4-Star hotele w: Nagano Prefecture, Japan

A perfect experience! A forest resort with an absolutely stunning environment! A well-deserved summer retreat! The hotel is surrounded by woods, quiet and incredibly therapeutic. Hot springs, a swimming pool, and a gym are all available, and the children's playroom is a major plus – it's the top choice for family trips. While the breakfast variety isn't huge and there are bound to be some small insects outdoors in the summer, these minor issues are completely acceptable in such a natural setting. The service is excellent, the rooms are clean, and the overall value for money is superb. I'll definitely be back!

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 hotel boasts beautiful scenery and an excellent location. The rooms are clean and tidy, and the hot springs are incredibly relaxing. The outdoor rotenburo bath offers a unique experience. While it's a bit of a walk from the West Wing, thankfully it's all indoors, and following the arrows makes it easy to navigate without getting lost.

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.

A hotel with strong Japanese characteristics, all rooms are tatami-style. Room: The size wasn't as big as I imagined, but overall it was still good. There were two downsides: first, the pillows were uncomfortable, small and hard; second, it was a bit close to the railway, so there was some noise. Facilities: The large public bath on the 10th floor was excellent, with indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a sauna. Breakfast: Very delicious. Location: Very convenient, about a five to six-minute walk to the JR station.

Stayed here several times before, and this visit felt noticeably different. One positive change is that the lounge has been relocated from the lobby to the third floor, making the space feel much more open and comfortable, without guests having to crowd together. However, the shortened meal service times were disappointing. Reducing breakfast hours is understandable, but shortening dinner service by an additional 30 minutes to only 90 minutes made the experience feel rushed. Given the size of the dining area and the number of guests, collecting food itself takes time. More importantly, one of the reasons people choose to visit Nagano is to enjoy a slower and more relaxed atmosphere. With only 90 minutes allocated for dinner, there is hardly enough time to comfortably enjoy the meal itself, let alone finish with coffee and dessert. I understand that rising operating costs may require adjustments, and I appreciate the hotel’s efforts to manage within budget. However, as group tourism increases, maintaining the experience expected by individual travelers becomes increasingly important. Unfortunately, this time it felt that both the dining quality and the dining time had been reduced simultaneously, and the decline in quality was noticeable. Overall, I still appreciate the improvements to the common areas, but I hope the hotel can reconsider how to balance operational efficiency with the quality of the guest experience.

Excellent service! I highly recommend booking dinner here. The breakfast was fantastic, my kids especially loved the soba noodles, and the fruit was delicious too. If you're visiting when there's no snow, you can rent bicycles directly from the hotel. The onsen (hot spring bath) was really good. They also have a very clean laundry room available. And the wine here is excellent!

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.

Right at Nagano Station! There's a connecting passage on the second floor of the hotel that leads directly to Nagano Station. The location is excellent! The hotel has a luxurious feel, reminiscent of an economic boom. The room was standard, quite spacious. The facilities weren't brand new, but they weren't uncomfortably old either. The room was generally clean and comfortable. The hotel breakfast was decent, with a good variety of options. If you plan to spend your days exploring the mountains and returning on the same day without staying overnight, this hotel is highly recommended!