Kamanuma Onsen Daikisen

There’s wifi, though this isn’t a glitzy place. The young owner works incredibly hard and carries on the onsen traditions with the spirit of ikigai, and the rest of the team is very professional. Staying at Daikisn also reminds me to slow down and be mindful. I came here to escape the urban jungle and find some peace, and I wasn’t disappointed. I loved the onsen, the food, and the starry sky. Dinner felt like fine dining, and seeing so many stars was precious when light pollution makes stargazing impossible back home. The warm onsen is so comfortable I don’t want to get out. There’s also a natural cold spring, or “cold plunge,” which is popular in other countries now and can help soothe aching muscles.

The location was wonderful, and the staff were great. Natural spring onsen baths and meals that were exceptional, thoughtfully prepared, and beautifully displayed made the stay so memorable and enjoyable!

The room was beautiful and looked out over the river. Our host was warm and wonderfully hospitable, and both dinner and breakfast were delicious. It has to be one of the best places to stay in Kiso. I highly recommend it.

The staff were so friendly that they offered us a lift, since we still had quite a way to hike to the venue. We had a very pleasant stay in traditional rooms with a nice atmosphere, though they could perhaps use a few small updates. Breakfast was the best we had in Japan. The location is somewhat far from the Nakasendo. The bus doesn’t stop nearby and doesn’t run very often to Kiso-Fukushima. Even so, I’d definitely stay here again.