Kyukamura Tsumagoi-Kazawa

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The hot spring was small, but the water was lovely and it wasn't busy, even on a holiday. Dinner was better than I'd expected too. The motsunabe and steamed cabbage in bamboo were delicious. We were snowboarding, but a snowstorm cut the trip short and we reached the hotel before 3 PM. We were allowed into our room before we'd finished our welcome drinks. The heating and air conditioning were there, though it took a while for the room to warm up in that weather, so we went to the hot springs. I appreciated the thoughtful room extras: a USB extension cord, a bath basket, clothespins for the washing line, and hooks for drying things. Tucked away quietly in the mountains, it's also well placed with three ski resorts nearby. I'd like to come back.

The food was delicious, especially the cabbage, sushi, and roast beef, and I liked the bath too. But the first detached room had a futon that smelled moldy, and there were earwigs inside. I called the front desk and was relieved they could move us to another room. Bugs outside the window are one thing in the mountains, but I've never stayed at a resort with bugs in the room before, or a moldy futon. It seemed like many guests were there for skiing and mountain climbing, so I wonder if this bothers them.

The meals made good use of local vegetables. The steamed cabbage was simple, sweet, and delicious, and freshly harvested cabbage is sold in the shop from around 8 a.m., so I definitely recommend buying some. The hotel is tucked away in the mountains, with a lovely view from the window and soft, enjoyable hot spring water. After my stay I took National Route 406 toward Nagano and saw a Japanese serow along the way. It really showed how rich the nature is here.