Sumiyosiya

What really made our stay at Sumiyosiya special was the private and traditional onsen, both amazing, along with the 10 course kaiseki menu and breakfast. The staff were extremely warm and hospitable, and took great care of me during my pregnancy, offering tasty alternatives to raw meet and onsen eggs. The ryokan itself is beautiful and traditional, super clean, and our room had a superb mountain view. It was one of the highlights of our three week Japan trip. If we come back to Nozawaonsen, we know where we’ll stay.

When my wife broke her arm skiing, the staff at Sumiyosiya were INCREDIBLE. They picked us up from the local hospital, checked that we were comfortable, and helped rearrange everything so we could get back to Tokyo. That included rescheduling our taxi, calling the ski rental shop to adjust our plans, and checking with other hotels about last-minute availability since Sumiyosiya was full on our last day. Their support through such a traumatic incident put them above anywhere I’ve stayed in the world. Even before that happened, this was our favorite stop on our first trip to Japan. We spent two nights as a couple in one of the smaller Japanese-style rooms. I wasn’t sure it would suit us, but it ended up being the most amazing room of our stay. The hotel onsen was great, and the Kaiseki dinner is a must if there’s availability. I can’t overstate how amazing Sumiyosiya and its whole staff are. There’s also an on-site library tucked near the laundry that guests might miss. We had fun reading and looking through it one afternoon, overlooking the village. In my opinion, it’s worth traveling to Nozawaonsen just for Sumiyosiya. Book whatever room you can!

The hospitality here was wonderful, and the staff were super nice and accommodating. They even enjoyed hearing us try our limited Japanese. On our seven-day ski holiday, they picked us up at the bus stop and arranged to send our equipment to Hakaido through Yamato service. Lockers for ski gear are available, and they can also organize rentals and passes. It’s close to the mountain walkway, local shops, and restaurants. Aokiya Izakaya is just steps away. I’d suggest booking at least one dinner and breakfast, since the food is excellent. The private onsen is beautiful, and the regular onsen was great after skiing. We didn’t have a shower in our room. One thing to keep in mind: there are stairs and long hallways, so it may not suit people with mobility issues. I can’t say enough about the staff’s wonderful service.

Our room wasn’t ready when we arrived, because we’d told them we’d come later than we actually did. The staff helped us change into our ski gear in a private downstairs room, which was really useful, and kept our bags until the room was ready. We ended up on the third floor, in a spotless room with a gorgeous view. It was a little cold, but that was fine for us. They let you know the tap water is drinkable and provide glasses. The private onsen was a complete amazing vibe. It costs 4,000 yen to use, and honestly we thought it was worth it. Service was incredible, the rooms are super tidy and clean, and the onsen was lovely. The hotel has no lift, though staff can help with luggage if you want or need it. It closes at 23:00 hrs, so be back before then.