Manza Kogen Hotel

The Japanese mountains are beautiful from here, but I wouldn't recommend this place to travelers who want to explore. Transport is very limited: the last bus is at 3 p.m., and after that a taxi costs 15,000 yen. There's no nearby shop, so you're stuck eating at the establishment's buffet, which I found poor quality. Bath access is charged each day when you leave. Both the hotel and baths are old and need renovation, with torn carpets, pipes on the floor, and peeling paint. It almost feels like a horror movie.

The onsen is beautiful, and the rooms have all the amenities except air conditioning, though they do feel a little dated. One thing to know is that tattoos are strictly prohibited. I was really disappointed because the booking site didn't mention that, and it would be great if they stated it there.

The hot spring was mediocre at best, and the buffet was expensive for what it offered. The price made me expect a big spread, but it was small and had little variety. The room didn't match the booking-site photos and was old and poorly maintained. The lobby and facilities were in similar shape, and the whole hotel had no air conditioning. Its extravagant appearance on booking websites gave me the wrong impression. This is arguably the worst Prince Hotel I've visited, and I won't return.

The supposedly No. 1 rated Onsen was full of mold. Bad smells came from the carpets in the rooms, elevators, and changing rooms too. The hotel was very expensive considering its poor condition and mediocre buffet.