Kamikochi Imperial Hotel

The area is lovely for walks, and the bus stop is right outside. The old hotel itself is really lovely, with wonderful staff, but a few things niggled. On the 5,500 yen breakfast menu, pancakes cost an extra 600 yen instead of the toast or breakfast bread. I feel everything should be included. Drinks were also much more expensive than at the other places we stayed in Japan. It’s a captive audience, so you have to pay or go without.

The natural spring water tasted delicious and left my skin feeling smooth, but the room got hot at night because there’s no AC. The hotel feels very old-school and formal, as you’d expect from an Imperial Hotel, and most of the staff seemed to have come from the Tokyo hotel for the season. Service was a mixed bag: some people were enthusiastic, while others seemed not to want foreign guests. The food was at least acceptable, though even the cheapest restaurant was prohibitively expensive. The hotel itself felt somewhat overpriced. It sits between two scenic spots, which made the location awkward. There were lots of day visitors taking pictures, and the lobby was tiny. Check-in was chaotic, and most guests seemed older.

We had a great stay in a nice location. The staff were very friendly and the customer service was outstanding. Nearly everyone spoke English. The room included outstanding food, and the bath house and sauna were spotless.

Dinner was very good on both nights, though the prices were phenomenal. Breakfast was just average, with some items overcooked, and the French dining room felt cold when we were seated by the window. It was cold there in the morning too. The staff service was excellent, and the room had great amenities. I also appreciated the little chocolate they left for us. But I couldn’t relax in the room at all. Sounds from next door or upstairs carried through whenever people ran the bath, turned on taps, flushed, watched TV, or got up talking at 5am. The hallway doors kept slamming too, and I didn’t feel I had any privacy. The beds were much too hard for me as a side sleeper, and my hips hurt. An extra duvet didn’t provide much padding. The pillow flattened while I slept, so I woke with a sore head. The room was a huge no for me. It was an interesting stay in a place with history, but I wouldn’t come back. I wouldn’t recommend it to a younger couple either, since most of the guests seemed to be around 50 to 80 or older.