Shinano-Takehara Station × Stays With Popular BreakfastHighly rated for dining at Hotel·Ryokan

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 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!

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!

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.

The parking lot was spacious and convenient. The Room was clean and functional! The only slight dissatisfaction was the lack of a nearby convenience store, but while exploring, I found a yakiniku restaurant and enjoyed a delicious dinner. I appreciated the staff's thoughtful gestures, such as the handmade map.

Our stay for three men, all turning 72 this year, was very enjoyable. - We could park right in front of the Hotel, and the lift ticket counter is connected to the front desk. The 1-day pass was inexpensive (about half the price of other ski resorts), and Accommodation guests also received a 500-yen discount. - Both the Room and the large public bath were spacious, so we could relax. The dinner buffet included 1 hour of all-you-can-drink, and although there was no all-you-can-eat crab option, dishes were replenished quickly when they ran out, which we enjoyed. - A few points to consider: the air conditioner in the Room was quite noisy, and there were no chairs in the ski locker room. Also, the shop’s refrigerator only had ice cream and no ice; unfortunately, a store diagonally across from the parking lot had sold out of ice as well. All of the Southeast Asian staff at both reception and the restaurant were very pleasant—thank you for a wonderful ski trip.

Okushiga is the most remote area within Shiga Kogen. In return, the snow quality was excellent, there were fewer people, and our stay was very comfortable. The Hotel itself felt quite old, but functionally there were no particular issues. However, the ski lockers were small and limited in space, so it was a bit difficult to fit skis and boots inside, and the area for putting on shoes was also cramped. The bath was not an Onsen, but it was spacious and relaxing to use. For dinner we used the French restaurant. Although Reviews were not very positive, the à la carte menu was very delicious. Breakfast had a decent variety and was satisfactory. Bathrobes were provided in the Room. I only realized at checkout that yukata could be provided upon request; I would have liked to have known earlier. The front desk staff responded politely and helpfully throughout our stay.

The entire Hotel was very clean, and all the staff were kind and helpful, which made it a comfortable stay. The food was also delicious, and we were very satisfied. The Room is very simple, but that simplicity made it a calming space where we could relax.

This was my third stay, and as always I was very satisfied with the meals, the baths, and the hospitality. The dinner in particular felt like a course meal, which made it enjoyable to savor at a relaxed pace. Being able to enjoy a variety of wines and sake with the coin system was also a real treat for anyone who loves alcohol. They also provided guidance on recommended spots for firefly viewing, and I was able to see countless fireflies dancing in the night. The mornings and evenings were cool, so the duvet came in handy. I would love to stay again.

- They flexibly accommodated our request to change the Room location, considering convenience for the bath and dining room. - We appreciated the warm hospitality of the woman in charge of meals. - The female front desk manager kindly agreed to take a commemorative photo for us. We left the Accommodation with a very positive impression.

I’m not good with the cold, so I was a bit worried about how warm the Room would be, but there was a heater and a kotatsu, and they even provided a hot water bottle for sleeping, so I stayed very comfortably. Also, I didn’t know that access to nine different hot springs was included, but they were all fun and I was completely satisfied. Breakfast was delicious as well, and I truly had a wonderful time. Highly recommended Accommodation. Thank you very much.

The slopes are right in front, and rentals can be arranged at the Hotel, which was very convenient. The meals were luxurious, and we also received souvenirs.

Recommended for guests who want to fully enjoy skiing. The paid First Track option before regular operating hours is well worth it. You can also take a bath after check-out, and there are four washing machines available free of charge, which is very helpful for longer stays. The Room is small, but if you think of it as a ski training camp, it’s comfortable.

Ideally located for skiing, with very convenient access to the bus stop and ski lifts. The Facility is old, but the service is good and it has the nostalgic charm of a traditional Ryokan. Meals are served individually (not buffet-style) using local ingredients, which felt like excellent value for money and very satisfying for middle-aged and older guests like myself. I’d like to make it my regular Accommodation for skiing.

Thank you for your hospitality. The staff were very pleasant, and the Room was clean and comfortable. The Onsen was also clean and very relaxing. The food was average.

Affordable ski and snowboard rentals were very helpful.

I stayed here for a Multiple Night Stay during my trip to Nagano. Even though I arrived much earlier than planned, the front desk staff kindly assisted me, which was very helpful. The Room was spacious enough for a family, and since it was just the two of us as a couple, we could really relax. Because the location is up in the mountains, it was quiet and cool at night, and I slept well. Breakfast was buffet-style with a sufficient variety. Since I stayed multiple nights, I had breakfast twice, and I appreciated that the selection changed slightly. There are vending machines for drinks and ice cream inside the building, as well as a small shop, but there are no convenience stores or restaurants nearby. If you choose a Plan without meals or plan to have light food and drinks in your Room, I recommend shopping before arriving at the Accommodation. I also had a Plan without dinner, so the front desk staff told me about “Madarao no Yu,” located a short way down the hill. Thank you to all the staff for their kind hospitality—this was my first Multiple Night Stay, and I had a very comfortable time.

It’s still disappointing that the Room toilet does not have a bidet, but using the shared toilets is not an issue. Last year, one of the two shared toilets had a squat-style toilet (unacceptable), but this year both have bidet seats, which is a major improvement. They look like the same new model, so they may have been replaced at the same time. Breakfast and dinner are buffet-style, and it was excellent that there was no overlap in side-dish selections between Day 1 and Day 2. It’s subtle, but you can see the effort. Also, as a small detail, it’s reassuring that drinks in the vending machines are sold at normal prices rather than marked up for a tourist area.