Traditional and taught us a lot about Japanese culture and cuisine. Best night sleep in months on the futons. Staff were delightful and informative.

There was an occasional strange smell in the rooms which we got used to in the end. We smelt this in other hotels so wonder if it was due to some cleaning materials. Massive mark up on the local wine which we found much cheaper in a tourist resort later.

* Extremely tasty Japanese breakfast! Significantly different meal on the two different days that we had it, which was a nice surprise. (We did not opt for the dinner, but I imagine it would also have been great.) * Beautiful property/landscaping/etc. * Onsens were very nice. The private one(s) are obviously much smaller, and have a worse outdoor view than the separated men's/women's ones. On the days when we were there, the group onsens were not busy at all. * Walking distance to the Snow Monkey Park. * Location is pretty far from the center of town, but it's not too bad of a walk. * Great, helpful staff.

* Fairly dated bathroom facilities; they're fine, but don't expect them to be very modern/state-of-the-art, by Japanese standards. * Note the check-in window; if you arrive after this time by train, you'll probably want to take a taxi from the train station; luckily, there is a taxi company office right next to the train station.

This is an excellent high end ryokan. The location is superb if you want to visit the snow monkey park (we were a 3 families group of 11 people from New Zealand, 2 families had not been to the park). Otherwise it is a destination property as it is outside the Shibu Onsen town area and not within walking distance. It is a great stopover if you are on or from the way to ski Shiga Kogen (we came from Nozawa Onsen). The hotel itself is beautifully designed for the 4 seasons (we came in winter). It has a great Japanese art collection. The historic works are lovely. There are nice design features dotted throughout the property. The koi pond on the way to the onsen area stands out (especially when the fish gather around the hot water vent). The rooms are spacious (esp. by Japanese standards) and well appointed. The futons and pillows are very comfortable and the duvet is thick and plush (but see my comment below on the thing to watch out for). The room had an outdoor balcony. The view from our rooms looked back towards the mountains. We had a clear day and sunset was beautiful. The food is excellent. We had the Japanese dinner and breakfast. What you would expect from a high end ryokan, and it met our expectations (exceeded the expectations of the families who had not been to Japan before). The service is top notch. Food allergies (eggs, nuts) were catered for. I think staff were matched to the group, as everyone who looked after us had reasonable to very good English. The comms before arrival was good. The onsen is nice. The mineral water is wonderful. It is not cheap per se but it is worth it. You get what you pay for, but in this case I think you get a wonderful Japanese experience for a reasonable price. Totally recommend.

We are gaijins (foreigners) so we are not used to how hot the Japanese love their rooms. The heat was cranked up way too high (26°C when we first got to the room). Had to open Even when we turned the heat down to 18°C, it was way too hot overnight, especially under the duvets. One of our group had the smart idea of turning on the aircon in his room (in winter!) to cool it down. Should have done the same.

The entire experience was amazing - we fully immersed ourselves in the experience with a Japanese style room, clothing, food, and onsen. The dinners and breakfasts were tasty and beautifully presented. They were even able to accomodate my vegetarian diet, so I was able to fully experience the meals. Staying here was truly a highlight of our visit to Japan!

The room had lots of glass (window/door), so part of the room got very warm when the afternoon sun was shining and also the hotel is on a single boiler system which means you cannot adjust the room's individual room temperature, so we also were slightly too warm at night (we solved this by cracking open the door).

After doing lots of walks through the Japanese alps and the Nakasendo Way, we decided to spend a little bit more money for a really beautiful and luxurious hotel. This hotel was worth the price. If you let them know in advance they will pick you up from the Yudanaka railway station (and drop you back there). It is a very short walk to the entrance of the snow monkey park from the hotel and it is located among beautiful mountains so the scenery is spectacular. The staff spoke English which we really appreciated and were really helpful with all our questions. We let the hotel know in advance that we needed a gluten free dinner and breakfast and they went to an amazing effort to accommodate this request. The meals were some of the best I’ve had in Japan and I will never forget their wagyu beef. The restaurant staff were fabulous too. The twin bed room was really spacious and comfortable, way more room than we expected. The private outdoor onsen is easy to book when you check in and was delightful, especially when it was snowing. A beautiful hotel with wonderful staff, I hope I get to stay there again one day.

My husband and I spent a night here to experience Japanese onsen for the first time and see snow monkeys in the area. We went with a traditional Japanese style room option and had no regrets. The room was fantastic. Saying spacious would be an understatement. Very large living area, separate sit down area and balcony with beautiful view. The large entryway, washroom, separate shower with bath and separate powder room. The room has AC and we were very warm despite the snowstorm outside. We had the means to make tea in the room with a beautiful tea set and there was a coffee bar downstairs. The room also had a TV. For both meals we went with the Japanese options and the staff was very helpful and accommodating to help us and explain every dish. There was even a small guide included with each meal outlining what is being served for each course. The facilities were outstanding as well. We opted for a private onsen and it was simply magical with the snow outside. There is a swimming pool as well that my husband used. If you forgot your swimwear you could get one there for a small fee. There is a small gift shop downstairs (they accept the cards as a payment option) with local sweets and small souvenirs. The fact that you got collected from the train station with a minibus and dropped off after your stay was extremely convenient as well and we didn't need to take the local bus. We were very close to the snow monkey park. We had a fantastic stay and we couldn't ask for a better experience.

The hotel seems a bit dated, but it more than makes up with old school charm. A lot of effort was put into creating an exquisite experience showcasing Japanese food and culture. The special care put into preparing the rooms, onsen and even the manicured gardens will draw you to stay longer at such a welcoming hotel.it is no wonder the current Emperor and Empress of Japan have stayed there a few times! A bonus that the hotel is located about a 5min walk to the start of the snow monkey park! Thank you for your kind hospitality. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and had fun wearing the specially prepared yutakas to walk around the hotel.

Not enough time yo enjoy the hotel and its facilities.

The breakfast and dinner were exceptional! We specifically chose this place for an authentic Japanese experience. Both meals were delicious and beautiful! The waiters were also extremely helpful. The private onsen was FABULOUS!!!! What a wonderful amenity to have at your place. Such beautiful surroundings.

I did not like the plastic toilet shoes that everyone needed to share. Also, the toilet and the shower area could use an update. Things can still be authentic.

This is a large traditional Onsen hotel in the hills above the village of Yamanochi within easy walking distance of the snow monkey park. The Onsen facilities, both private and public were very good. The Kaiseki dinners and breakfasts were excellent. The swimming pool is large and well heated. There is ample parking space on a vacant block 50 metres down the road.

There is a strong smell of mould as soon as you enter the hotel. We discovered the source of this smell when we visited the swimming pool: the walls are badly discoloured with mould stains and need cleaning.

Truly exceptional stay, the hotel is wonderfully clean, the room very comfortable. The bathing facilities were pristine, the food delicious and the staff outstanding. The setting is very calm with the hotel set around a beautiful Japanese garden and we had a lovely view of the mountains from our window. We had a Japanese room so with futons, and they were the comfiest we had in our whole trip. To say everything was perfect sounds like an exaggeration but we really could find no fault. Don't miss this place !

Nothing - it was perfect.