Hot Springs Hotels in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

I highly recommend this onsen hotel, ranked among the top 30 in all of Japan, to anyone visiting Matsumoto! The room views, hot springs, food, and service are all impeccable. Having stayed at many Japanese onsen hotels, this one truly offers excellent value for money. Service: The hotel is a 20-minute drive from JR Station and provides a shuttle service. When you arrive at Matsumoto Station, you can leave your luggage at the ACE Hotel, part of the same group, freeing you up to explore. ACE then delivers your luggage to Shoho by 4 PM, which is a very thoughtful arrangement. The front desk service is warm and friendly. A gentleman named Ito helped us book a restaurant in Ise for the next day, making several calls until he finally secured a reservation, for which we are very grateful 🙏. Ambiance: The 56-square-meter mountain-view room is spacious and comfortable, with views of a small town nestled beneath snow-capped mountains right outside the window. The sunrise and sunset are absolutely beautiful. The large public baths on both sides offer unique scenic experiences and are both worth trying, especially the snow mountain view bath, which provides expansive vistas. Facilities: The room is very well-maintained and fully equipped. The hotel also has a souvenir shop, and complimentary drinks are available in the afternoon. Dining: The half-board plan includes a multi-course kaiseki dinner and a buffet breakfast. The variety is extensive, the food is delicious, and it's well worth the price. If you opt not to include meals, there's a ramen restaurant in the hotel, catering to various budgets.

This is our first time to ski Japan.  This hotel was located perfectly with great access to some super beginning facilities.  Good enough about skiing, the hotel is perfect and the staff is amazing. The food and amenities are excellent. We had a private hot spring every evening really added to the enjoyment.  My wife and I and eight year-old daughter had a great time  you so much for the great experience and all the hospitality  Perfect Stay. 100%!!!

From the moment you enter Kokuya Ryokan, be prepared to leave the real world behind and fully immerse yourself in the experience. You swap your shoes for slippers at the door and don’t see them again until you leave. You will receive a warm welcome from polite and gentle-mannered staff, get taken up to your beautiful room, and once you’ve changed into your traditional yukata, it’s time to let the relaxation begin. The multi-course dinner will probably be one of the best meals you’ve had in your life, with many unusual textures and flavors to try. The futons are comfortable, and your room is kept toasty warm. There are even skincare products to keep you pampered and moisturized between soaks in the onsen. Honestly, you won’t even need to open your suitcase while you’re there. The staff will take you through all the logistics when you arrive, but there are some things that might be useful to know in advance. - The ryokan sends a shuttle to Yudanaka station at about 15:00 to collect new arrivals, so time your journey to take advantage of this benefit. - The ryokan also offers guests the opportunity to catch a shuttle to the Snow Monkey Park immediately after breakfast the next morning. - After you leave the ryokan, they will take your luggage down to the coffee shop opposite the station, so you don’t need to worry about those logistics. - Trains from Yudanaka back to Nagano leave at 12:30 and 15:30. - The ryokan itself has several private onsens that you can reserve for a 45-minute slot. Because the onsens are on the property, you can go in with your partner or travel companions regardless of gender. It’s a boutique hotel, so you don’t have to worry about not getting access to all the onsens you want. - The ryokan is on the main road of the Shibu Onsen town. The hotel will give you a key so you can wonder down the main road, visiting any of the public onsens you wish - however, with so many gorgeous and more private onsens in the hotel itself, you probably won’t have time or the desire for this. - Also, there is a coffee machine in the room! (I was worried about having to survive without coffee, and this turned out to be an unfounded concern). We had an incredible and totally indulgent time at Kokuya. Experiencing a traditional ryokan is a privilege that you should try at least once if you can. And adding the Snow Monkeys in give the trip a double purpose, making it that much more memorable. The only thing that would have made the trip better is if we had been allowed to linger longer over every course of our dinner.

I had a wonderful stay at Amagawaso in Shibu Onsen. The ryokan is run by an elderly couple who don’t speak English, but they were incredibly sweet and welcoming. With the help of Google Translate, communication was easy enough and actually added to the charm of the experience. They provided yukata and geta for exploring the town, as well as the key that gives access to the nine public onsens in Shibu — an amazing and unique experience. On top of that, the ryokan offers a free 40-minute private onsen session, which was a lovely touch. Our room was very spacious, and shortly after we arrived, the hostess came in to prepare complimentary matcha tea for us. She also gifted us steamed buns filled with red bean paste, which felt incredibly thoughtful. The location is also very convenient for visiting the Snow Monkey Park, making it an excellent base for exploring the area. Overall, the hospitality was genuine, the onsen experience was fantastic, and the atmosphere felt authentically traditional. Highly recommend staying here if you’re visiting Shibu Onsen or planning a trip to see the snow monkeys.

📍 Hotel Keigetsu 信州昼神温泉郷 日長庵 桂月 @ Hirugami Onsen, Nagano 🇯🇵 We stayed 3D2N from 13 November 2025 at Hotel Keigetsu (日長庵 桂月), and it turned out to be one of the best choices for our Nakasendo trip. The ryokan sits in a peaceful corner of Hirugami Onsen, surrounded by nature and traditional Japanese charm. There is a designated parking area exclusively for guests, accommodating around 15-20 cars of all sizes, making it very convenient for self-drive travellers. We chose a Japanese-style room with a private bathroom, and the highlight was the beautiful wooden bathtub — perfect for a relaxing soak in complete privacy. In the mornings, the view from our room was calm and peaceful, with gentle bird chirping adding to the serene atmosphere. Our stay included breakfast and dinner, and both meals were exceptional. Each dish was beautifully prepared using seasonal ingredients, and the servers were patient and friendly, taking time to explain each course and share stories about local flavours. Their warm hospitality truly enhanced the dining experience. The ryokan is within walking distance to the Morning Market, just about 10 minutes away, making it an enjoyable little morning stroll. There is also a FamilyMart right beside the ryokan, just a short walk away — extremely convenient for drinks, snacks, or last-minute essentials during your stay. The staff also introduced several nearby activities and hiking trails, and the routes are super visitor-friendly, making this ryokan an ideal base for exploring the Nakasendo area. The onsen baths were another highlight — soothing, clean, and filled with Hirugami’s famously smooth, skin-friendly hot spring water. Perfect for unwinding every evening. Overall, Hotel Keigetsu offers excellent food, warm service, relaxing onsen, comfortable rooms, and unbeatable convenience, whether you’re here for onsen relaxation or the Nakasendo trail. Highly recommended for a peaceful, authentic, and memorable ryokan stay in Nagano. ♨️🍁🌿✨

I had a large tatami room with side sitting area and sink as well as an ante-room. I had three delicious Japanese meals at the ryokan that were served with polite elegance. The two in-house onsen baths were a joy to use after a day of skiing. The staff was knowledgeable about how to get around by the buses and suggested the best restaurants for days that I did not eat at the ryokan. Senshinkan Matsuya was situated in the center of.Shibu Onsen town next to three of the public onsen. I could not ask for a better stay!

This hotel boasts an excellent location, just a five-minute walk to the Karuizawa Outlet Mall, and offers a free shuttle bus service to and from JR Karuizawa Station, making travel and shopping incredibly convenient. The property is surrounded by lush forest and greenery. The guest rooms are spacious and airy, with balconies offering serene woodland views. Each room also features a private hot spring bath, where floor-to-ceiling windows bring the mountain scenery indoors. The buffet breakfast is a delightful blend of local Shinshu ingredients and a wide variety of delicious Western options. There's even a FamilyMart convenience store in the lobby, ensuring all amenities are well-covered. The staff are polite and attentive, and guests can rent bicycles to explore the town, creating a relaxed and comfortable vacation atmosphere. It's the ideal base for short, chartered tours around Karuizawa.

Absolutely impressed! It truly lives up to its reputation as a resort town – peaceful, beautiful, and with amazing views. The rooms were incredibly clean, the service was excellent, and the onsen was a perfect 100. The classic-style rooms were clean and cozy, with high-quality furniture. I would definitely return if I have the chance. Parking is free for those with cars, and the hotel also offers a shuttle service for train travelers. The food is high-quality, and the restaurant, rooms, onsen, and views are simply stunning.

The reality exceeded my expectations; the hotel was even better than I imagined. The room was very comfortable for a family with a small child! There's a private hot spring for families available by reservation, though the usage time is a bit short, it's still great overall! The food is high-quality, delicious, and varied. It's also possible to extend your stay for 1000 yen per hour, which is super convenient when traveling with a child. The hotel corridors aren't perfectly clean due to age, but the room itself is clean and pleasant.

My husband and I planned a trip to Kamikochi and stopped over in Matsumoto. The hotel is about an 8-minute walk from the station, which is quite convenient, but the nearest convenience store is also a four or five-minute walk away. The breakfast at the hotel was pretty good, the tempura was delicious, though the variety wasn't huge, so eating it for two consecutive days might get a bit boring. From 9:30 PM, they offer free ramen, which is a nice touch after a hot spring bath. The onsen also provides free ice cream, and in the morning, they have Yakult. The hotel is also quite clean. Highly recommend it!