Glamdaystyle Hotel&Resort Kyu-Karuizawa

The hotel is beautiful, but poor service and communication really spoiled the stay. After booking, the introduction email had no greeting or instructions, just a curt note about the extra charge for adding a child, as if anyone would lie about how many people they booked for. They also didn’t tell us they could pick us up from the station, or clearly explain the daily 10.50am shuttle to the Prince outlet mall. A receptionist said there was no shuttle back in the afternoon, though I later learned there was one at 2.30pm. At 2.15pm they wouldn’t give us a ride out, even though staff were going to pick people up. I was also told there were no public buses and that a taxi was the only way back, at 1700 yen per ride. I ended up spending that much on taxis. I was given inaccurate information about housekeeping too. They said my room wouldn’t be serviced daily and would only be cleaned once in my three days, so I paid for bottled water. Hours later, housekeeping gave me four complimentary bottles. Why charge me for water? At checkout I was also handed a bill for an “onsen tax” of 330yen per day per person, which hadn’t been mentioned at check-in and applied whether we used the onsen or not. They need to improve their service and communicate much better.

The hotel sits on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, where I enjoyed shopping for baked goods and Japanese sundries. My family came to Karuizawa so the kids could ski and I could visit the Stone Church, and the hotel made a lovely base. It has a peaceful feel, healthy and wholesome breakfasts, plus complimentary snacks and a bar in the lobby. Our room was large, new and clean, with daily service and comprehensive amenities. I’d love to return.

Our family all stayed here at once, and we shared the same feeling: we kept debating whether to go out and explore Karuizawa or stay in and enjoy the hotel. The atmosphere and amenities were that good. We wished we’d booked a longer stay and would choose GLAMDAYSTYLE HOTEL&RESORT KYU-KARUIZAWA next time. The room was spacious and comfortable, and every staff member was kind, attentive and helpful. The complimentary bar had coffee, tea and alcoholic drinks, with snacks like banana chips, almonds and ice cream, and the onsen was a relaxing treat. The design draws on Karuizawa’s natural scenery and wood, from the exterior through the lobby, restaurant and rooms. I especially liked the tree-like pillars in the lobby. The hotel is right on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, convenient for shopping, dining and exploring the area. A memorable place, highly recommended.

On my second trip to Karuizawa, I stayed at Glamday Style Hotel and loved it. The beds and room are huge, there’s a fireplace in the lounge, and the onsen has steam and a sauna. If you’re driving, the parking is right outside. I’ll definitely come back.