Taicang Karuizawa Hot Spring Hall

Absolutely love the style of this hotel! It's about an hour's drive from Shanghai, nestled right next to an ancient Jiangnan town. What truly stands out is the genuine hot spring, drawn from 2208 meters underground, rich in metasilicic acid and fluorine. After a soak, my skin felt incredibly smooth – definitely not just boiler water! The spring water naturally turns a golden-brown (Jintang) when exposed to air. We got upgraded to a 70m² room, complete with a Dyson hairdryer and cinnamon essential oil for a good night's sleep. The room's soundproofing was excellent; it was very quiet. I'll definitely be back!

The hotel was exceptionally clean and stylish. The rooms were spacious, and the hot springs were a unique highlight. I'd definitely recommend it to friends and would love to bring my family back again.

Traveling with our family of three, we drove from Shanghai and arrived in just over an hour. The hotel has a strong Japanese onsen vibe with genuine natural hot springs, and it's well-equipped for kids. Shaxi Ancient Town is within walking distance, offering a one-stop experience of hot springs, kid-friendly activities, and exploring the ancient town. We booked a private hot spring, and the open-air bamboo forest private bath was picturesque, perfect for those who prefer privacy over public baths or for shy children. Our family room was spacious, allowing ample room for our child to play. The entire room had a natural wood, Japanese-style decor, featuring a Dyson hairdryer and a smart toilet. It was meticulously cleaned and odorless. Some room types even come with a small courtyard, and the rooms are quiet with good soundproofing. Overall, the value for money is excellent, making it a great hot spring destination for repeat visits with kids.

This is my fourth time staying at the Taicang Karuizawa Onsen Hotel, and I'm still extremely satisfied. This time, I came for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday with my mom, husband, and son. The hotel's overall environment is quiet and comfortable, the rooms are serene, well-equipped, and have a quality feel. The hygiene has always been excellent, making for a very reassuring stay. My favorite part is still the hot springs – warm, comfortable, and very authentic. For me, the cleanliness of the hot spring area is particularly important, and Karuizawa consistently meets expectations in this regard. Each soak leaves me feeling relaxed both physically and mentally, making it perfect for a short holiday getaway. The hotel's surroundings are also ideal for a vacation. It's about a 15-minute drive to Shaxi Ancient Town, which has lots of delicious food. Nearby is JinCang Lake Park, with its excellent ecological environment, perfect for a family stroll and relaxation. We drove from Shanghai, which took about an hour and a half, so the transportation is very convenient. That's why for the past two years, whenever a holiday comes around, we think of staying here for a few days. During this stay, the hotel service also felt very warm. The staff were friendly and thoughtful, and the restaurant service was especially attentive, proactively caring for and asking about our needs. When they learned my mom had a sensitive stomach, they even specially added plain congee, which was truly thoughtful. Because we've stayed multiple times over the past two years, the hotel even offered a complimentary private hot spring this time, making us feel their full sincerity and a truly welcoming atmosphere. In short, the Karuizawa Onsen Hotel has become our family's go-to for short holiday getaways. Everything from the rooms, hot springs, hygiene, and service to the surrounding environment leaves us very satisfied. We'll definitely be back if we get the chance in the second half of the year.

I come here a few times every winter for the hot springs. It's about an hour's drive from Shanghai and the environment is very comfortable. I booked a tatami room, and this time they thoughtfully put down several layers of mattresses, which finally made my old back feel so much better – I was touched! I slept in really late the next day and totally overslept. Thanks, see you next time!

Overall, it's pretty good. The hot springs are very comfortable, and the facilities are decent. The hygiene is also good, and the staff are all polite. The food, however, is very mediocre, so don't expect much. It's a nice place just for a hot spring soak. As a hot spring hotel, while it emulates Japanese onsen in form, there's still a lot of room for improvement in the details, which I've already discussed with the staff on site. I'd like to add two more points: 1. Please have staff regularly patrol the lounge area. The door to the smoking room needs to be kept closed. Otherwise, it affects the health and relaxation of other guests, as the entire lounge area is an enclosed space, including the smoking room. 2. Mobile phones should be strictly prohibited in the hot spring area and changing rooms. Although there are signs, some visitors just don't pay attention. The scrub attendant was very responsible; she immediately stopped a lady who brought her phone into the hot spring pool. However, she was busy with her own work and couldn't keep an eye on everything. Another three or four people came in as if to sightsee, all dressed and holding their phones. Even though they weren't taking photos, it created psychological pressure for those of us who were naked at the time. I really hope there can be staff to maintain order and ensure no phones are brought in. It's very close to Shanghai, so I can visit frequently for a soak. I hope to see improvements in the details next time.

As other online reviews mentioned, don't expect much from the service here. 1. Usually, hotels have a butler escort you to your room and explain things, or at least wait at the door. On our check-in day, we arrived at our room to find the door open. A staff member in plain clothes suddenly emerged from the room, startling us. But that's a minor detail. 2. The public hot spring (gongtang) operating hours are 8:00 AM to 10:30 PM. However, when we went at 9:30 PM, after showering, ready to soak, we were told the 'golden' spring (jintang) was already being cleaned and we couldn't use it. Why couldn't anyone warn us when we entered or while we were showering? They started cleaning a full hour before closing, and there were 3-4 other guests in the women's bath at the time; everyone just looked at each other in disbelief. 3. On Tuesday, before checking out, I wanted to have one last soak, so I woke up early. But when I entered the women's changing room, all the lights were off (the locker access card still worked, so the access control wasn't off, and there were no 'closed' signs at the entrance). I had to call the front desk myself to find out it was closed on Tuesdays. No one mentioned this to us during check-in or at any other time, and it wasn't in the check-in guide. So, we woke up early for nothing. The front desk said it was mentioned on Ctrip (it was, but in tiny font about seven or eight pages down). There were also no compensation measures. When we checked out, there were even other guests who had driven over specifically for the hot springs, only to be told it was closed that day. They also made a wasted trip, so the unclear signage is definitely not an isolated incident. Other than that, the value for money is quite good, and the private hot spring (sitang) fees are reasonable, though the private springs only offer the 'silver' spring (yintang).

The hygiene, environment, and service were all pretty good. The afternoon tea we didn't use on the day of check-in could be used after check-out the next day. Although the afternoon tea itself was very mediocre, I appreciate the thoughtful gesture. We booked the Moonlit Hot Spring Suite specifically for the private hot tub available in the room with no time limit. However, upon seeing it, the private hot tub in the room was much simpler than the timed one on the second floor. So, we decisively abandoned the room's private hot tub and headed to the second floor, a journey that really tested our patience. Speaking of journeys, when we checked in, the front desk explained that all suites on every floor are the furthest from the elevators, which is an understandable reason. But the delivery robot constantly running out of battery was quite frustrating. Overall, I feel that booking a suite didn't offer a better experience than a standard room. It was generally decent but didn't meet expectations.