4-Star Hotels in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

The hotel environment is great, very peaceful, and the rooms are comfortable. The hot springs are particularly good, and the outdoor hot spring in the rain was a fantastic experience. The hotel service was also very attentive and well-organized.

Located in the heart of Shibu Onsen, Kokuya is a traditional Japanese inn that has been operating for over 400 years. It's the only inn in the area with its own six different 100% natural hot spring baths, featuring eight public baths and ten rooms with open-air hot springs. It has been passed down through 16 generations. Furthermore, the central area of ​​Shibu Onsen boasts a 1300-year-old hot spring town with nine public onsen (hot spring baths) for hotel guests and residents. The ninth onsen is the largest, featuring a golden bath and a sauna. Next to it is a hot spring shrine and foot bath, right next to Kokuya. Kokuya's hot springs are rich in minerals, beneficial for improving muscle, joint, and skin problems. A free shuttle bus (approximately 3km) takes guests to Jigokudani (Hell Valley) to see snow monkeys and enjoy the hot springs. A free shuttle bus connects to the train station, and freshly cooked onsen eggs (100 yen each) are available at the inn's entrance. The hotel boasts a clean and elegant interior with maze-like corridors and wooden staircases. There are dedicated luggage handlers (three floors in total), creating a perfect setting for a period drama, reminiscent of Yubaba's old house in Spirited Away… The hotel also offers traditional Japanese kaiseki dinners with over nine dishes. Ingredients are freshly delivered from Nagano. The menu changes monthly according to the season. Vegetarian options are also available (please inform us in advance). All guest rooms are designed in a traditional Japanese style, featuring Japanese-style bedding and a bathroom with a sink, TV, safe, refrigerator, towels, and yukata. Ten guest rooms have private outdoor baths. The hotel is surrounded by several temples of varying sizes and different springs nestled in the mountains. The water temperatures of these springs vary, with the highest reaching 56°C. Municipal water supplies are provided to each household. Several bridges connect the two sides of the river in front, including a red-painted bridge that resembles a scene from Spirited Away. I suspect that Miyazaki Toshiro may have drawn inspiration from this place… A very nice hotel and hot springs; the staff are polite and attentive.

The location is convenient, with a shuttle bus service between the hotel and Prince Outlet shopping mall and the train station. There's a bit of a distance between the East and West wings of the hotel; the East wing is closer to the children's play area. The jungle adventure is suitable for both kids and adults. The breakfast was quite average, possibly because there were too many guests. You need to call a day in advance to reserve the number of people and time for breakfast the next day. During our stay, we could only choose between 6:30 AM or 9:30 AM. The 'please clean my room' sign was very confusing; instead of simply stating 'yes' or 'no', it had a lengthy message that was open to misinterpretation.

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.

What an awesome experience! The hotel offered exemplary service before we even arrived. Due to special travel arrangements, we arrived late and the staff quick to arrange an in-room bento dinner for us before our arrival. When we got there, we were immediately blown away by the gorgeousness of the hotel. Despite its age, everything was very clean and polished. I can see that great care had been taken to upkeep the hotel and it’s premises, which are extraordinarily beautiful. We couldn’t resist taking pictures even after check-out, and it took us an hour to finally reluctantly leave. Words cannot actually do the place justice, you must visit there yourself. We were very impressed with how delicious the food was, and the attention to detail, including the placement of the food, the coordination of food color. My mouth is still watering as I recall how delicious it was. I had 10 helpings of their prime rib one day. Besides, I had a dietary restriction and the staff were really careful with that, to the extent of reminding me what dishes not to eat everyday at their breakfast and dinner buffet. In addition to excellent food and service, the hotel went out of its way to be very eco-friendly. For every day that we did not need our room to be tidied, we earned points, which can be traded in for ice cream or other goodies. Finally, the staff spoke perfect English. This is rare indeed, and it made everything so much easier and so much more enjoyable. Thanks for the experience!

Opened not long ago, the hotel facilities are very new. It has a Japanese style, so you need to take off your shoes before entering. The room isn't huge, but it's compact and comfortable. The hotel's 10th floor has a hot spring bath ♨️. Soaking in it after a day of sightseeing is very relaxing. After your bath, you can enjoy complimentary ice cream. The hotel's first floor offers free coffee, and there are even free noodles available in the evening. It's about 500 meters from Matsumoto Station, which can be a bit challenging with luggage, but given the hotel's amenities, it's definitely worth it.

The amenities were great! There's an onsen you can use, and free flow snacks and drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) at the lounge at certain timings! The service was really great! The view from the room is so pretty! There is a free shuttle service to and from Nagano Station, but there are limited timings so you might want to check the website! You can also choose to take the public bus but it can cost quite a bit!

Excellent! The environment is beautiful! The room is clean! The service is great! The food is decent! The hotel facilities are very comprehensive! It feels wonderful to look out at the snow-capped mountains! Very comfortable! It's very close to the ski resort!

I stayed at this hotel for one night, and overall, it was quite a pleasant experience. I really liked my room — it was clean, modern, and comfortable. The only thing that surprised me was that the window to the balcony didn’t open, though I suppose it was designed that way. The onsen was absolutely wonderful — spacious, relaxing, and with a beautiful view of a mountain river. Definitely one of the highlights of my stay. The hotel also offers many different areas for leisure and entertainment. You can play table tennis, relax in cozy rest zones, visit small cafés and shops — there’s a lot to explore without even leaving the building. Both breakfast and dinner were delicious, with a wide variety of food to choose from. However, due to the number of guests, it was a bit challenging for the staff to manage everything smoothly. On two occasions, someone almost took my table, even though I had already placed the reservation card on it to show it was taken. That said, the staff overall were very pleasant, friendly, and helpful, and I appreciated their attitude throughout my stay. This hotel is clearly family-oriented, with many families staying with young children. There are rooms with child-friendly designs and dedicated play areas, so if you’re looking for a quiet, adult-only atmosphere, this might not be the best fit. That said, I genuinely enjoyed my stay and would consider coming back.

We had a wonderful stay at Taoya and would absolutely recommend it for families. The location is fantastic — it’s close to a beautiful old Japanese village, which made it easy to combine relaxation with a bit of cultural exploration. The area was also stroller-friendly, which made walking around with our 1-year-old very convenient and stress-free. The outdoor onsen was beautiful and very relaxing, especially surrounded by nature. What made it perfect for us was the availability of a private onsen — this allowed our 1-year-old to join us, which made the experience extra special as parents. The all-inclusive concept is fantastic. The food was really, really good — excellent quality, great variety, and beautifully presented. Every meal felt like a highlight of the stay. We only saw one other foreign family during our stay, so it felt authentic and local while still being welcoming and comfortable. Overall, a great place for families looking for a relaxing onsen experience with outstanding food and a convenient location. We would definitely come back.