ผผู้เข้าพักI stayed at this hotel with my wife and two children during a two-night trip to Karuizawa in early February. The hotel is around 100 years old and its claim to fame is that John Lennon has stayed there. The piano that he played on is still in the bar.
Location: The hotel is near Old Ginza Street and around a 15-minutes drive from Karuizawa station. It was not difficult to find, but you must navigate a narrow approach to the hotel which is icy at this time of the year, so you must drive carefully.
Cleaniness: The staff told me that the hotel was only recently and everything was very clean and in good condition.
Service: The receptionist that conducted the check-in was probably the Japanese that spoke the best English that I had encountered on this trip. He spent a lot of time explaining the hotel to our family. The porter was also very helpful and polite. When we asked for extra toothbrushes and slippers for the children, housekeeping was very prompt in delivering them and even brought some children's robes for my sons.
Facilities: The hotel did not have many facilities. There is a small shop, a bar and a french restaurant but not much else. Some rooms had private hot springs in them and they gave us the opportunity to upgrade. Our room, had a small balcony even though we were on the ground floor. It looked onto a wooded area so there was not much to see, especially at night. However, when it snowed the next morning, my kids loved going out and playing in the snow. I was particularly impressed by the breakfast. It was a simple American breakfast very well presented. It was very pleasurable to look out into the inner courtyard with it was snowing.
Overall: I like this hotel as it has a lot of character. It is architecturally attractive and has kept a lot of its charm despite renovation. The staff are very professional and polite. I would stay in this hotel again.
OO.K. MACI’ve stayed at many ryokans throughout my travels—often making up half of each trip—but this one felt a bit different.
It seemed to be run by just one person, who I assume is the owner. Everything was self-service, which might be understandable considering it was the most affordable option among the ryokans in the area.
Most amenities required an extra fee, such as towels. Payment was made by dropping coins into a basket and making your own change, which wasn’t very convenient—especially since I didn’t carry much cash.
One thing I appreciated was the luggage delivery service. I was able to leave my bag at the lobby before check-out and have it sent to Toyama Station (for about 4,000 JPY, cash only).
What stood out was the creativity in the shared spaces. There were several common rooms designed for relaxing and spending time—perfect if you’re traveling with friends. You could play ping pong, read books, watch TV, or use the canteen, which had a microwave and dishes available.
They even had coin-operated massage chairs and a small fitness room.
However, I must mention two important downsides:
1. Limited nearby dining options – Many restaurants shown as open on Google Maps were actually closed. The only one that was open had extremely slow service—I waited nearly an hour for dinner.
2. Insects—large ones – Unfortunately, I encountered big insects in my room, which made it hard to sleep. (He even provided insect-catch tape for me while introduce the room) I stayed awake most of the night, worrying it might come back—especially stressful since I had to get up early the next morning to catch a bus to Ogizawa.
Minds you, stairs only, need to carry your luggage down by yourself.
Overall, while it offers good value for the area and has unique communal features, this ryokan may not suit travelers who prefer full service, cashless payment, or guaranteed comfort.