SANU 2nd Home Tateshina 1st

The kaiseki meals were memorable, with beautifully presented courses made from fresh local ingredients. The staff made the stay even better, from a warm check-in to helpful smiles throughout. When we missed the shuttle, they drove us to the station and were always glad to help with requests. We stayed in the Yubae Room, a wonderful retreat. The spacious tatami living area, shoji screens, private onsen bath, handcrafted furnishings, and sunset views over the garden all felt thoughtfully put together. Tateshina Shinyu Onsen made a lovely combination of traditional surroundings, comfort, and heartfelt hospitality.

The staff were attentive and friendly, and the hotel has a distinctive feel and history. We loved the books and art albums in the lounge, and the cocktails at the bar were lovely. The food was delicious too. Over our two nights, breakfast and kaiseki dinner had different menus each day. Since my wife and I both have tattoos, we booked a room with a private onsen. It was fantastic, and we could set the temperature to our liking. The staff also helped us reserve a public bath for private use outside busy hours, so we could enjoy the beautiful Nagano scenery. We can’t wait to visit again.

A major storm knocked out the power during our stay, so the rest of our visit had to be cancelled. The staff handled it remarkably well: they kept guests comfortable, arranged alternative accommodation and transport, and refunded our stay. One staff member drove us to the next hotel, waited while we dropped off our bags, then took us to the nearby golf course where we were due to play. We’d had a wonderful time up to that point, with very attentive staff and exceptional food. Thank you for the hospitality. We hope to come back with better weather.

During my second visit, the hotel itself was very nice, but a group of tourists behaved horribly. They entered the tub without showering first, talked loudly as if they were at a football match, and I saw them washing their hair in the tub. It wasn’t the hotel’s fault. Can we guess which country they were from? No need. We already know.