Shinazawa

We loved our breakfasts and our hosts. Our room was lovely and quiet. The Onsen on location was a real treat. It was very close to the bus stop to get to the ski resort.

The hosts were so kind and caring. The room was clean and the breakfasts were amazing. Would stay here again!

Good size room, decently clean, comes with things you need

In winter times you are sort of woken up at 6am due to the bright light from outside, if there’s an option to keep lights shining in would be better for my sleep.

This is a Ryokan, so don’t expect chairs and tables in your room but do expect Tatami mats on the floor, with a futon to sleep on, covered by beautiful bedding. I was rather anxious about a futon on a solid floor but I should not have been. We got seven excellent nights sleep. Decor is basic and there is just a toilet and washbasin in the rooms. If you want a shower you go down to the basement and use the showers in the Japanese hot tub room. Toiletries in there were lovely quality. We had the breakfast every morning, which was excellent. Different every day, but always Japanese and beautifully presented. There was always toast and fruit available as well as Miso soup and steamed rice. We had the evening meal one night and that was also beautifully presented Japanese food and cost £15 per person! Really excellent! The high spot for us however was Mrs Shinazawa herself, a little Japanese lady who spoke little or no English but was simply lovely. Sweets on the shelf in the entrance hall, coffee as soon as we walked in, little extras such as a plate of tempura, rice balls offered every evening, as well as apples or oranges. She was great and we fell in love with her. Compared to other accommodation in Nozawa Onsen the price was good. The shuttle bus stop is 25yds away, there’s a ski store in the basement and a drying room plus a washing machine. There’s tea, coffee and chocolate plus a water boiler for you to make yourself a drink when you get back from the slopes. If you’re after a posh hotel then this place is not for you. If however you want an authentic Japanese experience, a lovely owner and good food then this is the place to stay. We would most certainly stop here again!

Nothing!