Manza Prince Hotel — Hotel in Tsumagoi

This high altitude onsen was a unique experience, but glad that we only had to stay one night. Although this seems to be part of the "Prince" hotel luxury chain, it's not to that standard. ||||Pros:||||- We got the twin room with a private shower. Large basin area. Spacious enough room. Really nice bay window area looking right into the bubbling stream. We kept the window ajar and used the mozzie screens so we could hear the river. Relaxing. Toilet had a nice bidet function. ||Note: Yukatas provided, different sizes available in the lobby. ||Note: Not possible to move the two single beds together. ||Note: Shower door literally was the door so not suitable unless you're a couple. ||||- Hot spring onsen, two separate locations. Although smaller and less elaborate, I preferred the small indoor + outdoor onsen. It was much cleaner and more modern than the fully outdoor onsen on the other end of the building, with a better changing room. Onsens are fed from four different streams from the nearby volcanoes. Waters are baby blue or bright yellow, with a light sulphur smell.||* Fully outdoor onsen: Has one small pool for women-only, and five small pools clustered together for mixed bathing. Unlike normal onsen where you enter naked, mixed bathing requires women to wrap a towel around you at all times (which you need to rent from front desk for 100JPY). Men are required to use a small blue towel that comes in the room. In practice this barely wraps round so they just cover the main bits in front... ||The women-only pool is hotter than the others, and is pure-fed from a single stream. The mixed ones seemed to be blends of different streams. ||This outdoor onsen is nominally open from 7am - 10pm, but they also say cleaning takes place from 8am - 11am so it might not be open then. It was fairly quiet at around 9pm+.||* Indoor + Outdoor onsen area: Supposed to be 24hr but there are some cleaning hours too. Much more modern. Nice clean outdoor onsen overlooking the sulphurous slopes. ||||Cons:||||- Hard beds. Hotel seems to be old and dated. There's a sulphur smell when we opened the windows to cool down, but we got used to it. ||||- Safe in the room did not work.||||- Noisy. When we went, about 95% of the guests were elderly, and sounded like they were having the time of their lives. They were as noisy as teenagers on a school trip, which was nice to see but the noise got tiring after a while. No families, no kids, maybe a few other young couples. Hotel seems geared for the elderly. ||||- Meal times were odd. Dinner lasts from 5pm - 8pm, breakfast from 630am - 9am. ||||- No atmosphere. Dinner buffet was like being back in the school canteen again, queuing for food, noisy chatter everywhere, white fluorescent lights, no music, and basic dining tables and chairs. Felt very much like a budget school trip. We went at 6pm and waited ten minutes, they yelled our name out when it was our turn. ||||- No meal options. Only thing to eat onsite is the buffet. This was JPY3,700 per person for dinner, which was a buffet of American, Chinese and Japanese. Price does not include drinks beyond thermos coffee, two types of tea and cold water. Beer was 700 JPY for a glass and over a thousand for a beer mug. Bit silly when the vending machines outside were JPY 440 for a large can. Food was very average. No sushi. No ice cream. There was actually a carbonara pasta dish that was cold. Dessert was average. Only things that were nice were the plump grapes, a basic chocolate fountain with some sad cut-up waffles. Definitely not worth the price, except there is no other choice. ||||- Service was lacking. At check-in, our booking confirmation got passed around to three people (rising in seniority), when the senior male staff who spoke good English clarified that breakfast was not included. I had showed them where it was explicitly stated, with the price breakdown, and did it again for him. He seemed a little irritated and agreed we were correct. ||At check-in we also asked to include dinner which they agreed, but no meal ticket was given to us, which led to confusion later on in the restaurant. ||The bright spot here was the female junior staff who spoke average English, who was very helpful and engaging. ||||- No wifi. They stated there was free wifi in common areas. At the lobby we tried to go online and asked for help at front desk but for whatever technical reason, both my partner's phone and mine could not access the free wifi. We actually had our own third party wifi access, but there was zero signal in the rooms. This was annoying but not terrible as we ended up watching silly Japanese game shows on the TV.||||- Dead flies. Outdoor onsen is not "clean". Having been so many times to Hokkaido for onsen, and having tried both posh and public onsens, this was a little surprising. There were little dead flies galore floating in the water. Thankfully the live ones buzzing around were only at the onsen edge near the river bubbling below. We stepped on dead leaves at the bottom. Bit freaky as the water was totally opaque so you can't see what weird thing you just stepped on. In the women's outdoor onsen, as you walk out the bathing area, if you look straight in front of you before you turn left, there is a massive spider web with a huge spider just sitting in the middle. The web was easily half a meter wide, and twice as tall. The spider was about the size of my palm. I only noticed it on the way back in and it freaked me out. No idea why it wasn't cleaned or moved away. ||||- Common area was the lobby, which was old and dated. There were some sofas, a few arcade game machines in the corner and a ping pong table, some lockers, vending machines, one shop.||||Given how much we paid, and having stayed at onsen hotels elsewhere, we were expecting better quality...

The Manza Prince Hotel, nestled amidst the stunning landscapes of Japan's famous hot spring territories, offers a getaway that beautifully combines luxury with the natural beauty of its surroundings. This hotel stands out not only for its prime location, which provides direct access to some of the best hot springs in the area but also for its exceptional service, comfortable accommodations, and the breathtaking views that can be enjoyed from almost every corner.

Upon arrival, guests are immediately welcomed by the hotel's friendly staff, whose attention to detail and commitment to guest satisfaction are apparent from the get-go. The check-in process is smooth and efficient, allowing visitors to quickly settle in and start enjoying their stay without any hassle.

The rooms at the Manza Prince Hotel are designed with comfort and convenience in mind, offering a harmonious blend of modern amenities and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Many rooms feature large windows that frame the majestic beauty of the surrounding mountains and forests, providing guests with a serene backdrop to their stay. The beds are comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep after a day of exploring the natural wonders or enjoying the hot springs.

Speaking of hot springs, the onsen facilities at the Manza Prince Hotel are undoubtedly a highlight. The hotel offers both indoor and outdoor baths, which draw their mineral-rich waters directly from the source. These therapeutic waters are known for their healing properties, offering relief and relaxation to weary travelers. The outdoor baths, in particular, offer a sublime experience, allowing guests to soak in the hot, soothing waters while surrounded by nature's splendor, especially enchanting under a blanket of snow in the winter or amidst the vibrant hues of autumn.

Dining at the hotel is another delightful experience, with several restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. From traditional Japanese kaiseki meals that celebrate the local and seasonal ingredients to more casual dining options, the culinary offerings are designed to cater to a range of tastes and preferences. The chefs' attention to detail and the quality of the ingredients make each meal a memorable part of the stay.

For those looking to explore beyond the hotel, Manza Prince Hotel's location serves as an excellent base for enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing in the winter, and exploring the natural beauty of the region. The hotel staff are more than happy to assist with arranging tours or providing recommendations for things to do in the area.

In summary, the Manza Prince Hotel offers an ideal retreat for those seeking to immerse themselves in Japan's natural beauty while enjoying the comforts of a luxury hotel. Its combination of superb onsen facilities, comfortable accommodations, exquisite dining, and impeccable service, all set against the backdrop of stunning natural scenery, make it a truly exceptional place to stay. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway to relax and rejuvenate or an adventurous escape into nature, the Manza Prince Hotel promises an...

Very nice hotel. The staff that I met at the reception is very kind and courteous . God bless him.||The hotel will send a bus to pick you up (and back)  from Karuizawa station several times a day. Make sure you contact them beforehand to arrange a seat on the bus..it may be booked full already. I booked an early bus (9.00 am to go and 4.00 pm to come back the next day .. got two almost full days of onsen soaking..beautiful !!)||The hotel is a bit dated some parts of the room wall is peeling off..no aircondition either,( don't come mid summer)  there are no chairs in the room , just four beds, very peculiar. ||The evening buffet meal is ¥4000 per person .I had a lunch soba noodles which you will have to take a complementary shuttle bus to a sister hotel cost approximately  ¥1500..wow! Very steep. ||The outdoor Onsen is nice ,consist of  about six ponds . They are mixed Onsen but now they require both men and women to wear the hotel's towel when you enter area. A bit of a nuisance since you have to jiggle with it all the time and hang on to it from floating away.Using your own swim suit is forbidden..not a traditional Japanese  Onsen of old where you need to get naked .  I learned that wearing swimming trunks bought from the hotel's souvenirs shop is also allowed.Still, maybe they are trying to separate themselves from a water park by allowing you to still use...