Kasen-An Seni Onsen Iwa no Yu

My first trip to Karuizawa with my mother! This Accommodation is famous for being hard to book, and we happened to find an available date, so we made a Reservation right away!! We drove there in a rental car, and from the moment we arrived, the staff’s warm hospitality made us feel truly welcome. Everything about the Accommodation was wonderful. There are four private Onsen baths that don’t require a Reservation, as well as a large public bath and a cave bath. Surrounded by trees, it’s an Accommodation where you can feel time passing quietly. I’ve stayed at many Hotels and Ryokans before, but this was the first time I experienced such outstanding hospitality—including the food!! It’s easy to see why so many guests return again and again!

It was a wonderful Accommodation surrounded by greenery. Because we could take our time during meals, we ended up completely full, but it reminded me that this is how dining is meant to be enjoyed. The bath was also incredibly relaxing. The Accommodation itself offers very generous space per guest, creating a true sense of openness, and the beautifully maintained garden trees and the gentle sound of the river were wonderfully soothing. Above all, the staff’s warm, unpretentious hospitality made us want to return in a different season.