Hotel Rosso Karuizawa

The rooms are spacious, and we liked that a door separates the foyer from the bath area, so someone sleeping isn’t disturbed by another person’s nighttime bathroom visit. Karuizawa Station is only a few minutes away on foot, which makes the hotel convenient for travelers. The hospitality feels wonderfully old fashioned: when you return from an outing, they recognize you and hand over the right room key. I’d definitely recommend it.

Hotel Rosso turned out to be staffed far more fully than I expected from a “simpler” hotel, and the service was much more attentive too. The “simple” breakfast was also more than I’d pictured: along with bread, there was a basic salad bar and a choice of eggs and sausage. Hotels in Karuizawa aren’t plentiful, and they aren’t cheap. For that area, Hotel Rosso is relatively good value, and it exceeded my expectations.

It was a quiet hotel, and the staff were very polite and helpful. The breakfast was very simple. I was surprised they had arranged an accessible room for us.

The room was on the small side but enough for us, and the bed was very comfortable. I also liked that amenities were kept near reception for guests to pick up as needed, instead of being placed in the room. There was plenty of free parking, and restaurants and shops were an easy walk away. It has a bit of a business hotel feel, but with some charm, personalised service and a reasonable price. What stood out was the combination of a no-frills stay and excellent customer care. We paid for what we needed and got service more like what you’d expect from a higher category hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. A couple of things could be better. Our room didn’t have enough towel racks for two people, though it would be fine for one. The minimal breakfast was included and suited us, but croissants were only available on one of the two mornings of our two-night stay. I wish they’d been available both days, so we went out for breakfast on the second morning. Even so, it was a pleasant stay, and we’ll choose the hotel again next time we’re in Karuizawa.