Wafu no Yado Masuya

Outstanding staff; always friendly and helpful (before and during the stay). Authentic ryokan within walking distance of the Snow Monkey Park. The highlights were the meals and private bath. Highly recommend booking with dinner and breakfast included (at check-in we were offered dinner seating times at 6, 6:30 and 7PM; breakfast seating times offered were 7:30, 8 and 8:30AM). The meals were course-after-course of beautifully prepared foods (you will not walk away hungry). In addition to having two public baths onsite (one for men, one for women), a private bath is available onsite (booked in 50 minute increments) suitable for 1-4 people. If you want to ensure bath availability--or meal timing--request in advance. I believe they can also assist with visits to local baths, but we found their baths perfect for our use. Additionally, they have a shuttle to the Snow Monkey Park at 9:45AM (sign-up during check-in)--they don't offer a return shuttle, though it's a beautiful hour-long walk back. Finally, they offer a very useful shuttle to the train station (request time at check-in: 9:05, 9:30, 10:20, or 10:50AM).

This is not related to the lodging, but ensure you have a solid transportation plan to get to/from the area (schedules change throughout the year). There is a Snow Monkey Park voucher that includes train/bus to/from Nagano, entrance to the park, etc. It's a good deal--but more important, it's flexible and convenient.

Convenient access to monkey park. Owner involvement in meeting & greeting us, despite language challenges. Nice meals.

Overall very good, but could have been great if: a) better attention to communication before check-in. I asked regarding arrival pickup from station weeks before, but response was late (actually almost reaching Yudanaka!) b) since monkey park is so near Masuya, perhaps can offer guests pick-up also (& I'm willing to pay if required) Much opportunity to improve.

We loved the location. Directly behind the hotel is the most gorgeous little lane way full of Onsens and eateries and a great bottleshop. We had dinner and breakfast here, both are full Japanese cuisine experience. Amazing! The hotel provides a shuttle to the snow monkey park , which is only minutes away. We had an early train to catch, and the staff took us to the station with a smile, no charge. It is a true ryokan ,which made this a wonderful authentic Japanese experience. The staff were brilliant, couldn't be more helpful or kind.

It's not that we didn't like it, it's that our western bodies were not use to the thin futons. We fixed it by adding extra bedding underneath.

The staff was incredibly friendly and really went out of their way to provide support for anything you might need. The one onsen we visited in the hotel was so relaxing. We were got lucky and had the whole place to ourselves. Dinner and breakfast were incredible. If you are used to eating huge meals it might fill you up for I was stuffed after the many dishes. Soda and other beverages are added to your bill if you booked with meals included so something to be aware of. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things but just be aware in case you have teens who think the drinks are unlimited. We took the train in from Tokyo and then caught the bus to the Inn. The bus was really easy to take. There didn’t seem to be a shuttle for train pickups or to the Snow Monkeys when we arrived around 11:00am so we took the bus. We got the Snow Monkey all inclusive pass in Nagano so it was easy to hop on and off at will. I doubt the bus is expensive but not having to worry about the cost and just show the pass was very nice. The Snow Monkey park was very close by and a wonderful experience. The side trip to Yadanaka was the highighlight of our trip and the Inn played a big part in that.

It would have been nice to know when the shuttle was available for train station pickups. I emailed in advance and then called but was told that the shuttle wouldn’t pick us up until 2:00 pm and it was only 11:30 when we arrived. Thankfully there was the bus or taxi but understanding the hours of operation would have been nice.

The property is located two minutes from the local bus stop. The bus takes you to the foot of the mountain where entry to the Snow Monkey Park is. You return to this spot to buy the return bus trip back to the property. We especially liked the free shuttle bus to Nagano Station in the morning. This helped immensely with our luggage. We later realised that the accomodation ran a free shuttle from the station to the accomodation. Something that was not communicated to us beforehand by the hotel staff. Had we known this, we would have been much happier as it was significantly hard work pushing luggage up hill for almost 2k across very poorly sealed foot paths and very narrow roads.

Lack of communication about the free shuttle to and from Nagano Station. Staff saw us at Nagano Station but made no attempt to speak with us. Staff then hopped in the van after sighting us and left abruptly. We later learned that she was from our hotel and was supposed to transfer us to the accomodation. See previous comment.

Hotel staff service was superb. We requested pickup at Yudanaka station due to large group and the hotel staff replied promptly and showed up on time. Only A few of them could speak good english. They were also very attentive and meticulous in explaining the use of slippers, hot bath facilities nearby. Shibu onsen is within walking distance but restaurants were limited and many not open for dinner during our stay on dec 8. On departure day, hotel staff also patiently showed us bus timetable and bus stop location to go to shiga kogen.

Not walking distance to yudanaka station, bus is the only viable option. Not ideal for large group with large luggage.

Wonderful wonderful stay! From the moment you enter this beautiful place you enter another world to immerse yourself in a traditional Japanese setting. Leave your shoes at the door and slip on provided slippers. Escorted to your room and given your sized Yukata robe for wearing around the hotel and meals and Onsen. You absolutely must sign up for the half board meals. We were met at the floor 2 elevator stop by our personal waiter. He showed us to our private dining room and brought course after course of delightful foods (artfully presented and many delightful tastes). Some things we recognized but most we did not, but it as all good. We reserved a private Onsen each evening at 10pm that was the perfect ending of the day. We’re in our 70s so we opted for the traditional bedroom and the beds were comfortable and we slept well. We decided to walk to and from the Monkey park but could have taken the hotel shuttle. On our arrival and departed the hotel transported us from/to the train station. (Hint, the little coffee shop (Tea Salon Milano) directly across the major street from the little train station has excellent coffee and cheese cake). We can’t wait to go back to Wafu-no-Yado MASULA! We really hated to leave this wonderful place where we felt pampered by the staff.

The whole experience was quite surreal if you had never before stayed in a ryokan. From the moment you arrive you have to surrender to the concept and embrace it otherwise it defeats the object. The staff are delightful and the decor both in the room and the public areas as traditional as it gets. The food is exquisite as you are unsure whether to eat it or frame it. Dinner is incredible and should be taken at least once. Wear the traditional clothes provided as they add to the theatre and use the onsen which are clean and relaxing.

If you are of advancing years and struggle even moderately with flexibility, sleeping on a futon on the floor makes getting out of bed quite an effort. However it is all part of the whole experience which wouldn't be genuine otherwise.

Me and my friends stayed at this ryokan for one night. The welcome by the staff was incredible. Everyone was very attentive and tried to make our stay as pleasant as possible. The rooms are beautiful and clean. The kaiseki is the best we had on our trip so far and the Japanese breakfast did not disappoint. It’s important to note that this property is right next to Shibu Onsen so you’re not allowed to use the 9 public baths. However, this does not make the experience any less magnificent. The baths in the property are beautiful. They switch between male and female visitors during different times of day. Apart from that one does have access to two public baths in the beautifully traditional back alley leading to Shibu Onsen. We can only recommend staying at this Ryokan.

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On request a vegetarian breakfast and dinner was prepared, very delicious and much appreciated - thank you very much! The owner also welcomed all guests during dinner, which was very classy and polite, which we liked. Room and view were beautiful. Own free of charge parking made the arrival very convenient. All stuff members were outstandingly kind and helpful. Thank you for having us and for your hospitality!

One improvement comment: The outside-onsen had a little too much dirt in it (it was too much for us to pick out ourselves). And the little blue special onsen (like a small round pool) inside had some kind of old dirt/dust swimming in it. But both is easily adjustable. It was overall great and we would always stay again in this hotel, if our paths cross again.