Akakura Kanko Hotel

Aqua Dining has excellent food and an impressive view. The meal was let down a bit by a nearby table of foreign customers talking extremely loudly. The waiter made a sincere effort to handle it, but they ignored his polite requests, which unfortunately affected the atmosphere.

The bakery is worth a stop for fresh, flavorful breads and pastries, especially the raisin bread I love. You can take them away. From the eateries, there are beautiful views across the valleys and mountains, and on clear days Lake Nojiri as well. The cafe-outdoor eatery is rather pricey, but the food is always delicious. Lunch at the main restaurant is expensive too, though the cooking is a masterpiece and well worth the price. At night, that restaurant is only for hotel guests. Food is superb in all the places inside the hotel. I look forward to staying there, but getting a reservation takes planning at least a year ahead. Fair warning, the eateries are popular with people who aren't staying at the hotel, so they can get very crowded.

I've been coming back to this hotel for over 5 years, and it feels like home. It's almost 100 years old, but the rooms don't feel old because the place is so well cared for. Someone is there to greet us at the entrance when we arrive and wave goodbye when we leave. There's a welcome drink service until 5pm, with alcohol and light snacks served with a nice view. We also enjoyed the fireplace during our stay, and my kids discovered the family onsen, which we could have to ourselves. The restaurants are highly recommended: western, French and Japanese cuisine. I haven't tried the Japanese food yet, but the western cuisine is very detailed, even down to having the correct dessert fork. We've made lots of requests to suit our needs, and the hotel always finds some solution. The hospitality is among the best in Japan. We'll be back.

The staff were friendly and helpful, though many didn't speak English. A few did, and we managed fine. The restaurants were amazing, and the chef even made a five course meal especially for my vegan daughter. It cost more than I usually spend, but the experience was worth it. We visited in September, when it's a quiet place, so plan on relaxing at the hotel or hiking on Mt Myoko. It was a very different pace from shopping in busy tokyo, and a lovely spot to spend a couple of restful nights in the middle of our trip.