Ryokan Sakaya

The room was roomy, though the toilet and sink felt small and a little dated. That was the only real drawback. We loved the old fashioned onsen atmosphere, with water at just the right temperature and quality, and the ryokan has a nostalgic feel even if you’re Japanese. It’s right off Oyu Street, convenient for walking around, shopping, and trying different food spots. The slopes are a bit farther, but the free shuttle and the “Yu-road” moving walkway make Hikage easy to reach. We only had breakfast, a fully traditional Japanese meal. It was delicious and a good way to get a local experience, though there aren’t Western choices. We had a fantastic stay, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic Nozawa Onsen visit.

We felt right at home, thanks to staff who couldn’t do enough for us. The place, rooms, breakfast, and location were all perfect, and we made frequent use of the wonderful onsens, including the private one. Fresh towels, onsen towels, and cleaning products were provided. Breakfast had a lovely range of delicious local food, which we both enjoyed. Getting there took about a five-minute walk from the Iiyama bus stop, with our three suitcases, through Nozawa Onsen’s lovely streets. It was a brief but hilly walk to either the Yu moving walkway or the Nagano gondola. We were sad to leave this morning. If we’re lucky enough to come back, we’ll stay here again if we can get a booking, so book early. Perfect, and thank you.

The staff made the stay awesome, and both breakfast and the onsen were fantastic. Highly recommend.

For a ski trip, the location was spot on: close to restaurants and drinks in the right part of town, and within walking distance of one of the main gondolas. They also have snow boots, a heated drying room with boot and ski storage, laundry, and a shuttle if needed. The rooms are simple and traditional, just what we liked, and the on-site onsen was fantastic. Breakfast service felt personal. Big thanks to Yuki, who went out of her way to make us comfortable. The rest of the staff were friendly and helpful too, booking taxis and offering recommendations. The only thing I’d change is the very basic in-room shower, which could use an upgrade. We hope to return to Japan and would book here again.