Kyu Karuizawa Hotel Otowa No Mori

The hotel is only about a five-minute drive from Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza and has free parking. It’s two storeys with no lift, but the fluent English-speaking staff helped carry our heavy luggage upstairs. Thanks, especially to Steve, who was so friendly. Our room wasn’t large, but it was comfortable, clean and had a bathroom bigger than I expected. The decor looked classic and a bit dated. In room 212, the mattress on the side by the left wall sagged a little to the right and wasn’t very comfortable. Breakfast was in the hotel’s elegant restaurant. The service was impeccable down to the smallest detail, and the French toast was delicious, almost like smooth steamed egg on my fork. We look forward to staying again!

I only had dinner at the restaurant and didn’t stay in the rooms. For the price, the food was underwhelming. The beef filet, which should have been the course menu’s highlight, was plainly bad, with a strange flavor that leaned toward liver. That’s not something I’d expect from a normal filet. The rest of the meal wasn’t especially good either. Only the bread was well chosen. The waiters were okay and nice enough, but seemed stressed, overworked and overwhelmed. I got the feeling their work environment was harsh on them.

We were warm and cozy in the rooms despite the cold outside. Of the five accommodations we’ve stayed in so far in Japan, these may have been the best. The rooms were very comfortable, though the interiors are a little aged, especially in the bathroom. Everything was still in good shape and clean. The hotel has an old-fashioned feel, with elegant, traditional Western decor and very polite staff who seemed ready to help with anything. Breakfast felt Austrian, with Mozart, Beethoven and Bach accompanying each bite. The restaurant food was delicious. I liked being able to choose preset meals, and everything seemed carefully prepared down to the details.

We had a pleasant stay. Steve greeted us and speaks good English, and he took care of our needs easily. The staff were extremely polite and helpful with neighborhood recommendations, and kindly helped us resolve an issue with a rental car company. The room was decent and neat, and the hotel is right by the Main Street, with lots of popular restaurants at the doorstep.