Manza Onsen Nisshinkan

We chose a traditional Japanese room instead of the Western-style hotel room and loved it. While we were at dinner, staff came in to turn down the room. The included all-you-can-eat buffet dinner was quite an experience, and Google Translate came in handy since the signs weren’t in English. It’s a beautiful, authentic onsen. We were the only Western guests, which I really enjoyed. Most of the other visitors seemed to be Japanese families from Tokyo on a weekend break. No one spoke English when we arrived, but thankfully Google Translate helped, and today one woman spoke perfect English. Finding the baths was a bit tricky, especially the beautiful one on the sixth floor. The drive there was very winding but gorgeous. We’d definitely recommend this authentic stay.

The rooms are spacious, and the hot spring water is amazing. The baths are great too. It’s a remote spot in the Asama-yama area, about 1800m up, with beautiful surroundings and stunning views along the way. If you’re lucky, you might see monkeys or bears in the wild. The food wasn’t amazing, though it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. Some of the meal service staff were foreigners who spoke very little Japanese or English, and I had trouble communicating with them.

The food was incredible, and I’d recommend both the dinner and breakfast buffets. The lowest-priced room with dinner and breakfast for two was 24000 yen, which is really affordable and the cheapest in the area. There’s one English-speaking staff member, and he’s very kind. The hospitality was great, the facilities are beautiful, and the onsen are amazing. The outdoor bath is especially lovely in winter. The cold air makes the hot water feel even better, and the contrast is wonderful. The other facilities are nice too. Unlike some nearby hotels with mixed bathing, the baths here are separate. You can book a private onsen for 45 minutes for an extra 2000 yen. That’s useful if you have tattoos and can’t use the public baths, or if you’re visiting with a partner and want a private moment. If you’re coming by train, call when you book to reserve a seat on the bus from Karuizawa Station to the hotel. Check-in and check-out were smooth, and I had a wonderful time. 5000/5 stars. For the reply’s question, I live in Gunma, but I’d recommend this place to foreign travelers and locals alike. It’s somewhat near other big onsen in Gunma, but come here if you want something cozier and closer to nature. There’s also a ski resort next door, so you can do both.

We tried seven of the spa baths, two of them outdoors, and had a very nice time. The signature water is cloudy or milky and not too hot. For such a large place with so many rooms, it was surprisingly uncrowded. Dinner was lovely, with a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Western dishes plus desserts. The rooms were clean and perfectly fine. They also had live violin and guitar music in the lobby, which was a nice touch. Thanks very much, and I hope to come back!