Hotels With Spa in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

I changed rooms because my first room smelled strongly like someone's body odor, but the second room also smelled, just less. So I didn't bother to change again. I've never had this issue elsewhere in Japan and I've stayed at a lot of different hotels in Japan, weird... Breakfast has varieties but tasted so so... I was woken up once by people talking in the hallway. Door sound proof isn't great. So if you're a light sleeper, maybe use ear plugs. Good service and amenities otherwise.

The rooms (just regular guests rooms, not even the premium ones) were very spacious and comfortable given their price. The warm atmosphere was very healing and I loved being able to bathe in hot springs after a tiring day of snowsports! Although the hotel seemed quiet from the outside, we saw many guests staying inside and it was a pretty lively atmosphere, which is something I like. The landscape is quite lovely too. Although there was little natural snow, the slopes were still fine to ski on due to their artificial snow machines. The slopes were very beginner-friendly as well, however, as they get more frequently used through the day, they tend to become really icy and difficult to ski on. Overall, I had a great time! It was a shame that there wasn’t snowy weather to match.

Both the buffet dinner and breakfast (first thing in the morning as they get crowded) were delicious and very satisfying! The large public bath and open-air bath were easy to use and relaxing. Our room (a Japanese-style room on the fifth floor) had a dated feel, and we could hear the sounds from the next room, but we just had to be careful. The staff were all very kind, and it was a very comfortable inn for a family with children.

The hotel is very close to Zenkoji Temple on foot. It is a very special experience to attend the morning class at 6:30 in the morning. Transportation: Across the road from Nagano Station, the buses to the city are all at the station entrance (both 1 and 7 are OK for Zenkoji. I took 1 bus which is closer. I bought the ticket before getting off). After getting off the bus, you can walk to the hotel in a few minutes. Hotel service: There was a Japanese waiter on the night we went there, but it was difficult to find someone if something happened. Hotel food: We booked a one-night stay and two meals. Although they were all vegetarian, they tasted surprisingly good. In addition, I ordered grape juice for my daughter, which tasted special in beige. Hotel facilities: You can't ask for too much from the facilities of the shukubo. Try not to bring luggage. We stayed in a Japanese-style room on the third floor. If you bring luggage, it will be very difficult to carry it up the stairs by yourself. Plug: There is no USB, please bring enough two plugs; Toilet: Only on the first floor, no room, you need to run down every time if you live upstairs; Washing: Only in the bathroom on the first floor and near the men's bath, it is relatively simple, and there are no face wash and skin care products. Although the room has air conditioning and a gas stove, the overall temperature is not high and it is a bit cold, but surprisingly, the tatami is very warm. I looked at it and it turned out to be Nishikawa's down quilt. The hotel basically has a curfew at 9 pm. Temple sightseeing: Buy a 1200 pass for Zenkoji Temple at the hotel. Volunteers will lead you to the temple for morning classes at 6:30 in the morning. As an experience, it is very good, but remind you to dress warmly. The time for listening to the chanting is a bit long. My feet are sore from the cold. The volunteers finish at about 8:30. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, you can go to Zenkoji Temple to buy amulets and worship on your own. There are many souvenirs and food, as well as Starbucks on the street directly opposite the main temple. If you are not very tired, you can walk back to Nagano. We encountered heavy snow when we returned to the temple after breakfast. It felt very good. I wish you all a happy trip.

The price was even cheaper than the Dormy Inn in Matsumoto! The tatami mat experience was great. It's super convenient for Friday nights out, with plenty of places to eat and drink. I tried Matsumoto's local specialty, sanzoku-yaki, and soba noodles – the prices were much lower than in Tokyo. It was also very easy to get there from Shinjuku by express train.

The hotel is brand new. The room is lovely and so spacious! The bed was huge and it was comfortable, we all slept well every night. Staff were courteous and attentive. We really enjoyed our stay here. The hotel location is also perfect, right on old karuizawa ginza street with many food and shopping options nearby during the day. The breakfast options were very limited and the food was the same every day, so I found it a challenge to feed my toddler. Basic food items like cereal and slice bread were not available. The fruit options were also limited and not the most child friendly e.g. pineapple, grapefruit and grapes. Also, the rooms are not made every day but you can request for the staff to clean and make the room. Overall we still had a great stay and hope to visit again soon.

I booked two rooms for two nights, but due to a system glitch, one of the rooms wasn't successfully booked. Trip.com customer service then recommended another hotel. However, the next day when we arrived at the new hotel, we still couldn't check in. All payments for both rooms had been made by 10:30 AM, so they should have been reserved for us. Yet, the hotel again cited a system error and said our rooms hadn't been held. They then told us to return to the first hotel, and it was already around 11 PM at that point. I was utterly frustrated by the whole situation. Despite all this, Trip.com's customer service was very responsive and helpful, thumbs up to them.

My stay at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa was incredibly comfortable and relaxing. It offered a completely different vibe compared to hotels in central Tokyo. The moment I arrived, I felt like I was on vacation. The design is unique and tasteful, not at all ostentatious, blending beautifully with Karuizawa's natural surroundings. The room was more spacious than I expected, and the balcony offered a great view; waking up and opening the curtains in the morning really brightened my mood. The bedding was very comfortable, and it was quiet at night, leading to excellent sleep quality. The onsen (hot spring) and public areas were also a big plus; after exploring Old Karuizawa, a soak there completely unwound me. The staff provided natural and unobtrusive service, yet they were always there to help when needed. Overall, it's a perfect place to slow down and enjoy the pace of Karuizawa for a night or two. If I come back, this hotel will definitely be my first choice again.

The room was incredibly spacious, offering exceptional value for the price. The hotel maintains a peaceful and quiet atmosphere, which I truly appreciated. While the furniture and carpets show some slight signs of age, the overall comfort remains high. I was impressed by their Zero Waste policy; instead of plastic bottles in the room, they provide glassware and a convenient water dispenser located right by the elevator. Please note that for a two-night stay, there is no housekeeping service, which aligns with their eco-friendly initiative. The amenities were comprehensive, and the service was outstanding—truly upholding the high standards of the Mercure brand. Parking is plentiful and hassle-free. Lastly, the view is a hidden gem; on a clear day, you get an unobstructed, breathtaking panorama of the mountain range without any buildings blocking the sight. I highly recommend it for a relaxing getaway!

I brought my own snowboard to Karuizawa. It's a 70-minute Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station to JR Karuizawa Station. The Shinkansen luggage racks have straps to secure snowboards. After exiting the station, head to the hotel service center (open until 7 PM) located on the far right of the 7/11 convenience store at the South Exit (Pic 7). You can drop off your luggage there and then explore the Plaza unencumbered. Take the brown hotel shuttle bus to B21, where The Prince is located, every hour on the hour and half-hour. Your luggage will already be in your room, but snowboards are not allowed inside. Each day, I'd take my own snowboard on the brown bus to the gondola at the East Building. You can buy ski passes and rent equipment there. Ski pass prices are shown in Pic 6. Only guests staying in the East Building can use the hotel's lockers for ski equipment. The West Building also has a gondola, but it requires a short walk. You can't enter the hotel wearing ski boots, but the Makibi restaurant seems to be an exception. After skiing, take the green bus back to the hotel. Of the two onsen, Hongye Bisen has newer facilities and better views from the outdoor bath. All Prince Hotel restaurants require reservations made via QR code. Pics 4 and 5 show the breakfast at the main building, which is high quality and delicious. From 10 AM to 8 PM, you can enjoy unlimited soft drinks in the bar area. Finally, use the luggage delivery service when checking out. I think The Prince offers the best value for money.