Hostels σε Nagano Prefecture, Japan

We stayed at Karuizawa. The accommodation was reasonably priced and comfortable. They have various room types, but we chose a ryokan-style room which involved sharing a bathroom, but there were plenty of facilities and it was very convenient. Regular rooms also have private bathrooms. It's conveniently located for walking to nearby attractions. The only thing we didn't have was hot water. They actually have an onsen (hot spring), which would have been perfect if it had hot water especially with the single-digit temperatures like that, I highly recommend it to anyone interested.

The staff really went above and beyond to make two ignorant Canadian tourists feel extremely welcome at a traditional Japanese Ryuken. Though there was a small language barrier, we never felt that we could not communicate our needs. The hot and cold onsen was very refreshing after walking post towns along the Nakasendo Way. The river next to the hotel made for a relaxing experience and deep sleep. Somehow, I missed the option when booking to select the dinner option, there is really no other food options in the area, and the clerk (owner) said he would put a 'simple meal' together for us for a small charge which we found acceptable. The kaiseki that followed was some of the best and most authentic Japanese food we experienced in our two weeks in Japan. The woman serving us was an absolute gem and the cat that ran the establishment was adorable. Our room was very comfortable and had a nice sitting area with a view of the river. Only points of contention would be that that it's a little out of the way if you don't have a car, but is conveniently accessable by bus with ~10 minute walk. The facilities are a little dated, the onsen is discoloured, but I assume that is from the natural minerals. There was a stale smell (smoke) in the rooms which is a bit off-putting to non-smokers. It would appear smoking is allowed in the facility which might be a plus to some.

The hotel is really well situated, less than 10 minutes from the JR station, and on the same street as the Shrine, so there were lots of places to eat nearby. I stayed in a dorm, which had more people than I expected for a room (I think I saw at least 60 bed/lockers) so it was quite loud even at night as people kept walking in and out. The actual bed was fine, and the people at the front took their time to walk me through what to know for the hostel. The lounge is a little awkwardly partitioned, but at least you get a space to use if you need food. The dorm itself, I think has a little too many people to be comfortable but is clean enough. The lights never turn off, but because you have a curtain, it blocks out most of it. The largest issue is the noise, since people are coming in and out at random times of the night, and the buttons to open the door are also quite loud when you're trying to sleep. If you want ear plugs, they have them for a fee at the front. Nagano overall was very nice though, and the location made it a lot easier to get around.

The staff were very friendly, picking us up and dropping us off at the train station. They made sure we had everything we needed. The room was large, clean and had plenty of additional space in the living area. We didn’t hear any noise from the next door supermarket and it was very convenient. There were good food options nearby and the hosts kindly dropped us at the station to store our bags and then took us to the castle in the morning. We would happily have stayed longer!

The hotel is very close to the Tsugaike Kogen ski gondola, which is super convenient. The place is clean and has a very homey vibe. I really loved it. Since I came at the end of ski season, it was very quiet with not many people around, which made it even more relaxing. One funny moment was arriving at night, we had to check in at Unplanned 1 but our room was at Unplanned 2, so we got a bit lost. Overall, everything was great and I’d definitely recommend staying here!

The staff were very kind and helpful! There were four bicycles available for us to use, which was a lot of fun! The accommodation has a shower, but there was a public bath nearby, so we went there by bicycle! There was a guitar and a hammock in the common area, so we could enjoy ourselves! It was a little inconvenient that the sink wasn't in the room but in the common area, and we were a little disappointed that we couldn't eat or drink in the room, and that there were no tissues or mirrors in the room. 😢 My friend and I were both very satisfied!

the location is outstanding near zenkoji. It is a small private house renovated by private houses and merchants. It is very cheap for the location. It is enough for a man's solo trip, but it is recommended for young people.

The traditional Japanese houses and gardens were breathtakingly beautiful. The guesthouse owner spoke excellent English and Chinese; she had studied in Shandong and Hangzhou. Most of the guests were young Westerners working in Japan; our family was there to pick up my sister who works at a temple. It was wonderful to visit this beautiful and prosperous little town and the nearby city of Sepulchi. The Manryu-ji Temple where my sister works is a very interesting place; we participated in Sunday morning yoga, had coffee, and spent half the day exploring.

The location is very close to Xiaozhu Station, a small town that is very quiet. You can drink coffee for breakfast and read socially on the first floor. There is also a big supermarket nearby. Although the staff is not very good in English, they are really responsive. The design of the second floor youth travel structure is very user-friendly, and the privacy and safety are also superb. Will be willing to go again!