Nakaoyama Onsen Spa Shōsenkaku — Hotel in Nagano

【桜に包まれる、贅沢な一夜】 We stayed one night at Nakaoyama Onsen Shousenkaku, drawn in by the promise of a cherry blossom bath — and that alone made the trip worth it. Watching delicate petals drift in the wind while soaking in our private rotenburo was pure poetry, the kind of quiet luxury that lingers in the mind long after check-out.

Dinner was another highlight — a comforting nabe anchored by a deeply flavorful chicken broth, clearly the pride of the kitchen. Alongside it came a thoughtful selection of local specialties, and a sake tasting set that, while slightly uneven, was still a joy to explore.

That said, the ryokan shows its age. The bones are beautiful, but maintenance has been neglected. The “Omiai” onsen, once charming with its romantic lore and shrine, now feels forgotten — the tiny altar nearly collapsing, the magic dimmed.

Service was polite but impersonal, and the overall atmosphere lacked the warmth or personal touch you might hope for in a countryside inn. Payment is cash only, which feels out of step for travelers today.

Still, for families, it’s quite accommodating — with kid-friendly touches and laundry machines that make longer stays easier. If you come, come in spring. Book the room with the sakura bath. Let that moment be your memory.

🌟Normally this would have been three stars stay for me, but the cherry blossom experience adds a star to the overall rating🌸

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【Features】 🚘 Parking: Available 🍽️ Order: Chicken nabe, sake tasting set 🔠 English manuals available in the room 👶🏻 Family-friendly: Toys, baby seats available 🧺 Laundry: Washing machines available for guests 💰 Payment: ❌Cash Only 🔙 Would I visit...

We stayed here for 3 nights in August. Our room was very nice, in the traditional Japanese style. The breakfast was also very good, with a number of small courses. ||||The owners/staff speak no English but get by with a translation app which makes staying there easy.||||Overall the hotel is quite tired and shabby. The quality of the bedroom, breakfast and helpfulness of staff compensated for this.||||The rooms have airconditioning and ours had a private bathroom.||||The location is fine if you want to be out of the town but it’s not so good for access to central Nagano which is about 20 mins drive away. There is a train station not too far away so that may provide another...

We stayed here for 3 nights in August. Our room was very nice, in the traditional Japanese style. The breakfast was also very good, with a number of small courses. ||||The owners/staff speak no English but get by with a translation app which makes staying there easy.||||Overall the hotel is quite tired and shabby. The quality of the bedroom, breakfast and helpfulness of staff compensated for this.||||The rooms have airconditioning and ours had a private bathroom.||||The location is fine if you want to be out of the town but it’s not so good for access to central Nagano which is about 20 mins drive away. There is a train station not too far away so that may provide another...