Sakaeya Hotel - Yamanouchi (Nagano)

The room with the private onsen had a lovely ambience. Enjoyed soothing music that added to the atmosphere. Dinner and breakfast were really good, with breakfast including little presents for the kids, a good surprise. Staff were pretty good too cater to dietary preferences. They even offered a mini beef steak when my son wasn't keen on the Japanese set meal. I encountered a minor inconvenience when requesting a late check-out. Asking for flexibility on the checkout policy would have been appreciated. The experience felt personalized and generous, especially at the reasonable room rate.

Units in the traditional style...

The location is magnificent, 3 miles from a secluded park. Btw, it's set in a very relaxing area near to shibu onsen and lovely food, public buses to Jigokudani and Shiga Kogen and train station.

This hotel is good, and provides everything I need, including free wi-fi, air conditioning, tv, and a children's menu. On my first stay, the staff helped me choose a better taxi, which I remember fondly. I recommend enjoying the delicious meals offered during your visit. I'm coming back for a new year.

Its stunning, central location was a plus.

A lot of goodies for breakfast. Location near to shibu onsen and lovely food and main bus line and bustle of the city.

Warning, adult charges at checkout are based on age rather than occupancy, which can unexpectedly inflate the bill. Dinner didn't resonate well with our expectations. Despite fresh ingredients, it lacked any nice flavors, leaving us wanting more. The distance to the snow monkey park was about 45 minutes on foot, which cut into our time at the hotel, and the limited public transport options didn't help, so a shuttle service would have been a welcome addition.

Seems like a PERFECT hotel, managed by a very helpful staff. The room is good-sized and with a work desk, multi-channel TV, and a sitting area.

It was just an optimal selection for a mini-break over the weekend in Yamanouchi with best value for money ratio. The staff were helpful, even printing our bus timetables and giving suggestions to explore the area. Try to visit the beautiful Shibu Onsen nearby for some great photo ops.

Sakaeya provided an really good experience with rejuvenating onsen baths. Our room had persistent noise issues.

They charged us an unexpected 50% extra for my 17-year-old, which reminded me of a bait and switch. Not having a shuttle to the snow monkey park was a huge letdown. Personally, I would have appreciated a complimentary welcome gift for such inconveniences, but that would have been too much to ask, I suppose.

Loved the private outdoor onsen! The peaceful vibe, top-notch dining, and cleanliness were fab. Just a bummer about the long walk to the snow monkey park, but the autumn views made it worth it. 🍂

Shibu Onsen vibes 🌸

Ag man, that outdoor onsen was pure bliss after a long day! The food was a total highlight-lekker dishes that was just like a big warm hug. The staff were like your chommies, always ready to help and super friendly. Such a cozy, cute vibe!

Had a bit of a nippy walk to get there, but nothing too hectic.

The exquisite meals were a highlight, especially the private kaiseki dinner in a beautifully arranged room. The onsen baths offered a rejuvenating escape each evening.

None whatsoever.

explore nearby shrines and parks with convenience in mind

I was struck by the really good hospitality, made the whole experience just wonderful, especially when they provided us suggestions and printed our bus timetables, making it easy to explore the local area and nearby attractions like Yumiya Shrine and the beautiful Shibu Onsen, both just a short walk away.