Akakura Onsen Kotobukiro

Kotobuki! The karaoke bar is excellent, with an incredible selection and amazing tolerance levels. Can't recommend it highly enough!

I stayed here for snowboarding, and the friendly couple who greeted us were lovely. The location is a little downhill from the hot spring town, so a two-wheel drive car may struggle to get up on days with heavy snowfall. The food was delicious, and they serve different dishes each time, which made me curious about what we'd get next. The amenities were excellent too, so I think women can stay with peace of mind. They seemed to have everything you'd expect: toothbrush, cotton swabs, comb, hairdryer, yukata, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hangers, and bath towels.

The food is outstanding, and a rare find. Portions are generous too, so unless you eat a lot, you'll probably be satisfied. The bath is supplied straight from the hot spring. It's small, but the slightly deep tub feels great. It's a family-run place with friendly, homey service. A couple of things could be tricky: the small parking lot has steps, so larger or low-slung cars may have trouble parking. They apparently rent a bigger lot nearby, and the restaurant can give details. The room had no curtains, which made it bright early in the morning. If you don't like a bright room, you'll find that wakes you. There's no bed in the room, so anyone who has trouble getting up from a low position may find that difficult. The restrooms are shared, with Japanese and Western style toilets, and some have washlets while others don't. A few days later, my sister and her family went back. They said the food had completely changed and was inedible. My sister doesn't like cheese or butter, and I had told them, but it seems they didn't understand. Maybe they didn't want to serve the same dishes I'd had, but it was frustrating that they kept serving things she disliked. When I asked the landlady, "I thought I told her I don't like cheese and butter?" she said the reply had been, "If you don't like them, just leave them there." I was surprised after my own good experience. The work was inconsistent, so I lowered my rating from 4 stars to 2.

It takes about five minutes to walk to the slopes, and the couple running the place were very friendly. The bath was spotless, with space for three in the tub and three in the washing area. We had a pleasant soak in hot spring water straight from the source. The husband put real care into the food, including fresh seafood from the Sea of ​​Japan and Shinshu beef steak. It was the best. When snow packs down on the roads, getting to the parking lot in a front-wheel drive car can be difficult. I'm starting to wish I had a 4WD.