Midori no Kaze Resort Kitayuzawa

This large 11-story resort suddenly appeared as we drove along a rural mountain road. The building was clean and didn’t feel old at all. The Japanese-Western style Room was also very practical.The Onsen is a simple hot spring, but both the indoor and outdoor baths are spacious. At the back of the large open-air bath, there were various small tubs that looked like they had bath additives in them, which was fun in its own way.Meals were served buffet-style in a large restaurant. There was an incredible variety of dishes, and there was quite a long line in front of the Western food counter. It seems great for families with children to enjoy dining, but for older guests it’s hard to eat that much and tiring to walk around, so I wished there had been a set menu option.As a Diamond member benefit, we received a full-size bottle of sparkling wine and finished it, but it was too much for just the two of us as a couple. It would have been nice if we could choose something like two cans of beer instead.

Just as described on the Reservation site, the baths—especially the spacious open-air bath—are truly outstanding. Unfortunately, it rained during our stay, but soaking in the open-air bath while feeling the raindrops was wonderfully relaxing, with water at a perfect temperature that made you want to stay in forever.　The renovations throughout the property—including the lobby restaurant and guest rooms—have been carried out thoroughly, and you can really feel that a tremendous investment has been made in upkeep. Thanks to that, we had an extremely comfortable and pleasant stay. The staff were also sincere and refreshing to watch as they worked hard to deliver genuine hospitality.　Meals were served buffet-style in the dining area. As we were an elderly couple traveling together, we couldn’t try many dishes and could only eat what our appetites allowed. We also weren’t able to fully enjoy some of the perks, such as the free lounge or a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine in our Room. Watching other families made us think how much more fun it would be next time if we could come with relatives once we have grandchildren.　In the dining hall, families with children and adult-only groups were seated separately, so we could enjoy our meal in a calm atmosphere.