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!

A last-minute cancellation opened up, and I was truly lucky to get a Reservation at this Accommodation—often said to be “the hardest to book in Japan.”I’ve stayed at many Onsen Ryokan across Japan, and I think this one is the best.From the parking lot to the Room, I was surrounded by beautiful greenery the entire way. It was such an atmospheric Ryokan—like stepping into another world. At check-in, enjoying the greenery and the sound of the river while having delicious welcome snacks instantly made me forget the day’s busyness, fatigue, and even the intense summer heat. It felt as if time had stopped, and I became completely calm.The Room was spacious and spotless, and it even had a CD player, so I could truly relax.The indoor bath, their signature cave bath (“Cave Onsen”), and “Musou,” a private Onsen—all of them were outstanding.The food was probably the most delicious meal experience I’ve ever had during any stay. In particular, the salt-grilled ayu sweetfish, brown rice soup, and Shinshu Orein pork shoulder loin were exceptional.After check-out, it was also fun to take a walk along the promenade trail.Thank you to all the staff for your kind hospitality.This is an Accommodation that exceeds expectations—I had a deeply satisfying stay. Now I understand why it’s so hard to get a Reservation. I’d love to come back in another season!