Top 5-Star Hotels in Karuizawa

After a great stay at the Hoshinoya Okinawa last year, we were looking forward to staying at the ”main” resort, which did not disappoint. I love how Hoshinoya takes a completely different approach to luxury than a Four Seasons or an Aman. This is not about excess and opulence. This is about simplicity, discreteness, thoughtfulness and nature. We stayed at one of the water-side villas, which appear to be worth the higher rate than the row of villas farther away. Check-in and reception were a breeze, except for the expected English language gap. There are a few staff members who speak very good English, but overall you can tell some of the staff will struggle. The rooms are gorgeous. High ceilings. Turn on some music and it will echo wonderfully. There is some attention paid to lighting. The sleeping areas are darker. And quieter. The only sound filling the room is the rush of the water. The rooms are extremely clean and you will find yourself tidying up your own clothes just to not mess up the clean/zen vibe of your room. Being able to wear the yukata around the resort and even in nearby areas was great. Next time I will make sure to pack less clothes. We ordered the kaiseki style breakfast and dinner. The breakfast was a bit too much on the veggie side but the dinner was excellent. Pricey, but worth it. More reasonably-priced dining options are available at the nearby Harunire Terrace, which is a 15-minute walk or a 5-minute ride with the resort's free car service. The Meditation Bath facility in the resort was more than enough for me to enjoy the hot springs. It's open to very late and you can check via a web site as to whether the place is crowded or not. My wife ventured out to the larger Tonbo no yu onsen and thoroughly loved it. It won't take you a lot of time but just walking around the resort grounds is amazingly relaxing. The layout does come across as a bit too manicured but still very pleasing both visually and aurally. I didn't want to go too much into the details of the place because part of the wonder of this resort is discovering and marveling at it for the first time yourself. If you can shed the concept of excess and luxury and opulence and are open to a ”very” different approach, then go.

Stayed in Cottage Type A with two kids. There is the hotel van that will send you to your cottage from the hotel reception. You just have to let the staff know. They will also pick you up from the cottage if you want to go nearby places. The prince shopping outlet is a 5 min walk away. The ski school and slope are also within 5 min. The cottage is clean but there may be some creepy crawlers around (spiders). The bathroom is challenging to bathe in the winter because it is small and clothes may get wet. The toilet is separate though. Overall, it was a wonderful stay and I’d stay here again if I return next time.

From our recent visit to the Karuizawa Marriott Hotel, we're excited to share the essence of this secluded gem. With its sprawling suites and gourmet dining options, the hotel is a sanctuary of comfort amidst the snowy splendor of Karuizawa. The experience is further elevated by the warmth of the staff and the blissful moments spent in the onsen. 😍So Good: Impeccable Cleanliness: The hotel's dedication to a pristine environment was evident and appreciated. Heartwarming Service: The staff's attentiveness and warmth made our stay delightful. Restful Onsen: The onsen provided a haven of relaxation, enhancing our retreat. Delectable Breakfast: The diverse breakfast options were a culinary delight each morning. 🙁Not So OK: Secluded Location: Its distance from the city and public transport requires some planning. Seasonal Crowds: Winter brings the beauty of snow but also high demand and prices. 👌Just OK: 👨‍🦲Zen Minimalism: The room's minimalist Zen decor may not resonate with those in search of traditional luxury. Standard Amenities: The facilities met our needs without exceeding expectations. Ski Area Access: While the hotel offers a shuttle to the ski area, there is still a walk involved to reach the ski gates, which might be a consideration for some guests. 💡 Tips and Recommendation: ♨Onsen Choices: Opt for the building with its own onsen for a private dip, or brave the open-air onsen for a magical winter experience. 🚘Transport Planning: While there's a shuttle service, having private transportation is convenient. Marriott Bonvoy Benefits: Leverage Bonvoy membership for enhanced stay experiences; it's worth signing up for. 👏Conclusion: Capturing the magic of the Karuizawa Marriott Hotel in mere words is a challenge; it's an experience that truly needs to be felt personally. It's a destination that may very well become your next must-visit retreat.

Celebrating our 28th Wedding Anniversary and Kyukaruizawa Kikyo, the Curio Collection by Hilton made it a memorable occasion. From the special gift and room upgrade as a Diamond member, the cleanliness of the room and the facilities, amazing food, and to top all, the attentiveness of ALL employees to all customers. The moment, we drove up to the entrance, we were assisted in every way to make our check-in easy. We arrived late but we were able to go to the executive lounge at the last minute. Although not properly dressed, as we came from hiking, we still got the same exceptional service from the servers. There was a time when we had to leave early for a hiking trip and could not make it for breakfast, they were able to provide us with fruits and nuts for our trip. I was also having a hard time looking for a place to have my hair done since I could not speak Japanese to make the reservation. Hiromi, one of the employees, helped me look for a place to accommodate me and she helped me with the reservations. The servers in the dining area are all very attentive and are always happy to serve. The strength of the hotel is not only its facilities and location but also its people. We have never felt so much at home. Having traveled all over the world, this hotel made a huge difference in showing its customers what quality is all about. We look forward to going back again. Thank you Kyukaruizawa Kikyo, Curio Collection by Hilton.

We stayed here for two nights. Check in was at 3pm and we arrived around 12pm, but there was no early check in. As we waited for our room, we were given welcome drinks. We booked a large double room, which had two queen size beds; a sitting table with two chairs; a TV and large cabinet; and wardrobe. There was an Apple TV, which is useful to people who subscribe to those services. However, it didn’t work so they had to replace it with another unit. The room had a large bathroom, with a separate tub and shower cubicle, toilet unit and sizeable sink area. The toilet is a modern Japanese one with various functions you can press that will make more of a mess if you don’t understand the language. We did not use the shower and bath as we used their public spa facilities. The spa is on the top (2nd floor) and includes hot bath and shower facilities as usual in these places. There is also an outdoor bath as well. They have the usual amenities. The hotel is walking distance from Karuizawa Station but could be difficult if you have heavy luggage. There is limited to no transport choices given by this hotel (could be the norm in Japan). They do a buffet breakfast that had hot Western and Japanese food (also Chinese Siu Mai as well). Western food was scrambled eggs and small sausages. There are pastries and fruit as well so there’s enough food for a sufficient meal. Overall a good stay was had. Hotel is nice and room was clean. The staff are friendly enough, if English levels were of varying standard.

Cost performance is the best hotel. The price is middle class, but the quality is only a luxury hotel. So please stay for a while. I write the improvement points afterwards, but it is a level that you don't have to hesitate to stay because it is trivial. The first is that there are few amenities. There is no cosmetic water or body cream system in particular. It is not possible because it is a recent flow, but I think it is the best if there is. The second is hot spring. The facilities and atmosphere are the best, but it is difficult to sit slowly because the water flow in the bathtub is strong. It's flowing sideways. The staff is perfect if you have another step of hospitality. If you carry out training like Hyatt, I think it's worth it even if it's 20% plus at a price.

If you come here by car, and want to be close to nature in a quiet place, these small villas are the ideal place! The nearby 711 can buy everything you need for a short-term life. Our family spent two happy days here like a home!

There are three rooms in the two-story villa, one of which has four beds and the other two beds. Each room has a bathtub. The open-air hot spring in the room is very small and can only accommodate one person, but the bathroom has a large jacuzzi and a TV. The vacation is really great. The ski resort is very close, and you can play at the age of three. Aolai has a few big names that are still expensive. The sukiyaki pot and teppanyaki in the hotel are great. If you bring children, it is more suitable than Hoshino, and Hoshino Hot Spring can not go. The hot spring in the hotel is already very good. There is a big supermarket, Delice, which is 15 minutes by taxi. You can buy things and cook in the room. The cooking in the room is very convenient. The waiter can wash the dishes. It is perfect.

The design is very exquisite and elegant Very comfortable and well-equipped with bathtubs, stoves, etc.

Traveling with 2 teenagers. This is not a suitable place for them. Check in at 3pm. You can check your luggage early. But, during this waiting time, you can only go for outlet shopping. Sadly, not for teenagers ! Staff are fine but quite fixed. For example, we arrived at 1030 and one teenager asked for using gym. They said no. It's his birthday, none is happy about this. At the early evening, I found you need to pay 2000 yean for each use of gym and hot spring. I feel this is silly. You are charging us anyway why not let us use and pay? Cottage: is cute and cozy but extremely oldx3. I think you can describe a vantage cottage. Clean but a bit of natural symphony from outside. Buffet dinner: selection if food was ok. Western, Chinese and Japanese. But certainly the entire area are a bit of pricy. 9000 yean plus 18% charges. If you dont have a choice , this is acceptable. Or you can choose to eat early at the outlet area. Hot spring: outdoor and indoor. Very nice setting but you pay 2000 per use. Overall, this area is pretty pricy. But if you are here to chill this should be nice but with teenagers I would say they rather live in Tokyo like a cheap hotel not this. They don't appreciate this at all. I still appreciate the service and the experience.