5-Star 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.

Stepping inside, we were greeted by the iconic stove, and a thoughtful warm drink, which was a lovely touch. The service was very welcoming. The room, for Japan, was quite spacious and even had a balcony, though it was bare in winter. Both breakfast and dinner were extensive. Dinner, which we pre-booked, was a standout with its distinctive and delicious Western cuisine.

Hotel La Vigne Hakuba was a wonderful place to stay. The hotel has a beautiful minimalist design and feels clean, cozy, and very welcoming. Both the lobby and rooms were pleasantly scented, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The concierge team was extremely helpful and the overall service throughout the stay was excellent. The room was spacious, very clean, and thoughtfully designed with a very functional layout. The bedding was also very comfortable. The hotel also provides excellent facilities for skiers, including a dedicated storage and locker room for ski equipment, as well as a separate shower room where guests can freshen up and change after skiing on the day of check-out. Overall, a fantastic stay at Hotel La Vigne Hakuba — highly recommended.

Amazing experience as always with the Fufu brand. We stayed at the Hakone one previously and thought it was one of the best hotel experiences we've ever had. Our trip to Karuizawa this time was driven by our intent to try Fufu Kyukaruizawa, and it did not disappoint one bit. From the zen interior to the most attentive and friendly staff to the never-ending dining experiences (yes, even for breakfast it was a multi course menu), we were utterly blown away by our two-night stay. The fireplace in the lobby and in our room was such a pleasant touch even though we stayed during May, our teppanyaki chef personally seeing us out to the lift and bowing until we were out of sight shows how they go above and beyond, and we really appreciated how at each interaction the staff knew and clarified our coming arrangements, ensuring our entire stay was a seamless experience. Fufu remains our favourite Japanese hotel brand. Just wish they had a loyalty program as we are looking to check off all the Fufu hotels in our lifetime.

I'd seen some reviews saying the facilities were a bit old-fashioned, but I actually found them to be perfectly fine. It was clean and hygienic, and the staff were very welcoming. Since it was winter, there weren't many tourists, so it was wonderfully quiet. We booked two twin rooms for our group of three adults and one child, and we were all really happy with the room views. We booked breakfast for the next day at the front desk when we checked in. It was 5400 JPY per adult, and the food was just average, but we mainly got it for the restaurant's view. The hot springs are free, you just pay a 150 JPY per person tax. You need to take a shuttle to the East or West wing. We had our own car, which made it more convenient, but if you're using the hotel shuttle, you might have to wait for the next one.

A nice hotel in this area. Room is spacious, comfortable beds. Location is a bit out of the popular area. It is fine if you are driving. Breakfast is nice with most things that you need. The onsen bath area also quite big with outside bath.

[Hilton Karuizawa | A Healing Hotel Worth a Special Trip] Our stay in Karuizawa truly exceeded expectations; the hotel's service and attention to detail were incredibly impressive. From the moment we arrived at Karuizawa Station, the hotel's shuttle service was fantastic. The driver was polite and attentive, so we didn't have to worry about our luggage or getting around. Upon check-in, our room was already prepared. We had booked a garden view room with a balcony. A floor-to-ceiling window framed the seasonal beauty of the Japanese garden like a painting. Sitting on the balcony with tea and a book, time seemed to slow down. The mini-bar in the room was complimentary, and a capsule coffee machine and tea set were provided, along with thoughtful welcome snacks. What I most want to praise is the service. The front desk and concierge staff were fluent in English, and their responses were prompt and professional whether we were asking about sightseeing routes, restaurant reservations, or shuttle arrangements. Once, we wanted to find a soba noodle restaurant popular with locals, and the concierge not only drew a detailed map by hand but also went the extra mile to call and confirm their operating hours for us. Breakfast was a semi-buffet, with the option to order a main dish. The fresh local vegetables, fruits, and homemade jams from Karuizawa were especially delicious. Enjoying breakfast by the window while watching the morning light in the garden was pure bliss. While the selection wasn't extensive, every dish was exquisite, reflecting the chef's dedication. Although the hotel isn't brand new, it's very well-maintained, combining traditional Japanese style with modern comfort seamlessly. The Japanese bathhouse was clean and tranquil; a soak there left us feeling completely relaxed. The location is also very convenient, making it easy to walk to attractions like Old Karuizawa Ginza Street and Kumoba Pond, yet it's set away from the main street's hustle and bustle. If I had to point out any shortcomings, it would be that some of the guest rooms aren't particularly spacious, but the thoughtful layout and superb views completely make up for it. Overall, it's a quality choice I'd love to return to and would readily recommend to friends. It's especially ideal for travelers looking to slow down and relax in nature.

The place looks exactly like the photos, no exaggeration at all. The entire house is enveloped by nature. In the mornings, I meditated and read in the garden with birds singing in the woods – it truly felt like my body was completely at one with nature. The owner mentioned that this particular unit boasts the largest garden among all their room types and was designed to mimic the architecture of the Kogen Church. The upstairs features an open sleeping area with four futons, which could easily accommodate six people. Downstairs also offers a tatami sleeping area. One thing to note is that sound travels easily between floors, as they are all open-plan rooms. The bathroom facilities are absolutely fantastic! With a built-in drying system and a hairdryer, the floor dries instantly after you shower. All the room amenities felt like they were from premium brands. My favorite item, surprisingly, was the trash can, haha! It's exactly the kind of setup Shanghai's waste classification system desperately needs. I'm already 'sold' on it and planning to get one myself, haha! Guests can also cook their own meals here. The owner's breakfast was not only generous but also incredibly delicious. I'll definitely have to try the steak for dinner next time – I'm sure it's excellent. The owner was incredibly kind and patient, helping us arrange taxis and even providing pick-up and drop-off services. We're very grateful. Karuizawa's summer weather is wonderfully comfortable and refreshing. The hotel's location is also fantastic, within walking distance of the Wild Bird Forest. Just a quick note: breakfast and dinner need to be reserved in advance!

A very good hotel! There is a private bath in the room yard, the bathroom supplies are of good quality, the service is very good and meticulous, the staff are always present at the right time, and the private space is very good~ The dinner and breakfast taste very good. If you want a quiet and undisturbed experience in the Japanese countryside, this is a very good choice!

We stayed for two nights on a family trip. The hotel is a luxurious establishment with three hotels, a chapel, and a wedding reception hall on a vast site of 230,000 square meters, and we thoroughly enjoyed a relaxing time. The breakfast buffet and French dinner were delicious, and the service was excellent. There was also a large hot spring bath, and there was plenty of greenery, so it was a pleasant walk. I recommend staying two or even three nights instead of just one.