4 Star Hotels in Yamanouchi

On such a hot day, there is no air-conditioning on the 4th floor. I vaguely feel that there is discrimination in the room booked through Ctrip. The next day we negotiated to change to the 6th floor.

We stayed here at the end of our time in Japan as a treat and for the traditional Japanese inn / onsen experience and we certainly weren’t disappointed. The room was huge and the seating area was seamlessly converted for sleeping by the hotel staff while we ate our dinner. The food was traditional Japanese with seemingly endless small plates of delicacies (a similar story at breakfast). The onsen was fabulous - we used it 3 times in the one night we were there and loved it. All in all a great experience and lovely place to stay.

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 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.

This year, １ month ２ day (３ time), the new year's accommodation (Japanese style room) is used. Every time I repeated it, I thought it was an attractive inn, and I used it this year. I thought it was the same as before until I checked in and entered the room. When I received a drink menu from the serving staff at dinner, I started explaining the item when I couldn't decide the drink. The serving staff can't read the air ... I can't decide on a drink, and if you're worried, you can propose a recommended drink. There is a scene where itamae brings nigiri sushi wherever he eats, but his expression is not here in his heart. It seemed that he was working as a silent 々 in office. Normally, at the end of the meal, the landlady of the inn came to greet me, but she came to the next room and did not come to my room. There was no hospitality at all at the time of meal, which made me feel sorry. I couldn't have fun. I really like the food and bath. I don't like the attitude of the staff who handle it. It may be a difficult feeling in Corona. At least, if you are involved in the inn business, you want the business (hospitality) to be firm. Because of the lack of hospitality, I felt unbalanced between the amount paid at the time of accounting and the balance. I won't go to Yudanaka for a while.

以前から滞在してみたいホテルでした。初のグランフェニックス、以下が感想です。 １：　オーストリアにアールベルグと言うスノーリゾートが有ります。一ノ瀬がサンアントンとすれば焼額がプリンス村のサンクリストフで奥志賀が高級リゾートのレッヒでしょうか。グランフェニックスの佇まいやシャレー様式のホテル、ホテル内部や各部屋のドア、キー、ドアノブ、ドア開閉デバイス迄、本物のこだわりです。広くて快適なバスルームの床暖房ですがウィーンの最高級ホテルである”Hotel Sacher Wien”を彷彿させます。和テイストの4Fの大浴場にををシュレットが加わりレッヒやツエルマット（スイス）の5☆ホテルより充実しています。誕生して年月が経過しているのでIT対応、コンセント数や枕元に全ての電源コントロールパネルが無いので面倒ですが海外リゾートの5☆でも最新ホテルでもない限り同じ様なものです。ロケーションもスキーを楽しむ為の設備（ロッカー含め）もレベルが高い。 ２：　ハード面に比べソフト面ではスタッフの数、練度について向上の余地が多いのではないでしょうか。志賀高原に限らずマンパワー不足から何処のリゾートでも見られる現象です。掛かる状況を理由にゲストへのサービスクオリティ向上を最初から諦め言い訳に終始する蔵王の宿泊施設に比べればマネジメントや現場トップの柔軟性と謙虚さをも併せ持つ積極性を大変好ましいと感じています。向上心一杯のスタッフも頼もしい限りです。自然と伝わって来るものです。国内外問わず稼働状況を抑えつつ過去3年のCOVID-19によるブランクを取り戻そうとしているホテルも有ると思います。グランフェニックス、いきなりMAXに近い稼働状況で歪みが出ていると感じました。 ３：　2Fに宿泊者以外も利用可能な複数のレストランやラウンジと宿泊者用のスキーロッカーが集中している構造です。人が集中する場所のトイレメンテナンス、頑張って欲しいです。誤解が無い様に言いますが管理状況が悪いのではなくまだまだ改善の余地が有ると言う事です。パークハイアットニセコハナゾノのトイレ状況、世界最高峰です。パークハイアットではランチ利用者等（宿泊者以外含め）にスキークロークで館内履物を用意しています。グランフェニックスでは新たにスキークロークを設けて履き替えスペースを設置するのは厳しいでしょうがスキーブーツ軋み音や体の動きを制約するブーツ、5☆ホテルのレストランやラウンジに相応しいかですね。宿泊プランを3食付き（”Full Board Services”)にして宿泊者以外のランチタイム利用を制限しても良いのではないかと思います。ランチタイムに混み合い静かではないグランフェニックスが登場するのは残念です。 ４：　食事です。朝食ですが5☆ホテルとしては和食も洋食も不満が残りました。3☆レベル迄なら良いでしょうが5☆です。一番は、選択肢が非常に狭い点です。和食では、そもそも選択肢すら用意されていません。アツアツの銀シャリに味噌汁であればと感じた。洋食では、柔軟性を発揮してくれました。美味しいバゲットや大きな器でカフェオレ対応して頂きました。お蔭でバゲットにホテル自慢の栗やリンゴジャムをたっぷり付けてカフェオレに浸して美味しく頂きました。『ステラ』の夕食ですがアンティパストでは5種類をワゴンから選べます。其の段階からレベル高いです。予めテーブルに置かれたグリッシーニ、北イタリアですね。若いオリーブオイルに塩を足してグリッシーニに付けると美味しいです。其の後で出て来るバゲットにも使えます。二度目にステラでは、Y総料理長の自信作、ブイヤベースをオーダーしました。マルセイユのフォンフォン、ツーロンのルトランも美味しいですがグランフェニックスの高級食材を使った贅沢なブイヤベースを標高1500Mで食べられるのが凄いです。締めは、ブイヤベースを使ったリゾットです。しっかりコメに芯が残ってました。ただ、日本人としては、前日、『篝火』の海鮮寄せ鍋の締めのおじやの感触が残っておりブイヤベースおじやも有りかなと思いました。次回の『スープ・ドウ・ポワッソン』へ期待が膨らみます。 ５：　B1に洗濯機と乾燥機が設置されています。洗剤も有ります。洗濯200円、乾燥機100円/30Mと言うのは凄く安いです。洗濯機400円・乾燥機100円/5Mも登場しています。ここだけ3☆です。有難いですね。但し、洗濯乾燥ではなく別々ですしプライバシー機能も無い（暗証番号のロック機能無し）。部屋のテレビモニターで空き状況で稼働状況も確認出来ないのでいちいちB1に行って確認が必要なのは凄く面倒です。 ６：　ホテルショップが20：00でクローズ、これはないだろう！！奥志賀、陸の孤島の様な場所ですから。夜ちょっとした物を口にしたい時、個々の商品ラインアップでは厳しい。自慢の各種ジャム、部屋で食べられる様な配慮があっても良いと思う。グランフェニックスで焼いている各種パンも販売されていたらと思う。ホテル側に事情も有るのだろうがわざわざアパレルを購入するであろうか？土産物、志賀高原の他の宿泊施設でも目にする様な物であれば5☆らしくないと思う。1週間単位のロングステイであれば尚更、ホテルショップに使い勝手の悪さを感じると思う。

This is a very small town and although we’ve seen many foreigners visiting this town and this hotel on Youtube (one of the reasons we decided to stay here), it is very foreigner ‘unfriendly’ to say the least. It seemed hotel staff only spoke Japanese, so if you don’t speak it, it will be very difficult to enjoy the amenities. Staff were nice, but not very flexible (strictly by the rules, we supposed) thus not as accommodating as other ryokans we’ve stayed in. Dinner was very nicely presented and tasty…so many dishes that we couldn’t finish all (& we are big eaters) …felt bad leaving food untouched :(. The 9 Onsen tour was on my Bucket List and we got that done in less than an hour not by choice but because the water was soooooooo hot that we couldn’t even stick our feet in…almost scorched the bottom of my feet from. Very disappointing :(.

We loved the opportunity to stay in a traditional Ryoken which is over 90 years old and operated by the third generation of the family. That said, had all the modern conveniences but enjoyed the tatami floors and futon bed. The jewel in the crown are the onsens. Separate male and female onsens inside with a shared/private booking onsen outside. Traditionally served Japanese breakfast is a treat you probably won’t find in modern hotels either. The hosts are so friendly and helpful.

If there is no discount, the price is 55000 yen for two people. I used it because it was GoTo. I expected that word of mouth was good, but it is very disappointing as a conclusion. GoTo thinks it's a good chance for the inn to win repeaters after this, but repeats are never possible. First of all, there is no inn. I think that there is a pick-up at the entrance if it is an inn of this price (there is a large number of corona) The front desk also corresponds to a considerable salt and stayed in Metropolitan Nagano at the previous night. It is more polite. The corridor is quite old and there is no impression in the room. Bath Bath Only the pottery bath is the source, and the other is the circulation + hanging flow. I want you to write it on the guide paper about the explanation. By the way, I couldn't touch any rental bath at the front desk. I thought it would be good to say a word even if another fee occurred. Dinner The taste is not bad, but it doesn't seem to be a dish that is in hand. It's safe. It's a dish like a tavern. Why is there a barnacada at the end? It's a mysterious order. Sukiyaki was delicious, but I want a little more style such as appetizers. There are many great inn at the same price. I am really disappointed. And the woman who serves, the smell of fluffy perfume... I'm surprised that I can't believe it. I went because I wrote that the morning city was doing it on the elevator (this is also a word). I want you to speak about a word if you meet at the morning entrance. (it's small) Breakfast was quite a pity. Where did the safe seasoning yesterday go? Forgot salt? Where is sweet? And the roll is not delicious at all. Is it not a corona and tasted? I think so. The cancer that seems to be a ready-made product was delicious. The customer service is also very good, and I don't feel hospitality at all. If you are a guest who has paid this price and spent time from afar, would you like to stay at this inn? I want to answer my own questions. It was a disappointing inn overall. I was surprised because Nagano Prefecture had delicious rice, good spring quality, and I was never disappointed at this price inn. I don't think about taking money because it is GOTO, and if you take such a fee, you should respond to it or if you can't, you should lower the price.

With a stay at Shiga Palace Hotel in Yamanouchi (Shiga Highlands), you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Shiga Kogen Ski Area and Kita Shiga Komaruyama. This ski hotel is 11.9 mi (19.2 km) from Jigokudani Monkey Park and 10.9 mi (17.5 km) from Okushiga Kogen Ski Area.Spend the day on the slopes, or enjoy other recreational amenities, which include hot springs. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access and a banquet hall. The complimentary ski shuttle makes getting to the slopes a breeze.Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge.Free self parking is available onsite.