rinne Kitakaruizawa Forest3

The nature around Asamakogen Hotel is amazing, and the food was outstanding. It’s a lovely family-run place with a warm atmosphere and sweet cats. The service was lovely too.

The room was spotless and comfortable, especially the bay window, where I could sit and enjoy the view. My cat seemed just as happy, lounging there and watching outside. The owner was easy to talk to, and the whole place had a warm, relaxing feel. Pon-chan, the hotel’s adorable mascot, greeted me at the entrance in July and was so friendly I kept petting him. It’s a lovely place for cat lovers, and I’d like to come back.

The surroundings were so quiet, and having our own private space made the stay really relaxing. Kumano Kotai Shrine and other sightseeing spots are nearby, which was great. We stayed two days and one night with our dog after finding this dog-friendly hotel and making a reservation. The manager was wonderful, and the cats were adorable. Our room was small and cozy, and very clean. Some rooms don’t have air conditioning, but ours did. Still, it was cool enough at night even without it, and sleeping with it on actually woke me because I got too cold. I’d bring my own amenities next time, though it wasn’t a big deal. Maybe we’ll stay again next year.

It’s very quiet here, probably because of the location. On a sunny day, it could be a nice place to walk your dog. There weren’t any marked parking spaces, though, so you can’t just park wherever you like. When I asked about the missing TV remote, I was told it had been stolen. Hard to imagine what someone would do with just the remote.