Name: Kamikochi Onsen Hotel
Address: 4171-Banchi Azumi Matsumoto-shi 390-1514,, Matsumoto, Matsumoto, Matsumoto, 390-1516, Japan
Rating: 8

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Kamikochi Onsen Hotel

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Beautiful views and wonderful walks. 

The hotel staff are friendly and mainly helpful. However, the hotel is in absolute need of a complete makeover. Looks almost derelict on the outside. Not quite so bad inside. 

Our room smelt of dead rats. The manager said it was the new mats!  We asked to change rooms but were told the only option was a room with no views and no bathroom!  Interesting as the hotel had many vacancies. 

The food. 6/10 for what it looks like. 1/10 for experience. Cold / tasteless  / stale. 

We didn’t let the dire hotel spoil our enjoyment of the truly stunning environment - but choose your hotel carefully.

Beautiful views but a very tired hotel in dire need of refurbishment

We hiked from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge which is a very scenic route.  We stopped to use the free footbath provided by this hotel.  The location of this hotel is very good with the gorgeous Asuza river in front of it and it is not too far to walk from bus terminal with a small overnight bag.

Free Footbath

While the stay here was nice, it wasn't up what we necessarily expected for the price we had to pay. The price was worth three nights what we had paid for a better ryokan in Takayama, so this was a bit of a letdown. 

That being said, I believe the price is really about supply and demand, and the number of hotels within Kamikochi are quite dismal - due to the uniqueness of the park. 

Anyway, the hotel is conveniently located 4 minutes away from the bus stop. You traverse a little wooded area, cross two bridges over small streams and you stop right in front of the hotel. Right in front of the hotel is the Asuza River, which you can experience thanks to the benches and tables set by the riverside by the hotel. We sat there in the day and had multiple monkeys curiously sit by us, and at night, when the lights are all turned off, you sit in darkness, the milky way overhead (best spotted through a long-exposure camera shot) and the sound of the mountains and river surrounding you. It's terrifyingly beautiful. The stars are truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We were here towards the end of summer, it was supposed to be a blazing 30degC elsewhere but up in Kamikochi, surrounded by mountain peaks, it was a cool 23 to 25degc. Lovely and brisk. From this hotel, you had a 20min trek to the famous Kappa bridge on the left and a 40min trek to Taisho pond on the right. You basically get the best of Kamikochi from this convenient location. 

The hotel is designed really as a stopover for Japanese travellers who want to experience the beauty of Kamikochi. So it's quite frill-free. The guests are also mostly locals, elderly locals to be exact. By 9pm, all lights are off cause they are all asleep. In fact, you'll find that there'll be no staff at the front desk either. Just after dinner, we hopped down to the lobby for an evening stroll outside when we saw that they had all gathered for a slide show of pictures of Kamikochi. Everyone sat gathered in their yukatas watching this old man use his 80s-chic slideshow projector. I was blown away by the retro-ness of it all.

We opted for the Japanese-style rooms, and it was properly traditional. Paper sliding doors, tatami mats and futons for the night. Everything was well kept, but old. As was the onsen that had both indoor and outdoor options. (Remember, you are not allowed to bathe here if you have a tattoo!) 

The food offerings were disappointing. The dinner spread was interesting but flavour-wise, average. In fact, we were left feel a little disatisfed after dinner cause it was just so...meh. 

Breakfast was a buffet with mostly traditional Japanese offerings and a handful of continental choices (sausages, croissants, ham etc). But that was decidely better and tastier. We particuarly enjoyed the savoury roasted vegetables. 

Would we stay here again, probably not. Was it memorable? Yes.

Serviceable for a trip to Kamikochi, memorable for its retro offerings

I stayed here after hiking in the park for a couple of days and it was a nice respite to reenergize!  The property is a bit dated and feels less personal than some of the ryokans I have stayed in but the onsen is lovely and the food was delicious at both dinner and breakfast.  It is clean and the staff were very nice.

Relaxing lodge for the night

A pleasant stay with good service and nice natural onsen. 
Although an old ryokan, generally clean. The room is smaller than other ryokans I have been to.  Good for 2 persons maximum. 

Internet although free in lobby is weak.

The location is about 15 min walk from the station.

Pleasant Experience

We came to Kamikochi on a whim, knowing the area is famous for its scenery but not being equipped with much information that we found we needed to getting the most out of our stay. In addition to the hotel being comfortable and pleasant, the hotel staff came through in spades to ensure that our trip was unforgettable.

Our room was Japanese style, with a grass mat room and a sitting area with two chairs and a table next to the window overlooking the Azusa River and the Hotaka Mountain Range. The refrigerator was conveniently stocked with beer, cold sake, juices, and soda. We found it comfortable and spacious, with the stunning views being the best feature.

Our dinners were served in our room, at a fixed time the hotel had decided in advance. It would have been preferable to have more flexibility, but it was a minor point for us. Despite some fellow reviewers raising complaints about the dishes, we found everything to be fresh and delicious. We stayed two nights, and were pleased that the menu was sufficiently varied between the first and second dinner.

Breakfasts were taken in the dining area on the second floor, and featured a buffet style with a good variety of items covering both Western  and Japanese styles. Choices included eggs, sausages, cereal, yoghurt, bread rolls, fruit, coffee, juices, and more. I personally avoided the Japanese side of the buffet table but it looked like it would please those who prefer that style.

In addition, the hotel serves lunch and cafe items during mid-day. We were not around during the noon hour, but the menu looked adequate for those who are in the area and hungry. They can also pack a lunch box for you if you order in advance.

The hotel's hot spring bath did not disappoint. There are two facilities, one for men and one for women. They are available around the clock except for the 9:00am - 9:30am period when they are closed for cleaning. In addition to the indoor bath, there is an outdoor section where you can gaze at the mountainside greenery while soaking in the hot water. Unlike the hot springs in other regions of Japan, the water here has no detectable sulfuric smell and is completely clear.

One of the unique aspects of the hotel which we enjoyed was the collection of art lining the walls. While all pieces feature on some way the natural environment of the region, they cover a variety of painting styles . During our stay there was a section of the lobby devoted to paintings for sale. If we had a few spare hundred dollars and space in our luggage, we would have been tempted.

Perhaps what we appreciated the most was the staff's efforts to make our experience the best it could be. It rained throughout our stay, and we were woefully unprepared for such an environment. The staff provided rain boots, umbrellas, and helpful information about the area so that we could enjoy a day out despite the weather. The hotel owner himself was actively involved with the guests, giving a talk in the evening about all aspects of the area and leading a walking tour in the morning before breakfast.

In summary, we were pleased with our experience and would definitely return.

Memorable Experience 

Went in for the onsen halfway between the hike at the two sides of the bus terminal (did not stay a night) and a tea break afterwards. only 800yen (can purchase a small towel by paying extra). Has a small tea room/restaurant looking out to the river where to can grab a bite before or after the onsen. They provide shampoo, body wash and face wash. There are 2 types of onsen (different source) including 3 outdoor ones (1 is covered) and 1 indoor.

Convenient location good onsen

The location is beautiful in the Japanese Alps.  Rooms vary with some with Western style beds and some with Japanese style mats.  My western style room was decent size, however, bath was very tiny.  Service was helpful and efficient.  There is a hot springs bath for soaking after a nice hike in the park.  Good breakfast buffet and traditional Japanese food at dinner.

Kamikochi Onsen Hotel

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