts, summer activities or even delve into the history of surrounding areas like Kurohime and more. I was quite shocked to see some earlier reviews by other foreigners that rated this location quite poorly when they don’t understand what they’ve booked. This is a bed and breakfast inn and it’s every inch authentic as it should be. So if you’re looking for a fuss-free stay with friendly authentic folks, this should be on your list.

The hostess of this store is very young and beautiful, with a smile! The temperament is very good 👌👍! I visited this ”Hot Spring Street” and it was indeed the price of this ”Ape” Youth Hostel! Attach the photo taken. One person is less than NT$1,000 a night! This hot spring hotel is really cheap! The hostess of this shop is very young and beautiful with a smile on her face!The temperament is very good👌👍!I visited this ”hot spring street” and indeed the price of this ”ape” youth hostel is the most affordable! Attached are the photos taken. It's less than 1,000 Taiwan dollars per person per night! This kind of hot spring hotel is really cheap!

My GF's review: My stay in Meiji Onsen Ryokan was my first stay at a ryokan, and I’ve never felt more welcome at any other hospitality place I’ve been to before, of which there are many. And even after the first day, I am pretty sure it will probably stay this way forever. I am very grateful for your kind welcome and I am amazed at the work that the team of your hotel does at this place. Everything feels natural and beautiful, and the atmosphere is so peaceful and special. People who work here are passionate about their job, and as a passionate person myself I feel energized and happy to see others be so amused about what they do. I will always remember my first stay here and I will compare other ryokans I go to with Meiji Onsen Ryokan, because I feel that it’s the best ryokan in Japan. Thank you so much for this amazing experience. And Okami-chan is the best girl in all of Nagano! When I come back home, I will tell everyone who she is and where she is from - Meiji Onsen Ryokan, Chino, Nagano, Japan! 🇯🇵 (As a fantastic bonus, it’s even allowed to go in with uncovered tattoos! Not every ryokan can match up to that!)