Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa

I love traveling and stay at various Hotels across different prefectures, and this was the best Hotel I’ve ever stayed at!!After check-in, snacks and drinks were all-you-can-eat and drink, manga was unlimited, and although I didn’t use it myself, there were plenty of spaces for kids to play—so you never get bored during your stay!The breakfast buffet had everything from Nagano specialties to Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes—there wasn’t enough time or stomach space to try it all (lol).From check-in to check-out, it was truly an amazing experience!!When I visit Nagano again, I will definitely make another Reservation!!!

We stayed here on the first day of our 3-night, 4-day trip to Nagano. We checked in after 3:00 p.m. and spent a relaxing time until dinner—enjoying the Onsen, reading in the lounge area, playing table tennis, and having a beer at a leisurely pace. It was an extremely hot day and we were tired from sightseeing, so being able to check in early and rest was really appreciated.Dinner offered an overwhelming variety of dishes, including Japanese-Western fusion as well as some ethnic options—more than we could finish. Everything was well seasoned, there were plenty of desserts, and the alcohol selection during the meal was extensive: beer, sparkling wine, wine, sake, shochu, and various liqueurs. There was also a buffet corner for small children with a cotton candy machine, which gave our kids a fun experience.It seems this used to be a Japanese-style Hotel before it was renovated into Mercure. The front desk floor and Onsen area had an international feel, while the lounge area and guest rooms still retained some of the old charm—which may be part of why it’s available at such reasonable rates.Since we travel with children, our key points when choosing a Hotel are things like a spacious Onsen, Japanese-style rooms (tatami), play areas for kids to enjoy themselves, and plenty of dining options—and this place had it all. Our whole family was very satisfied with our stay.Nearby are Matsushiro Castle Ruins (Matsushiro-joshi), Sanada Residence (Sanada-tei), Sanada Treasure Museum (Sanada Homotsukan), and Tsuruya supermarket—all within walking distance. There are likely more sights as well, but because of the heat we couldn’t do much sightseeing.Still, since we could enjoy ourselves at the Hotel anyway, it all worked out in the end.One small disappointment: our child wanted to wear a yukata as loungewear indoors but only samue were available—perhaps due to sizes being out of stock—so they were disappointed (they love history and wanted to get into the mood by wearing one). The samue fabric felt sturdy and reassuring in its own way; however it seemed too warm for such hot weather.Also, part of the mat flooring in the table tennis room was peeling up slightly and looked potentially dangerous; I hope this can be addressed.Those are our requests—overall it’s a great Hotel and we would like to stay again!