5-Star Hotels in Nagano Prefecture, Japan

Location: The hotel is situated at the foot of a mountain in Satoyama, a considerable distance from JR Matsumoto Station. However, it offers a unique charm with panoramic views of Matsumoto Castle from the hillside. Transportation: Unless you're driving or taking a taxi, here are your options: 1) The hotel provides a shuttle service to and from JR Station. There are two morning departures at 9 and 10 AM, passing by Matsumoto Castle before heading to JR Station. Return trips are at 4 and 5 PM. The pick-up point is at the temporary parking area to the right of JR Station Matsumoto Castle Exit (not a bus stop). 2) You can take the Meigahara Onsen bus line from the bus terminal downstairs at Alpico Plaza, opposite the temporary parking lot of JR Station, and get off at Fujii Station. You can find the bus schedule on Google Maps. Service: There are English-speaking staff at the front desk, but no Chinese speakers. Simple communication is not an issue. The service was impeccable. Dining: The breakfast is a buffet style with both Japanese and Western options, very extensive and delicious. There are also welcome drinks, including ice cream, juice, coffee, hot tea, and even draft beer! P.S. There are not many dining options near the hotel, so you might want to eat near JR Station before returning to the hotel, or dine at the hotel. I booked one of the few rooms with a private onsen. Soaking in the hot spring while enjoying views of the Northern Alps was incredibly relaxing. The hotel also has a large terrace, perfect for enjoying a drink during the evening 'blue hour' – truly one of life's most comfortable moments.

Overall, this was a rather disappointing hotel stay. Before our trip, our plans changed, and we asked the Trip.com concierge to help with cancellation/modifications. However, they were unyielding, and we couldn't cancel for free, so we had to proceed as planned. After checking in, I waited alone in the waiting area for a long time, expecting a staff member to accompany me to the room and explain the facilities. I waited for half an hour with no one attending to me. When a large group of tourists arrived, the front desk became crowded. After inquiring again, I was told there was no escort service to the rooms and I had to find my way myself. At 3:30 PM, housekeeping was still ongoing in the room areas. The room space was cramped, and the view was unremarkable. For a room rate of over 4,000 yuan, the hardware and service provided were far from satisfactory. The hotel's Italian restaurant had decent food, but it wasn't positioned as a high-end restaurant, and the wine list was very limited. The next day, I asked the front desk to call a taxi to the restaurant. For some reason, perhaps they didn't understand English, there was a long delay. After further communication, a car was arranged half an hour later, which was baffling. Considering all these experiences, I will not choose this hotel again in the future.

This hotel is definitely one for the bucket list! The service is excellent, and the food is delicious. They also offer a shuttle service to Karuizawa Station, with a polite driver and soft music playing in the car. My only minor complaint is that the hotel doesn't provide bicycle rentals, but you can easily find rental shops nearby.

We do really love this hotel. It’s on our special occasion and they contacted us prior to arrive if we want to have cake. They also arrange a hand written card which is very cute. The room is spacious with nice decoration, room also have a kitchen and dining area with ding tools. Staff is very helpful and friendly, we planned for a cherry blossom but it’s too soon. She recommends us for a nearby town with full bloom period. I can’t remember her name but she’s great. For next time in Hakuba, we’ll surely stay here again!

The room was very spacious, and the complimentary cake and snacks were delicious. The hotel surroundings are beautiful, and in winter, there's a bonfire where you can roast marshmallows, making it perfect for a family trip. Many small details were a nice touch, like the yuzu bath.

Amazing experience as always with the Fufu brand. We stayed at the Hakone one previously and thought it was one of the best hotel experiences we've ever had. Our trip to Karuizawa this time was driven by our intent to try Fufu Kyukaruizawa, and it did not disappoint one bit. From the zen interior to the most attentive and friendly staff to the never-ending dining experiences (yes, even for breakfast it was a multi course menu), we were utterly blown away by our two-night stay. The fireplace in the lobby and in our room was such a pleasant touch even though we stayed during May, our teppanyaki chef personally seeing us out to the lift and bowing until we were out of sight shows how they go above and beyond, and we really appreciated how at each interaction the staff knew and clarified our coming arrangements, ensuring our entire stay was a seamless experience. Fufu remains our favourite Japanese hotel brand. Just wish they had a loyalty program as we are looking to check off all the Fufu hotels in our lifetime.

There are several Prince Hotels in Karuizawa, and this one is 5-star but a bit old. To get to the hot springs or the outlet mall, you have to take a shuttle bus. The hotel rooms are laid out in a long corridor, so if you're unlucky enough to get a room in the 50s, you'll feel like you're walking forever. The scenery, however, is quite nice, as it directly faces the golf course. Besides providing shuttle buses to the hot springs, outlet mall, and train station, the hotel also offers private car service during off-hours. The concierge also has free bicycle rentals (electric and non-electric). What's really great is that upon check-out, you can arrange to have your luggage delivered directly to a service point at the outlet mall (this is excellent, no need to drag your own bags to catch a ride). All in all, it's still pretty good.

Highly recommended! The hotel offers a shuttle service, and the surrounding area is very pleasant. Both breakfast and dinner are exceptional and unique. I hope to have the chance to visit again in the future. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, all with wooden structures that give a very calming feel.

Everything you expect of a 5 star stay, Curio Karuizawa delivered. From fluffy duvets, a superb hospitality and concierge team who went above and beyond to recommend sightseeing visits to local attractions complete with assistance with taxi bookings, delicious breakfast and in-room snacks, the hotel delivered. Only minuses are that the central heating was a bit warm even when tuned to it 21 degrees and the decor is a little dated (but still well maintained). Overall, I enjoyed my stay. Thank you team Curio for taking such good care of us!

Le Grand Karuizawa Hotel & Resort is a perfect place for great views, relaxation and luxury retreat. We stayed on the top of the resort where the view of the Asama Mountain is breathtaking. The room is spacious but cozy. The dinners were very good. We stayed two nights (half board), the two fine-dining French dinners with local ingredients we had were superb. The courses served at the dinners didn’t have any repeat. I will definitely come here again for other seasons.