Sarugakyo Hotel — Hotel in Honshu

Our friends had made a reservation for us to visit Sarugakyo Hotel and it was indeed a nice place to visit. There was snow in the area so it was a beautiful drive. Perhaps the scenery is even more beautiful during spring but we enjoyed our stay. The hotel is little bit older, but it is cozy and like always in Japan clean. Our friends helped us with Japanese customs so there was no problem.||||After putting on Yukata and slippers we went to onsen. It is a separate building but very close. There is two private baths so it was just perfect for us. We selected the first one and it was perfect for two of us. The other is bigger so it was good for a family of four. The water temperature was quite warm, so it took little time to adjust, but after that it was nice and relaxing. ||||The dinner was good and there was several different kind of tofu to taste. Our server was happy to show how to prepare some meals and it was really nice. having a Japanese meal together with good friends is really exceptional experience. In the morning we had a buffet style breakfast, there was good selection for Japanese taste and something also for western style. ||||There was also a story telling time and a little demonstration and tasting of a Japanese specialty. Children enjoyed it very much. It was in Japanese so I could...

Our friends had made a reservation for us to visit Sarugakyo Hotel and it was indeed a nice place to visit. There was snow in the area so it was a beautiful drive. Perhaps the scenery is even more beautiful during spring but we enjoyed our stay. The hotel is little bit older, but it is cozy and like always in Japan clean. Our friends helped us with Japanese customs so there was no problem.||||After putting on Yukata and slippers we went to onsen. It is a separate building but very close. There is two private baths so it was just perfect for us. We selected the first one and it was perfect for two of us. The other is bigger so it was good for a family of four. The water temperature was quite warm, so it took little time to adjust, but after that it was nice and relaxing. ||||The dinner was good and there was several different kind of tofu to taste. Our server was happy to show how to prepare some meals and it was really nice. having a Japanese meal together with good friends is really exceptional experience. In the morning we had a buffet style breakfast, there was good selection for Japanese taste and something also for western style. ||||There was also a story telling time and a little demonstration and tasting of a Japanese specialty. Children enjoyed it very much. It was in Japanese so I could...

We selected mountain view room (not special price plan) but end up the room not really mountain view as it faces opposite houses & big lamp poles in front of the window, quite disappointed.||||Dinner table sat right next to open shelves for cups & bowls don't feel good, there are other tables not occupied so unsure why we are placed at this table. Dinner is nice, we pay extra for beef steak. After dinner there are performance, nice to join locals, free mochi to eat. Breakfast hall is nice facing the lake, but too bad we didnt get to sit face the lake. Soy milk is very good.||||Onsen is long walk down stairs & up stairs not so convenient but found short cut just across the road that's much better! Onsen is big & nice, except one of the outdoor onsen that faces the lake, part of it could see hotel rooms & besides it are windows of the building, was afraid could be seen so can't enjoy.||||Hotel free shuttle to train station only at 10.30am, Shinkansen is 11.43am nothing much to do at station for the long waiting time (about 40min), so we decided to take bus back (1 way 880 yen!) to catch earlier train instead. Hotel is prompt for short notice to send us to bus stop.||||Hotel staffs are helpful, cheerful & friendly that make the stay...