Hot Springs hotels in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Location: The hotel is situated at the foot of a mountain in Satoyama, a considerable distance from JR Matsumoto Station. However, it offers a unique charm with panoramic views of Matsumoto Castle from the hillside. Transportation: Unless you're driving or taking a taxi, here are your options: 1) The hotel provides a shuttle service to and from JR Station. There are two morning departures at 9 and 10 AM, passing by Matsumoto Castle before heading to JR Station. Return trips are at 4 and 5 PM. The pick-up point is at the temporary parking area to the right of JR Station Matsumoto Castle Exit (not a bus stop). 2) You can take the Meigahara Onsen bus line from the bus terminal downstairs at Alpico Plaza, opposite the temporary parking lot of JR Station, and get off at Fujii Station. You can find the bus schedule on Google Maps. Service: There are English-speaking staff at the front desk, but no Chinese speakers. Simple communication is not an issue. The service was impeccable. Dining: The breakfast is a buffet style with both Japanese and Western options, very extensive and delicious. There are also welcome drinks, including ice cream, juice, coffee, hot tea, and even draft beer! P.S. There are not many dining options near the hotel, so you might want to eat near JR Station before returning to the hotel, or dine at the hotel. I booked one of the few rooms with a private onsen. Soaking in the hot spring while enjoying views of the Northern Alps was incredibly relaxing. The hotel also has a large terrace, perfect for enjoying a drink during the evening 'blue hour' – truly one of life's most comfortable moments.

It was a really lovely stay but communication with staff was rather difficult. Overall a lovely hotel with great service to ski resorts but please not there there are no convenience stores or services around the property. Food however on site was amazing! Love the bus schedules to the different ski resorts!

It was a great stay. The staff was super friendly and spoke English. The had parking vallet, provided an outfit to change into and roam outside. The hot springs was super relaxing and great for the feet and body. We tried five of their private hot spring rooms out of the many more they had, some had super hot water while others were warm. The outside room hot springs were beautifully decorated. They gave us access to the 9 public onsens that had different minerals in the  for body healing. At night it was even more beautiful with the night walk and the town puts on a beautiful show and night market. Super glad we booked the stay.

I had a wonderful stay at Amagawaso in Shibu Onsen. The ryokan is run by an elderly couple who don’t speak English, but they were incredibly sweet and welcoming. With the help of Google Translate, communication was easy enough and actually added to the charm of the experience. They provided yukata and geta for exploring the town, as well as the key that gives access to the nine public onsens in Shibu — an amazing and unique experience. On top of that, the ryokan offers a free 40-minute private onsen session, which was a lovely touch. Our room was very spacious, and shortly after we arrived, the hostess came in to prepare complimentary matcha tea for us. She also gifted us steamed buns filled with red bean paste, which felt incredibly thoughtful. The location is also very convenient for visiting the Snow Monkey Park, making it an excellent base for exploring the area. Overall, the hospitality was genuine, the onsen experience was fantastic, and the atmosphere felt authentically traditional. Highly recommend staying here if you’re visiting Shibu Onsen or planning a trip to see the snow monkeys.

📍 Hotel Keigetsu 信州昼神温泉郷 日長庵 桂月 @ Hirugami Onsen, Nagano 🇯🇵 We stayed 3D2N from 13 November 2025 at Hotel Keigetsu (日長庵 桂月), and it turned out to be one of the best choices for our Nakasendo trip. The ryokan sits in a peaceful corner of Hirugami Onsen, surrounded by nature and traditional Japanese charm. There is a designated parking area exclusively for guests, accommodating around 15-20 cars of all sizes, making it very convenient for self-drive travellers. We chose a Japanese-style room with a private bathroom, and the highlight was the beautiful wooden bathtub — perfect for a relaxing soak in complete privacy. In the mornings, the view from our room was calm and peaceful, with gentle bird chirping adding to the serene atmosphere. Our stay included breakfast and dinner, and both meals were exceptional. Each dish was beautifully prepared using seasonal ingredients, and the servers were patient and friendly, taking time to explain each course and share stories about local flavours. Their warm hospitality truly enhanced the dining experience. The ryokan is within walking distance to the Morning Market, just about 10 minutes away, making it an enjoyable little morning stroll. There is also a FamilyMart right beside the ryokan, just a short walk away — extremely convenient for drinks, snacks, or last-minute essentials during your stay. The staff also introduced several nearby activities and hiking trails, and the routes are super visitor-friendly, making this ryokan an ideal base for exploring the Nakasendo area. The onsen baths were another highlight — soothing, clean, and filled with Hirugami’s famously smooth, skin-friendly hot spring water. Perfect for unwinding every evening. Overall, Hotel Keigetsu offers excellent food, warm service, relaxing onsen, comfortable rooms, and unbeatable convenience, whether you’re here for onsen relaxation or the Nakasendo trail. Highly recommended for a peaceful, authentic, and memorable ryokan stay in Nagano. ♨️🍁🌿✨

The location is convenient, with a shuttle bus service between the hotel and Prince Outlet shopping mall and the train station. There's a bit of a distance between the East and West wings of the hotel; the East wing is closer to the children's play area. The jungle adventure is suitable for both kids and adults. The breakfast was quite average, possibly because there were too many guests. You need to call a day in advance to reserve the number of people and time for breakfast the next day. During our stay, we could only choose between 6:30 AM or 9:30 AM. The 'please clean my room' sign was very confusing; instead of simply stating 'yes' or 'no', it had a lengthy message that was open to misinterpretation.

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.

We really enjoyed our week long stay at Hoshikawakan in Jan 2026. We have been driving around Hakuba for 4 weeks to visit various ski resorts and spent our last week at Hoshikawakan to visit Shiga Kogen. The room was spacious and clean with a small toilet like most Japanese hotels but there was a large public onsen and 2 smaller private onsens that can be reserved once each day for 30mins so you could always take your shower in the onsens like the locals do especially later at night about 10-11pm where I was the only one in the public onsen. The hotel had a lovely buffet breakfast spread with local soba, Japnese curry, cold minced sashimi fish, grill fish station, fried eggs station that will keep you adequately fed for the day's ski trip - it even has a hot drink station with free oden daily at 3-5.30pm which we enjoyed as a snack after a hard day of skiiing. The service was excellent too with the staff helpfully arranging to ship our ski equipment directly to Hanade Airport, daily clearing of snow off the carpark and new towels provided daily. The location in Yudanaka is great too especially if you drive as it is between Shiga Kogen (25-35mins drive) and Kita Shiga Kogen (15-20mins drive) with many attractions like Shibu Onsen, Yudanaka Brewery and Snow Monkey Park within 10-15 drive. There were also ample dinner options nearby within 10-15 mins walk but you may need to try and make reservations by walking in on your first night. The only downside was that the WiFi network is poor and patchy when overloaded by a lot of guests over the weekend but otherwise it was good.

Stayed late June to see the stunning Itawake view. No skiing, just soaking in Hakuba’s nature. Hotel was peaceful, surrounded by trees — perfect for relaxing walks. Staff were friendly and super helpful. Room was clean, a bit small for what we booked. Breakfast was okay, mix of Japanese and Western. The onsen was the real highlight — so refreshing after a day out. Even without snow, Mominoki was a great base. Cozy, quiet, and welcoming. Would stay again.

Not far from the train station, it's very convenient to walk. The hotel has just been renovated and is very clean. The front desk staff are enthusiastic and professional. The hotel has an overall Japanese style, and you need to store your shoes on the first floor when you enter. The room is not big but sufficient. Although the bed is only 1.4 meters, the experience was quite good. The bathroom is very clean. There's a hot spring on the top floor and laundry facilities. Through the window, you can admire the train station below and the distant mountains. Japanese breakfast is offered in the morning with a good variety. Free Japanese ramen is served after 9 PM. Satisfied.