Nagano's Top Hotel Picks

8 Hotels Listed
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About the Nagano Prefecture Area

Nagano Prefecture is an inland destination defined by the majestic mountain scenery of the Japan Alps and a rich mix of hot springs and highland resorts. Its distinctive districts range from Karuizawa, long cherished for its refined villa culture as a summer retreat, to the castle town of Matsumoto beneath its national treasure Matsumoto Castle, to Nagano City, the temple town that grew up around the historic Zenko-ji, and on to Shiga Kogen and Hakuba, among Japan's finest ski resorts. From highland hotels perched at 2,000 meters to time-honored hot spring ryokan, Nagano is a destination where nature and history can be enjoyed in every season.

🏔 Stunning Japan Alps Scenery♨ Renowned & Hidden Hot Springs🏯 Matsumoto Castle & Zenko-ji🎿 Top-Tier Ski Resorts🌲 Karuizawa's Villa Culture🍎 Shinshu Cuisine

Nagano's Most Popular Hotels 8

Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira Hotel
🥇 #1 Most PopularRakuten Highly Rated
Tateshina / Lake ShirakabaFamily ResortHot SpringAdjacent to Amusement Park

Shirakaba Resort Ikenotaira Hotel

★★★★☆ 4.4 (5,210 reviews)

A family resort set at 1,450m elevation on the shore of Lake Shirakaba. The new main building, opened in 2023, features an open-air hot spring bath and an indoor heated pool, and together with the adjoining Family Land amusement park, it's a go-to Tateshina Highlands resort for a full day of fun for all ages.

From ¥17,050 / night (per person)
🛁 Hot Spring 🛁 Hot Spring
Onsen

Overlooking Lake Shirakaba
The Open Kotengu-no-Yu Bath

Fed by sources in the Tateshina and Yatsugatake mountains, "Kotengu-no-Yu" offers separate indoor baths for men and women plus "Sora," a mixed-bathing open-air area where swimsuits are worn. Renewed alongside the new main building's opening, the bath offers a stunning soak overlooking Lake Shirakaba and Mt. Kurumayama — a perfect way to unwind after a day exploring Tateshina.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

Deluxe Lake View Rooms
Overlooking the Water

Rooms in the new main building, opened in 2023, are designed with an open outlook onto the surface of Lake Shirakaba. Many come with a balcony, so guests can enjoy the Tateshina Highlands' ever-changing scenery — morning mist rising off the lake, a sky full of stars at night — right from the room.

🏊 Pool 🏊 Pool
Indoor Pool

Play Rain or Shine
An Indoor Heated Pool

Despite sitting at 1,450m elevation, the hotel offers an indoor heated pool that's unaffected by the weather. Paired with the rides at the adjoining Family Land amusement park, it makes for a well-rounded resort where families with young children can stay entertained all day long.

Recommended Plans
New Main Building Basic Plan
2 guests/room · Breakfast & dinner (buffet) included · Deluxe balcony room, etc. · 40㎡
¥22,000 / person
Basic Plan
2 guests/room · Breakfast & dinner (buffet) included · 34㎡
¥17,050 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
Chateraise Hotel Nagano
🥈 #2 Most Popular
5-Min Walk from Nagano StationZenkoji Plain ViewSweets BreakfastAll Rooms Non-Smoking

Chateraise Hotel Nagano

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1,079 reviews)

A well-located city hotel just five minutes' walk from the east exit of Nagano Station, with sweeping views of the Zenkoji Plain and the Northern Alps from 70m up. The 10th-floor panoramic bath and the breakfast buffet lined with Chateraise's signature cakes and ice cream are guest favorites, making it an ideal base for visiting Zenko-ji and exploring Nagano.

From ¥7,750 / night (per person)
♨ Panoramic Bath ♨ Panoramic Bath
Sky View Bath

A Grand Panorama of the
Zenkoji Plain from 70m Up

The 10th-floor panoramic bath is a scenic highlight — on a clear day, the view stretches past the streets of the Zenkoji Plain all the way to the ridgeline of the Northern Alps. This combination of easy access from Nagano Station and an expansive view is a big reason many travelers choose to stay here.

🍰 Breakfast 🍰 Breakfast
Breakfast

Chateraise's Signature
Sweets Breakfast Buffet

Run by a confectionery company, the hotel's breakfast buffet is known for its lineup of Chateraise's own cakes, ice cream, and a wide variety of yogurts. Shinshu soba noodles, oyaki dumplings, and other regional specialties round out the spread, adding a festive touch to the start of the day.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

Relax in Comfort
Superior Twin Rooms

All rooms are non-smoking with free Wi-Fi, in a simple, modern style suited to business and sightseeing alike. Thoughtful touches like a ReFa fine-bubble showerhead add extra appeal for female travelers, pairing well with the convenience of being just five minutes from Nagano Station.

Recommended Plans
[All Rooms Non-Smoking] [Breakfast Included] Simple Plan with Chateraise Ice Cream & Sweets
2 guests/room · Breakfast included · Standard twin · 28㎡
¥13,800 / person
[All Rooms Non-Smoking] [Room Only] Simple Plan with Chateraise Ice Cream & Sweets
2 guests/room · No meals · Semi-double · 18㎡
¥7,750 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
Ougato Hotel
🥉 #3 Most PopularRakuten Highly Rated
Utsukushigahara Highlands, 2,000m ElevationResort Above the CloudsStar-Filled SkyHotel Shuttle Only

Ougato Hotel

★★★★☆ 4.7 (39 reviews)

A "hotel above the clouds" built at 2,000m elevation atop Mt. Ougato, the highest peak of the Utsukushigahara Highlands. Private cars can't reach it — only the hotel's own shuttle bus — creating a singular setting where guests are welcomed by a 360-degree panorama and a sky filled with stars.

From ¥37,300 / night (per person)
🏔 Panorama 🏔 Panorama
Panorama

A 360-Degree Panorama
of the Utsukushigahara Highlands

Built atop Mt. Ougato on the Utsukushigahara Highlands, the hotel sits in a world above the clouds at 2,000m elevation. The 360-degree panorama — a sea of clouds below and the peaks of the Japan Alps stretching to the horizon — is a reward reserved only for those who stay here. The peaceful highland scenery of grazing cattle adds to the charm.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

Wrapped in Highland Stillness
South Wing Japanese-Western Rooms

Fitting for a lodge perched on a mountaintop, the South Wing's Japanese-Western rooms are done in calm, muted tones. A night spent in the crisp, quiet air of 2,000m elevation is enough to make everyday life feel far away — and the highland view from the window is a luxury unique to this room.

✨ Starry Sky ✨ Starry Sky
Starry Sky

A Sky Full of Stars
All to Yourself at the Summit

With almost no artificial light nearby, the 2,000m summit is a natural planetarium. On a clear night, the Milky Way stands out sharply, and shooting stars are not uncommon. It's an unforgettable sky, made possible only by staying at a hotel above the clouds.

Recommended Plans
Signature Plan
2 guests/room · Dinner & breakfast included (kaiseki) · East Wing special room, 12.5 tatami + terrace · Non-smoking
¥52,300 / person
Signature Plan
2 guests/room · Dinner & breakfast included (kaiseki) · South Wing Japanese-Western room, 8 tatami + twin · Non-smoking
¥37,300 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
Mampei Hotel
#4
KaruizawaClassic Hotel, Founded Over 130 Years AgoFrench DiningNear Old Karuizawa Ginza

Mampei Hotel

★★★★☆ 4.7 (496 reviews)

Founded in 1894, Mampei Hotel is Karuizawa's legendary classic hotel. Its three wings — Atago, Alps, and Usui — stand amid lush grounds and have long been cherished by Japan's imperial family and celebrated writers alike. Close to Old Karuizawa Ginza, it's a place to experience the very essence of the town's summer resort culture.

From ¥29,784 / night (per person)
🌳 Courtyard 🌳 Courtyard
Garden

A Classic Presence
Wrapped in Greenery

Set amid Karuizawa's abundant greenery, the wooden main building and annexes carry a dignified air shaped by more than 130 years of history. A stroll through the meticulously kept courtyard reveals just how deeply Karuizawa's identity as a summer retreat has been cherished over the generations.

🍽 Dining 🍽 Dining
Dining

Traditional French Cuisine
in the Main Dining Room

Beneath a coffered ceiling and stained glass, the Main Dining Room serves traditional French cuisine built on local Karuizawa ingredients. Prepared in a dignified space carried on since the hotel's founding, every dish makes a stay at Mampei Hotel that much more special.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

Refined Rooms
in the Atago Premier Wing

Rooms such as the Atago Premier combine classic furnishings with modern comfort. Time spent gazing out at Karuizawa's trees through the window is filled with the quiet luxury that embodies the essence of the town's summer resort culture.

Recommended Plans
Regular Plan [Breakfast Included]
2 guests/room · Breakfast included · Usui Villa Standard · 45㎡
¥40,326 / person
Regular Plan [Room Only]
2 guests/room · No meals · Usui Villa Standard · 45㎡
¥29,784 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
Tobira Onsen Myojinkan
#5
Sole Inn in a National ParkRelais & Chateaux MemberThree Types of BathsKaiseki Cuisine

Tobira Onsen Myojinkan

★★★★☆ 4.4 (267 reviews)

The sole inn at Tobira Onsen, tucked in a national park in the hills behind Matsumoto. A member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotel association, it offers three distinct bathing styles and kaiseki cuisine built on Shinshu's bounty, all within a nearly 90-year-old space of deep stillness.

From ¥55,080 / night (per person)
♨ Hot Spring ♨ Hot Spring
Onsen

An Open-Air Bath
Embraced by the National Park Gorge

Myojinkan is the sole inn within the Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park, and its baths come in three distinct styles: standing, reclining, and open-air. Soaking to the sound of the gorge's rushing stream, in the crisp air of 1,050m elevation, offers a rare escape from the bustle of the city.

🍱 Kaiseki Cuisine 🍱 Kaiseki Cuisine
Kaiseki

The "Moon Echo" Course
Kaiseki Built on Shinshu's Bounty

The "Gekkyo Course," served at the Shinshu dining venue TOBIRA, is a Japanese kaiseki menu generously featuring the mountain and sea bounty of Shinshu. Every carefully prepared, local-ingredient dish reflects the refined hospitality expected of a Relais & Chateaux member.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

A Special Stay
in Terraced Detached Rooms

The "Zen-SPA-" series of rooms, each with its own open-air bath and terrace, offers a private space overlooking the gorge's greenery. In the stillness unique to a nearly 90-year-old sole inn, guests can spend time fully removed from the everyday.

Recommended Plans
A Stay to Feel Nature at Tobira Onsen Myojinkan, Tucked in a National Park — Both Dinner & Breakfast Japanese-Style
2 guests/room · Dinner & breakfast included (Japanese) · 59㎡
¥61,200 / person
[10% Off] [Rakuten Super Sale] A Stay to Feel Nature at Myojinkan, Tucked in a National Park
2 guests/room · Dinner & breakfast included (Japanese) · 10% off · 59㎡
¥55,080 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel
#6
Shiga KogenDirect Access to Yakebitaiyama SlopesPowder Snow5 On-Site Restaurants

Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel

★★★★☆ 4.0 (530 reviews)

A resort hotel with direct access to the Yakebitaiyama slopes of Shiga Kogen, one of Japan's largest ski areas. Superb powder snow and stunning slope views stretch right outside the door, and with five on-site restaurants — from buffet to Chinese, izakaya, and ramen — there's plenty to enjoy year-round.

From ¥20,542 / night (per person)
❄ Powder Snow ❄ Powder Snow
Powder Snow

Snow Quality That Captivates
Powder Fans Worldwide

Spread across more than 1,700m elevation, Yakebitaiyama Ski Resort draws skiers and snowboarders from around the world with its excellent snow quality and well-groomed courses. The hotel's direct access to the slopes is its biggest draw — guests can be first on the fresh, fluffy morning powder before anyone else.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

Slope Views
East Wing Comfort Twin Rooms

East Wing rooms boast views over birch woods and the ski slopes. During ski and snowboard season, guests can check snow conditions right from the window; in the green season, the room offers a relaxed view of Shiga Kogen's lush surroundings.

🍽 Dining 🍽 Dining
Dining

A Choice of Five
On-Site Restaurants

Beyond the buffet restaurant, the hotel offers Chinese, izakaya-style, and ramen dining, among five food venues on the property. There's never a shortage of options after a day on the slopes, so even a multi-night stay stays fresh, night after night.

Recommended Plans
2026-2027 [Value Rate] Dinner & Breakfast Included, East Wing
3-guest occupancy · Dinner & breakfast included · East Wing Twin Room A · 29㎡
¥34,042 / person
2026-2027 [Value Rate] Room Only, East Wing
3-guest occupancy · No meals · East Wing Twin Room A · 29㎡
¥20,542 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
The Prince Karuizawa
#7
KaruizawaNatural Hot SpringForest ResortNext to Shopping Plaza

The Prince Karuizawa

★★★★☆ 4.5 (316 reviews)

A forest resort spread across expansive grounds just a short walk from Karuizawa Station. Many rooms overlook Mt. Asama and Karuizawa's surrounding nature, and the resort offers a natural hot spring, French dining, and easy access to Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, along with a full lineup of activities in every season.

From ¥16,109 / night (per person)
♨ Hot Spring ♨ Hot Spring
Hot Spring

Forest Hot-Spring
Embraced by the Woods

Guests can soak as often as they like, free of charge, at the on-site natural hot springs "Forest Hot-Spring" and "Momiji Hot-Spring." Surrounded by Karuizawa's lush forest, this open-air bathing experience is a luxurious way to unwind after a day of sightseeing or shopping.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

In Harmony with Nature
Deluxe Twin Rooms

Arranged along a curving corridor, the Deluxe Twin rooms carry a classic design in harmony with Karuizawa's natural surroundings. Time spent looking out at the greenery of the trees through the window is filled with the stillness unique to a summer resort.

🌲 Nature 🌲 Nature
Nature

Karuizawa's Scenery
Beautiful in Every Season, All to Yourself

From spring cherry-blossom cycling to summer tree trekking, autumn foliage, and winter skiing, the expansive grounds offer activities in every season. The resort's easy walking access to the neighboring Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is another welcome convenience.

Recommended Plans
[Value Rate] Breakfast Included
2 guests/room · Breakfast included · Standard twin · 34.8㎡
¥22,357 / person
Basic Plan to Enjoy a Great-Value New Year's Holiday, Room Only
2 guests/room · No meals · Standard twin · 40.3㎡
¥16,109 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
Hakuba Tokyu Hotel
#8
Hakuba Happo-OneNorthern Alps ViewNatural Hot SpringFrench Dining

Hakuba Tokyu Hotel

★★★★☆ 4.7 (377 reviews)

A full-fledged mountain resort overlooking the Northern Alps. The alkaline simple hot spring, known for its skin-softening qualities, and Restaurant Chamonix's French course are signature features. Free shuttles run to Hakuba Happo-One and Tsugaike Kogen, making for a stay embraced by the Alps in every season.

From ¥20,037 / night (per person)
♨ Hot Spring ♨ Hot Spring
Onsen

"Katakuri-no-Yu"
The Hot Spring Known for Soft Skin

The alkaline simple hot spring "Katakuri-no-Yu" is well regarded for the smooth, silky feel it leaves on the skin. A sauna is attached to the large public bath, and a dedicated guest-room elevator lets you reach it empty-handed — a thoughtful touch fitting of a mountain resort.

🛏 Guest Room 🛏 Guest Room
Guest Room

Northern Alps Views
Alps-Side Rooms

Alps-side rooms offer a sweeping view of the Northern Alps' famous ridgeline. Snow-capped peaks in winter, lush green slopes in summer — the ever-changing mountain scenery can be enjoyed at leisure right from the room.

🍽 Dining 🍽 Dining
French Dining

A Full French Course
at Restaurant Chamonix

Restaurant Chamonix serves an authentic French course built on the mountain bounty of Shinshu. Enjoying a refined dinner suited to a mountain resort, in the crisp high-elevation air of Hakuba, is one of the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel's biggest draws.

Recommended Plans
Super Early Bird 60 Days (Dinner & Breakfast Included)
2 guests/room · Dinner & breakfast included · Economy / Standard / Deluxe twin · 26-41㎡
¥27,328 / person
Super Early Bird 60 Days (Breakfast Only)
2 guests/room · Breakfast only · Economy / Standard / Deluxe twin · 26-41㎡
¥20,037 / person
View Details on Official Site View Details on Rakuten Travel
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Other Areas in Nagano Prefecture
Karuizawa
Approx. 60 km
›
Kamikochi
Approx. 37 km
›
Nagano City
Approx. 61 km
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Matsumoto
Approx. 14 km
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