Hotel Shirakabaso Kamikochi — Attraction in Matsumoto

Came here in the summer of 2023. Stayed here 2 nights for hiking. Located just after the Kappabashi bridge as you come from the bus terminal and this hotel lies 1/2 way between Taisho pond and the Myojin pond/ Hotaka shrine. |About the hotel, its has minimalist deco with a plenty of blond wood. No art work on walls. Bed is comfy. My room 307 was facing the back and there wasn’t much of a view, but thats ok bcos we were out walking most of the time. Had the windows opened for fresh air at night|Breakfast buffet is good but minimal variety. Closes by 9am so late sleepers beware!Most tourists were local and almost all were in Q to get in when the breakfast opened at 6.45 am!|Took the dinner too. Dinner is good. Fusion Japanese. Not buffet. Small portion.|Btw if you dont take dinner here, there’s hardly anywhere else to eat at night. By 6pm most tourists who are day-trippers, would have left and all the shops will close.|Remember to do all your purchases and dinning before 5pm!|This hotel disappointingly has no onsen but a public bath instead. A small sad pool. I didnt bother||There are about 6 hotels in this valley and only certain approved vehicles and tourist buses can drive in. The bus station is across the river, about 600m form this hotel (See map) and the track to the hotel is a long gravel road… |I came with a big luggage and I had to drag my bag all the way over the gravel! The poor wheels got stuck in the stone and mud. Was not only embarassing but exasperating! And during summer weekends by 6am, this place will be full of hikers and local tourists. ( Try not to come here on weekends/public holidays)|Of the 2 main hiking trails,in opposite directions, both offer different views and require 1-2 hr trek. Ideally, 3 hr each, to appreciate the beauty and magic of the place. |If given 1 choice, due to lack of time, I prefer the trek to the Myojin pond/ Hotaka shrine. |Located on this trail is a noodle house with grilled Iwara fish. A kind of mountain trout. A rare treat. |This place is chilly at night even in summer|I know this hotel is expensive ( burnt a hole in my budget) but worth the spluch as this place is really beautiful and you will not appreciate the beauty if you rush thro...

Came here in the summer of 2023. Stayed here 2 nights for hiking. Located just after the Kappabashi bridge as you come from the bus terminal and this hotel lies 1/2 way between Taisho pond and the Myojin pond/ Hotaka shrine. |About the hotel, its has minimalist deco with a plenty of blond wood. No art work on walls. Bed is comfy. My room 307 was facing the back and there wasn’t much of a view, but thats ok bcos we were out walking most of the time. Had the windows opened for fresh air at night|Breakfast buffet is good but minimal variety. Closes by 9am so late sleepers beware!Most tourists were local and almost all were in Q to get in when the breakfast opened at 6.45 am!|Took the dinner too. Dinner is good. Fusion Japanese. Not buffet. Small portion.|Btw if you dont take dinner here, there’s hardly anywhere else to eat at night. By 6pm most tourists who are day-trippers, would have left and all the shops will close.|Remember to do all your purchases and dinning before 5pm!|This hotel disappointingly has no onsen but a public bath instead. A small sad pool. I didnt bother||There are about 6 hotels in this valley and only certain approved vehicles and tourist buses can drive in. The bus station is across the river, about 600m form this hotel (See map) and the track to the hotel is a long gravel road… |I came with a big luggage and I had to drag my bag all the way over the gravel! The poor wheels got stuck in the stone and mud. Was not only embarassing but exasperating! And during summer weekends by 6am, this place will be full of hikers and local tourists. ( Try not to come here on weekends/public holidays)|Of the 2 main hiking trails,in opposite directions, both offer different views and require 1-2 hr trek. Ideally, 3 hr each, to appreciate the beauty and magic of the place. |If given 1 choice, due to lack of time, I prefer the trek to the Myojin pond/ Hotaka shrine. |Located on this trail is a noodle house with grilled Iwara fish. A kind of mountain trout. A rare treat. |This place is chilly at night even in summer|I know this hotel is expensive ( burnt a hole in my budget) but worth the spluch as this place is really beautiful and you will not appreciate the beauty if you rush thro...

We booked this hotel the day before. There was no information sent to us about how to access the hotel so we thought that it was accessible by train and bus or train and taxi like any other hotel. When we got to Tokyo Station to take the train there, we discovered that you have to be on a park bus at 2:30 PM into the park where the hotel is apparently located and then the gate is locked behind you. There is no access by train, bus, car or taxi after 2:30 PM! I called the hotel and they lied and stated that that wasn’t true. The fact is you cannot go to this hotel unless you are on that last park bus at 2:30 pm. They then informed me that they were going to impose an 80% to 100% cancellation fee for my $600 room. When I asked to speak with the general manager they then lied again and said that the general manager does not speak English at this major tourist destination. All along there was a clear anti-foreigner tone. The woman on the phone did not cancel my room and instead hung up… this was in order to get 100% cancellation fee because I would be considered a no-show even though I called and emailed to cancel . This hotel is nothing but a money grab attempting to scam foreigners with locked gates preventing access and 100% cancellation fees. Don’t be tricked...