Shiorisha — Hotel in Nagano

We stayed at the Shioriya guesthouse for 7 days. The guesthouse is located in Shinonoi, a 10 minute train ride from Nagano and a short drive from the Shinonoi station. We liked the location of the guesthouse for its quiet, homely neighborhood and for the convenience of restaurants and department stores located very close by. We stayed in the Japanese-Western combination room which had very comfortable mattresses on a raised platform. The room (with an attached bathroom) was exceptionally clean, well-designed, airy and spacious. The room has a small refrigerator, a kettle, cosmetics and spare pillows. We had beautiful views of the Alps in the distance. Even though the room faced the street, we heard almost no street-noise. There is an aesthetically designed and comfortable common dining and lounge space downstairs. Coming back in the evening to a roaring fire in the fireplace was an added bonus! The guesthouse also has a washer-dryer unit and a small, well-stocked kitchen that the guests can use.

We have visited Japan several times in the past and stayed in ryokans, but this stay was by far the best, made most memorable and enjoyable thanks to the wonderful hosts. They were incredibly generous with their time, sharing their knowledge about the area and nearby towns. Depending on our interests, they had great suggestions on sites to visit, restaurants, walking paths and shops. The hosts are warm, hospitable and very thoughtful. We enjoyed the healthy and tasty breakfast that they served every morning. Even though we were unfamiliar with each other's language, communication was never difficult: through a combination of Google Translate and their device that translates from Japanese to English, we were able to communicate with each other very well. We are already looking forward to our next stay at Shioriya!

Update: This was our second visit to Shioriya and it was just as pleasant and wonderful a stay as it was our first time! The spic and span rooms were very comfortable. This time we stayed in the Japanese and Western style rooms. Our last visit was nearly 4 years ago and it was great to see that the high standards of comfort and cleanliness continue to be maintained. Above all, the hosts are absolutely wonderful! They once again gave us great recommendations for restaurants and places to see. We can't...

Nagano City is a stunning place, famous for its local products and as a hub for skiers and travelers exploring the surrounding areas. But what made our trip truly special was this hotel—it’s not just a place to stay but an experience in itself.

The decor is absolutely beautiful, with so much thought put into every detail. From the fresh lilies that perfumed the reception to the quirky collection of local pepper cans (yes, we were obsessed!), every corner felt unique and welcoming. We stayed in a traditional Japanese-style room, which was perfectly equipped and incredibly relaxing—a wonderful way to unwind after exploring.

Although the hotel isn’t right next to Nagano Station, getting around was super easy with frequent buses and trains. On top of that, Mr. Haruhiko went above and beyond, offering to drive us to the nearest station whenever we needed—it’s this kind of thoughtfulness that really sets this place apart.

What truly made our stay unforgettable were the hosts, Fumie and Haruhiko. Their kindness and attention to every guest were beyond anything we’ve experienced before. As a gay couple, we’re often careful when booking accommodations, but their acceptance and warmth made us feel completely at home from the start and all worries were settled.

It’s hard to put into words just how much their hospitality meant to us. They didn’t just make our stay comfortable—they made it memorable in the best possible way. We left with full hearts, feeling truly cared for.

If you’re thinking about booking this hotel, do it—you won’t regret it. Thank you, Fumie and Haruhiko, for an unforgettable stay, we will miss you.

With...

Nothing more than amazing! The hosts, the location, the area that is Nagano. We absolutely fell in love with this place and Nagano! The hosts are one-of-a-kind amazing! And the quality of everything, from the rooms, the service, the water bottle, the small breakfast is superb! Run by a wife and husband that we would love to call family, it is nothing more than a 100% recommendation if you are in the area or make a detour please! Because for Nagano I can only say: visit it! We ate delicious unique oyaki at Oyaki Farm around the corner (recommend doing the Tour, recommend to make a detour to eat it), visited the amazing Shrines of Togakushi Okusha and drank amazing coffee (plus drip bags) at 戸隠珈琲豆焙煎工房「き楽珈琲」and ate delicious Katsudon at Meijitei (and bought the sauce). We stayed for 2 days, but it made our whole travelling complete. Next time we will stay longer to find our rest, so we will for sure be back. Please visit this place. Although the location needs some traveling to reach it, it is doable! We got out of Shinoi Station and took a cab for 12 mins (costs 2400 JPY). Alternatively you can take a bus from Nagano station, but it is a local bus and takes 35 minutes (costs 480 JPY). Keep in mind you can only pay buy cash and there is no refund as is how the Japanese bus works. A good pdf can be found online on how to use a Japanese local bus ;) (get a ticket at entry, and pay when exiting but throwing your ticket and money...