Shinano-Takehara Station × Japanese-Style Resort AccommodationHighly rated facilities at Hotel·Ryokan

I drove six hours just to stay here. It was my first time visiting Nagano, so I was worried about arriving safely, but I managed to make it... In the end, this was a wonderful inn in every way. The room was impeccably clean, and the Momoyama-style bath was truly beautiful. I could soak in the hot spring while admiring the breathtaking architecture. The service was excellent as well—my privacy was respected, yet I felt completely at ease throughout my stay. What impressed me most, however, was dinner. The choice of tableware and the beautiful presentation were outstanding. Each dish was served at its best—hot items arrived hot—and everything tasted delicious. I heard the menu changes monthly, and it made me want to come back every month. Even though it’s far away, I will definitely return. Thank you very much for your wonderful hospitality. It turned into a trip I am truly satisfied with.

We stay here every year around this time. The calm atmosphere remains unchanged, the food is delicious, and the staff are wonderful, so we are always very satisfied. Until now, we have visited as a couple, but this year we brought our two children and came as a family of four. Our children also had a very fulfilling time and were extremely happy with their stay. We would love to return next year as a family of four.

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.

I stayed in a newly renovated Room, and it was wonderful. The in-room perks were excellent. In particular, the all-you-can-eat gelato was an incredibly generous service—perfect after the Onsen—and I enjoyed trying many different flavors. Everything was delicious. The pre-dinner aperitif can be chosen from the menu, and the lounge coffee machine is truly high-quality, so I used it many times. Both the quality and quantity of the meals were very satisfying, and what impressed me most was the staff. There were many young team members, but everyone’s hospitality was outstanding. Some staff members spent a long time chatting with elderly guests because they were approached for conversation, yet they responded without showing any displeasure at all—I was genuinely impressed. You can also enjoy two different types of Onsen water, and I think this Accommodation offers excellent value for money. I will definitely return again. Thank you very much for taking such great care of me.

I stayed for one night with my sister. The Room was very clean and well maintained, easy to use, and we enjoyed the in-Room bath many times (we even did laundry!). We had our meals at a charming traditional house restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere. Everything was delicious, right up to the final sushi! Thanks to the warm hospitality, we were able to relax and enjoy our stay. We also really enjoyed the snacks and gelato provided in the Room. We were blessed with great weather, making it a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for taking such good care of us—we will definitely be back!

This was a wonderful place to stay. First, when I mentioned foods I couldn’t eat at the time of booking, I was surprised to receive an email right away with alternative suggestions. Everyone was very kind. Every meal was truly delicious and beautifully presented, and I was completely satisfied with everything, including the tableware and presentation. The baths were excellent. Including the day-use hot springs in Shibu Onsen, the water quality was wonderful, and I enjoyed soaking many times until it felt like it seeped into my skin. The carbonated spring in the indoor bath was also great. The property was spotless, and both the lounge and baths were always neat and well organized whenever I went. The pillow height and firmness were just right, and I slept very well. Above all, the staff were truly outstanding. They immediately noticed that I had caught a cold and felt chilly, and kindly brought me a lap blanket. They also remembered what we briefly talked about during dinner and even took the time to look things up and share helpful information with me. Thank you very much. From welcome to farewell, I sincerely appreciate everyone’s heartfelt hospitality. I highly recommend this accommodation.

Both dinner and breakfast were delicious, and we were very satisfied. Everyone I traveled with agreed it was delicious and finished every bite. The staff were courteous, and we had a wonderful time with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. Thank you very much.

I visited Shibu Onsen during the quieter period just after the Obon holidays. It was a very clean Onsen Ryokan, with the Room, amenities, and baths all well maintained. The level of service was just right, and I had a comfortable stay. As for the meals, I thought the adult dishes were good, but I wish there had been more creativity in the children’s meals. They consisted of fried foods such as sausages, frozen chicken, and French fries, and my child hardly ate any of it.

At dusk after arriving at the inn, I noticed one of the rear tires on our rental car was flat. There was no spare tire, and when I called the rental car office, they told me to drive slowly to a service station or similar place and have it repaired. When I asked at the front desk, the owner kindly listened and even arranged a repair through an acquaintance. As a result, it was fixed safely before checkout—and at a friendly price. Car trouble that suddenly strikes in an unfamiliar place can be stressful. For a moment I thought our sightseeing plans for the next day were ruined, but thanks to their help we were able to enjoy our trip as planned. I can’t thank the owner enough. Thank you so much. About the inn: it’s an older building, but it’s very clean and well maintained. There are lovely fresh flowers arranged here and there in the rooms and hallways. We used one of the private open-air baths—the larger corner bath—in the morning. The view was wonderful, and I highly recommend bathing in the morning! Most noteworthy is how excellent the meals were. The Shinshu Premium Beef for dinner had sweet marbling and was absolutely delicious—I strongly recommend choosing the “Luxury Meal Plan” so you can enjoy it! The sashimi included Shinshu salmon and char (iwana). Both dinner and breakfast featured many delicious local specialties. Thank you for such wonderful meals. We chose this inn somewhat casually for sightseeing in Obuse, but it became a truly great memory. Thank you very much.

There were so many delightful touches at this inn. The homemade chestnut pudding we received at check-in was delicious, as were the detox water and several types of drip coffee in the lobby lounge. Beautiful handmade washi paper lamps were placed throughout the property, and the bath amenities—including natural aromatherapy hair and skincare products such as OSAJI—were wonderfully soothing. Breakfast was excellent all the way through dessert. Most of all, we truly appreciated the proprietress noticing my husband’s back pain and cane, and kindly offering thoughtful assistance throughout our stay. Thank you very much to the proprietress and all the staff for your warm hospitality.

I stayed here for my birthday. It was a calm, relaxing inn with a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere—perfect for adults to unwind, and I had a truly lovely time. Since I chose one of the more reasonably priced rooms, I did notice that some parts felt a bit dated (for example, the sink is located in the bathroom area), but everything was clean and it was still a comfortable space to relax at ease. All of the staff were very attentive, and during meals even the proprietress came around to greet guests—I really enjoyed chatting with her. The food was delicious, beautifully presented with lovely tableware, and I could feel the heartfelt hospitality in every detail. I used both baths; however, one of them is in a separate building, and going there alone felt a little scary (in a funny way). Also, the indoor bath temperature was quite hot. I prefer warmer water so I could just manage it, but my husband couldn’t handle it at all. They mentioned they adjust it using well water, so perhaps it varies day by day and is difficult to control consistently. The location was ideal as well—it was fun being able to step right out into the hot spring town and enjoy its traditional charm. One small disappointment: on departure I wanted to take photos in front of the inn, but there were no staff members around anywhere to ask (maybe just bad timing). Overall it was an excellent stay, and next time I’d love to book an upgraded room and relax even more.

I requested a last-minute change to the number of guests, and Yorozuya handled it with exceptional kindness and professionalism. The hot springs and the room were wonderful, and the meals in particular were delicious—we were very satisfied. All of the staff were pleasant as well. Thank you very much. We would definitely like to stay again.

I stayed at this Accommodation yesterday! The service was very attentive, and the in-room open-air bath was flawless. Watching the staff grill and prepare sushi right in front of us at dinner and breakfast made the experience even better. Thank you for a wonderful one-night stay!

We stayed at Nadeshiko no Ma. The staff were welcoming and attentive, the Room was spacious and spotless, the in-room bath with free-flowing natural hot spring water was excellent, and the meals were truly delicious. This is an Accommodation we will definitely return to.

I stayed for two nights in August and did not experience any major inconveniences. The meals were delicious. The Onsen was spacious, and I was able to relax and enjoy it. The staff were also very helpful. There was only one designated smoking area outside, but it was not particularly inconvenient.

Thank you very much for everything. Every year, we take a trip around our September wedding anniversary holiday. This year, we decided to visit Shibu Onsen, which my wife had long dreamed of, and booked through the IKYU site. The reasons I rated the Onsen and the Facility/amenities 4 stars are as follows: The Onsen water was simply too hot. I apologize to those who prefer very hot baths, but if you could lower the temperature of the source water flowing into the bath a bit more, it would be easier to relax. The private-bath system itself is good. As for the Facility/amenities, I would really like you to add a small shop. If guests want to have drinks in their room at night, it can feel a bit inconvenient. Other than that, I have no complaints at all. At first, all the stairs in the Ryokan were tough, but we gradually got used to them—and it was fun exploring the maze-like corridors while visiting different indoor baths. (It may be a little challenging for elderly guests...) As for service, this was one of the best Ryokan experiences we’ve ever had. The attendant who told us about local specialties and sights, the young man with glasses who gave us a ride on the tuk-tuk, and everyone from overseas whom we passed in the hallways—all of it was wonderful. We would love to visit again. Thank you very much.

Although it was the peak of summer and very hot, it was wonderfully cool here—perfect for a summer getaway. Above all, the food was absolutely delicious. The local dishes and beer were fantastic!

Thank you for taking care of me on this touring trip! I really appreciated being allowed to park my motorcycle under the eaves by the entrance. The staff included many young women from overseas, and everyone served us politely with constant smiles, so I was able to fully enjoy a satisfying Onsen Accommodation—thank you very much. Next time, I’d like to visit with my wife and daughters as a family, and I look forward to seeing you then. If I may make one request: I had a beer in the floor area next to the front desk, but I was disappointed that the glass was at room temperature (it was a hot day, so it felt lukewarm). I would be grateful if you could consider this. Thank you again for such an enjoyable stay at your Onsen Accommodation. This middle-aged rider will definitely be back!

Thank you for taking care of us during the Obon holiday period. The Accommodation is old, but it was kept very clean inside. The private bath was also very spacious and nice. What was disappointing was the way the meals were laid out and how cramped the space was. There was no space to set down a tray, so we couldn’t even use seasonings, and it was inconvenient to place small plates; I’d like to see some improvement. There wasn’t much soy sauce available either, and it seemed we had to wait in a long line just to get soy sauce on our plates. The display layout also made items hard to pick up—for example, udon next to ice cream—so everything felt scattered. It’s a shame because everything else was good.

Dinner was a kaiseki meal, and the seafood chawanmushi was hearty and delicious. The Shinshu salmon sashimi and the apple-fed wagyu served as the hot dish were both fresh and melt-in-your-mouth good. Breakfast was a buffet with a wide variety of options; the salad, grilled salmon, and shijimi clam miso soup were especially tasty. The open-air bath in the large public bath area was clean and very relaxing. The bed was extremely comfortable—excellent. I’m truly grateful for two wonderful days that felt like an escape from everyday life. Thank you very much.