Ariake Station (Nagano) × Stays Popular For Snow-View BathsHighly rated for dining at Hotel·Ryokan

Everything was exceptional from pick-up to send-off. I stayed here after a weekend trek, and upon arrival we were welcomed with a welcome drink, along with a clear and courteous explanation of the Accommodation—brief yet thorough at all the key points. As for dinner, to put it in gourmet terms: “a blissful dining experience woven from artfully presented plates and a refined atmosphere.” In my own words: the ambiance was wonderful, everything was delicious, and I couldn’t wait to see what would come next! The private bath we used after the meal was also perfect—an open-air bath of just the right size, stocked with popular in-bath amenities that were gentle on the skin—so I could truly relax. The futon was very comfortable, and breakfast was healthy and vegetable-focused with delicious rice; the after-meal coffee in the lounge was excellent as well. Thank you for seeing us off so pleasantly at the end. We’ll be back! It really was an amazing weekend.

This was our sixth stay, and every time we have enjoyed a fun and comfortable visit. All three private open-air (and semi-open-air) baths are available to use as often as you like. Both dinner and breakfast are generous in portion size, perfectly seasoned, and always leave us completely satisfied.

Our family of three stayed one night in a four-person room. There weren’t many other nearby accommodations that seemed satisfying, so to be honest we chose this hotel by elimination. In fact, the property itself feels its age, and the bathroom and toilet facilities in the room have a rather classic feel. However, the meals—both dinner and breakfast—were outstanding. We chose Japanese cuisine for dinner, and there was absolutely nothing to complain about: the taste, number of dishes, presentation, and tableware were all excellent. Breakfast was buffet-style as well, with plenty of local specialties—you’ll almost certainly end up eating too much. The surroundings around the hotel are wonderful too, but these days you can’t rule out bears appearing, so unfortunately we kept our outing close by. They don’t seem to market themselves as an auberge-style property, but we were happy to have found a hotel with truly delicious food.

I’ve stayed at various Vacation Villages, but Retreat Azumino Hotel was completely different from any of them! This Hotel is too good to enjoy in just one night. It made me want a Multiple Night Stay. It’s quiet, spotless, and I have nothing to complain about.

A large Hotel that appears as you steadily climb the mountain after passing through Azumino’s peaceful countryside. It was my first visit in several years, and it had been renovated—the lobby, front desk, and large public bath were all new and spotless. After the sauna, relaxing on the outdoor terrace surrounded by forest air was incredibly refreshing. Meals are served on a terrace overlooking the woods. In particular, in the morning I enjoyed coffee and pancakes while being soothed by birdsong and the scent of the trees. (I also had grilled rice balls and curry.) We stayed in a maisonette Room, which was spacious and perfect for a relaxing stay. I’m planning to return again in a different season.

Unfortunately, due to the rain we couldn’t have a BBQ, but we still had a wonderful time. The villa alone was very comfortable, and we made many great memories. We really appreciated that apple juice, wine, rice, miso soup, and more were provided. Everything was delicious. The Onsen was also excellent; although it rained a bit, everyone went in twice—once at night and once in the morning. We thought we wouldn’t be able to roast marshmallows because of the rain, but the owner showed us how to do it using a siphon coffee maker instead! Next time, we’d love to stay again when the weather is sunny.

I had used the Onsen several times as a day trip, but this was my first time staying overnight. The toothbrush provided in the amenities was a bit hard, but that’s easy to solve by bringing my own next time. Other than that, I had a comfortable stay with no complaints. My Room had a view of Mt. Jonen, but since I arrived at night I couldn’t see it then. I enjoyed Mt. Jonen the next morning, but I left in a hurry and couldn’t take my time to fully appreciate the view, which was a bit disappointing. Next time, I plan to check in while it’s still light and enjoy everything properly. I’d like to stay again. Thank you very much.