Tazawa Station × Garden View AccommodationHighly rated for dining at Hotel·Ryokan

We visited to celebrate my father’s 80th birthday. It was a long drive from Yokohama to Nagano, but this was a wonderful Accommodation that truly made us glad we came. The in-room open-air bath was a little hot and needed some adjustment, but it was clean, spacious, and free of insects. The shampoo and conditioner also left our hair smooth and silky. (Some Ryokan at this level still leave your hair feeling rough.) All the staff who welcomed us were smiling, and during dinner the head chef served the main dish right at our table. Everything was delicious—made with local ingredients and carefully prepared with great attention to detail. On our way out, they even opened the souvenir shop in the main building earlier for us, so I was happy to be able to buy the souvenirs I wanted. My parents were very pleased as well, so we would love to visit again while they are still healthy.

This trip was to celebrate my mother’s birthday. She requested to see the Onsen she had visited with my late father during their honeymoon, and also the snow monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park. We chose this Accommodation because Reviews repeatedly mentioned the private family bath and a homey, relaxing atmosphere. True to the Reviews, it was a wonderfully quiet and peaceful place. The warm glow of washi paper lamps displayed throughout was beautiful, and we could feel the proprietress’s thoughtful care in every detail. And the food—absolutely delicious! Dinner just kept coming (laugh). Every dish was freshly made and served hot. The best of all was the kake soba hand-made by the chef that very morning. I love soba and visit many places, but I’m sorry—this was truly the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Breakfast also made us happy with piping-hot dashimaki tamago. The highlight of breakfast was the miso soup—I wanted to take home the whole pot. As we’ve gotten older, we choose our trips carefully based on both meals and Accommodation quality, and this place offered outstanding value for money. More than anything, we made unforgettable memories here. On our way out, I bought one of the lamps that were on display at the Accommodation as a gift for my mother. Thanks to you, it became the best birthday present possible. We’ll come again in winter—and again for her birthday next year too. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to listen kindly to my mother’s stories (＾ω＾)

Obuse, the town of Hokusai and chestnuts, is known for its beautiful streetscape that feels almost like a theme park. We arrived a little early by car, so we visited Gansho-in Temple and Jokoji Temple before heading to Masuichi Kyakuden. The ceiling painting at Gansho-in—Katsushika Hokusai’s “Phoenix Glancing in All Directions”—was truly breathtaking. As soon as we pulled up in front of Masuichi Kyakuden, a staff member came right out and efficiently carried our luggage inside. The highly sought-after “Chestnut Dessert Suzaku,” which is notoriously difficult to secure, will be offered from 9/10 this year. Because guests staying at Masuichi Kyakuden receive priority guaranteed access, it becomes even harder to make an Accommodation Reservation for stays from 9/10 onward. Since our stay was before then, making a Reservation was easy. Stepping inside Masuichi Kyakuden, you’re immediately enveloped by the stately atmosphere of the kura storehouse building. Our Room was on the second floor; we chose the Relax Twin style. Despite being in a kura-style structure, it also has a terrace, with plenty of natural light and an open feel. There are also more traditional, calmer kura-style Rooms available; however, we were told they are designed with high ceilings to avoid any sense of confinement. Designed by architect John Morford, the Room is fully Western-style with extensive use of stainless steel—its glass-and-stainless bath is well worth seeing. Amenities are L’Occitane; the refrigerator includes complimentary drinks; plus coffee and tea—everything you’d expect from a high-end Ryokan-style stay is provided, making the Room very comfortable. For dinner, we walked about three minutes to Obusedo Honten (part of the same Masuichi group). Every dish showcased the head chef’s experience and refined sensibility. The soup course, simmered dishes, and grilled items had a Kyoto kaiseki influence—above all else, the dashi was exceptional. The sashimi was fresh and perfectly seasoned as well. Local ingredients were used throughout for very high satisfaction overall. One note: the first items served—lightly dressed Kurakake beans and Matsumae-zuke—are not part of the course menu itself (just so you know). They’re clearly intended as snacks with alcohol—especially sake brewed by Masuichi Ichimura Sake Brewery within the same group—and both paired beautifully with their sake: firm Kurakake beans soaked in elegant dashi alongside Matsumae-zuke packed with rich seafood umami made each sip even better than before. In autumn Obuse becomes all about chestnuts; while we couldn’t try “Chestnut Dessert Suzaku,” we did get to enjoy “Mont Blanc Suzaku,” a Western-inspired take on Suzaku. It’s available at their affiliated shop “Entotsu.” We nearly gave up due to long lines but learned that overnight guests can make Reservations—so we were able to enjoy it without waiting. If you stay at Masuichi Kyakuden, be sure to indulge in one of their “Suzaku”-style chestnut sweets if you can. Overall it was an outstanding stay—we thoroughly enjoyed Obuse from start to finish.