7 Top-Rated Onsens in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Koshinetsu, Chubu

May 9, 2023 Myesha Cogley

The proud black “crow castle” of Matsumoto keeps watch over a city that’s rapidly developing into an epicenter of food and culture. Slurp noodles made from local soba or taunt your taste buds with product from the Daio Wasabi Farm. Take a soothing soak in a local hot spring or spend a few minutes in the Timepiece Museum. Classical music fans should consider a visit during the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto, founded by famed conductor Seiji Ozawa.
Restaurants in Matsumoto

1. Kamikouchi Onsen Hotel

4469-1 Kamikochi Azumi, Matsumoto 390-1516 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
23%
Good
59%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
7%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 61 reviews

Kamikouchi Onsen Hotel

See why so many travelers make Kamikochi Onsen Hotel their onsen hotel of choice when visiting Matsumoto. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a charming setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you. Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a desk, and guests can go online with internet access offered by the onsen hotel. Kamikochi Onsen Hotel features a coffee shop and shops, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts a hot tub and an on-site restaurant. If you are driving to Kamikochi Onsen Hotel, parking is available. While staying at Kamikochi Onsen Hotel, visitors can check out Tashiro Shitsugen (0.4 mi) and Hodaka Shrine Okumiya (2.2 mi), some of Matsumoto's top attractions. While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the nearby restaurants, including Five Horn Kamikochi (0.7 mi), Grindelwald (0.3 mi), and Dining Room (0.3 mi), all of which are within walking distance from Kamikochi Onsen Hotel. Should time allow, Kappa Bashi, Tashiro Bridge, and Weston Relief are some popular attractions that are within walking distance. We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Kamikochi Onsen Hotel as you experience all of the things Matsumoto has to offer.

Serviceable for a trip to Kamikochi, memorable for its retro offerings

Reviewed By ijayne

While the stay here was nice, it wasn't up what we necessarily expected for the price we had to pay. The price was worth three nights what we had paid for a better ryokan in Takayama, so this was a bit of a letdown. That being said, I believe the price is really about supply and demand, and the number of hotels within Kamikochi are quite dismal - due to the uniqueness of the park. Anyway, the hotel is conveniently located 4 minutes away from the bus stop. You traverse a little wooded area, cross two bridges over small streams and you stop right in front of the hotel. Right in front of the hotel is the Asuza River, which you can experience thanks to the benches and tables set by the riverside by the hotel. We sat there in the day and had multiple monkeys curiously sit by us, and at night, when the lights are all turned off, you sit in darkness, the milky way overhead (best spotted through a long-exposure camera shot) and the sound of the mountains and river surrounding you. It's terrifyingly beautiful. The stars are truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were here towards the end of summer, it was supposed to be a blazing 30degC elsewhere but up in Kamikochi, surrounded by mountain peaks, it was a cool 23 to 25degc. Lovely and brisk. From this hotel, you had a 20min trek to the famous Kappa bridge on the left and a 40min trek to Taisho pond on the right. You basically get the best of Kamikochi from this convenient location. The hotel is designed really as a stopover for Japanese travellers who want to experience the beauty of Kamikochi. So it's quite frill-free. The guests are also mostly locals, elderly locals to be exact. By 9pm, all lights are off cause they are all asleep. In fact, you'll find that there'll be no staff at the front desk either. Just after dinner, we hopped down to the lobby for an evening stroll outside when we saw that they had all gathered for a slide show of pictures of Kamikochi. Everyone sat gathered in their yukatas watching this old man use his 80s-chic slideshow projector. I was blown away by the retro-ness of it all. We opted for the Japanese-style rooms, and it was properly traditional. Paper sliding doors, tatami mats and futons for the night. Everything was well kept, but old. As was the onsen that had both indoor and outdoor options. (Remember, you are not allowed to bathe here if you have a tattoo!) The food offerings were disappointing. The dinner spread was interesting but flavour-wise, average. In fact, we were left feel a little disatisfed after dinner cause it was just so...meh. Breakfast was a buffet with mostly traditional Japanese offerings and a handful of continental choices (sausages, croissants, ham etc). But that was decidely better and tastier. We particuarly enjoyed the savoury roasted vegetables. Would we stay here again, probably not. Was it memorable? Yes.

2. Hotel Shoho

527 Satoyamabe, Matsumoto 390-0221 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
36%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
2%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 232 reviews

Hotel Shoho

Hotel Shoho is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Matsumoto, offering a family-friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Guest rooms offer amenities such as air conditioning and a refrigerator, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the onsen hotel. Hotel Shoho features a 24 hour front desk, a chapel, and a gift shop, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts an on-site restaurant. If you are driving to Hotel Shoho, free parking is available. Nearby landmarks such as Suzuki Shin-ichi Talent Education Institute (1.9 mi) and Nakamachi Street (2.0 mi) make Hotel Shoho a great place to stay when visiting Matsumoto. While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the Chinese restaurants, including Reizan, China Spice Shokudo, and Aburaya Chinese Restaurant, all of which are a short distance from Hotel Shoho. Should time allow, Yohashira Shrine, Kaichi Gakko Primary School, and Matsumoto City Historic Village are some popular historic sites that are relatively easy to get to. Enjoy your stay in Matsumoto!

Comfortable big Ryokan

Reviewed By Takafoto

A huge Ryokan type hotel, consisting three buildings and sky corridor. We stayed 8th floor, where each room has Onsen in its room. That was the end of July. Their facilities are great. They seemed renovated. Especially the public Onsen, both the indoor and outdoor, were really nice. They are very spacious and some of them have really great view. The staffs are very polite and friendly. The breakfast and dinner were good as a big Ryokan. We enjoyed the local ales available there, especially the one from Nagano. Dinner cannot be ranked as Five because of the size of Ryokan, I guess, but still good including their service. The great view from our room as attached was also nice. We, including my 10 year old daughter, really enjoyed our stay here.

3. Kamikouchi Onsen Hotel

4469-1 Kamikochi Azumi, Matsumoto 390-1516 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
23%
Good
59%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
7%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 61 reviews

Kamikouchi Onsen Hotel

See why so many travelers make Kamikochi Onsen Hotel their onsen hotel of choice when visiting Matsumoto. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a charming setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you. Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a desk, and guests can go online with internet access offered by the onsen hotel. Kamikochi Onsen Hotel features a coffee shop and shops, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts a hot tub and an on-site restaurant. If you are driving to Kamikochi Onsen Hotel, parking is available. While staying at Kamikochi Onsen Hotel, visitors can check out Tashiro Shitsugen (0.4 mi) and Hodaka Shrine Okumiya (2.2 mi), some of Matsumoto's top attractions. While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the nearby restaurants, including Five Horn Kamikochi (0.7 mi), Grindelwald (0.3 mi), and Dining Room (0.3 mi), all of which are within walking distance from Kamikochi Onsen Hotel. Should time allow, Kappa Bashi, Tashiro Bridge, and Weston Relief are some popular attractions that are within walking distance. We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Kamikochi Onsen Hotel as you experience all of the things Matsumoto has to offer.

Serviceable for a trip to Kamikochi, memorable for its retro offerings

Reviewed By ijayne

While the stay here was nice, it wasn't up what we necessarily expected for the price we had to pay. The price was worth three nights what we had paid for a better ryokan in Takayama, so this was a bit of a letdown. That being said, I believe the price is really about supply and demand, and the number of hotels within Kamikochi are quite dismal - due to the uniqueness of the park. Anyway, the hotel is conveniently located 4 minutes away from the bus stop. You traverse a little wooded area, cross two bridges over small streams and you stop right in front of the hotel. Right in front of the hotel is the Asuza River, which you can experience thanks to the benches and tables set by the riverside by the hotel. We sat there in the day and had multiple monkeys curiously sit by us, and at night, when the lights are all turned off, you sit in darkness, the milky way overhead (best spotted through a long-exposure camera shot) and the sound of the mountains and river surrounding you. It's terrifyingly beautiful. The stars are truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were here towards the end of summer, it was supposed to be a blazing 30degC elsewhere but up in Kamikochi, surrounded by mountain peaks, it was a cool 23 to 25degc. Lovely and brisk. From this hotel, you had a 20min trek to the famous Kappa bridge on the left and a 40min trek to Taisho pond on the right. You basically get the best of Kamikochi from this convenient location. The hotel is designed really as a stopover for Japanese travellers who want to experience the beauty of Kamikochi. So it's quite frill-free. The guests are also mostly locals, elderly locals to be exact. By 9pm, all lights are off cause they are all asleep. In fact, you'll find that there'll be no staff at the front desk either. Just after dinner, we hopped down to the lobby for an evening stroll outside when we saw that they had all gathered for a slide show of pictures of Kamikochi. Everyone sat gathered in their yukatas watching this old man use his 80s-chic slideshow projector. I was blown away by the retro-ness of it all. We opted for the Japanese-style rooms, and it was properly traditional. Paper sliding doors, tatami mats and futons for the night. Everything was well kept, but old. As was the onsen that had both indoor and outdoor options. (Remember, you are not allowed to bathe here if you have a tattoo!) The food offerings were disappointing. The dinner spread was interesting but flavour-wise, average. In fact, we were left feel a little disatisfed after dinner cause it was just so...meh. Breakfast was a buffet with mostly traditional Japanese offerings and a handful of continental choices (sausages, croissants, ham etc). But that was decidely better and tastier. We particuarly enjoyed the savoury roasted vegetables. Would we stay here again, probably not. Was it memorable? Yes.

4. Itoen Hotel Asamanoyu

3-4-9 Asamaonsen, Matsumoto 390-0303 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
4%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
39%
Poor
13%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

3 based on 46 reviews

Itoen Hotel Asamanoyu

5. Shirafuneso Shintaku Ryokan

4201 Azumi, Matsumoto 390-1515 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
37%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
7%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 105 reviews

Shirafuneso Shintaku Ryokan

Good white outdoor onsen

Reviewed By Anthony_Chow

Typical Japanese Ryokan with onsen, staffs are polite, room is large and clean, breakfast and dinner are great. Come here for the white hot spring, there is no great view in the outdoor onsen but having one with snow around is always exciting.

6. Hoshino Resorts KAI Matsumoto

1-31-1 Asama Onsen, Matsumoto 390-0303 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
54%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
6%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 170 reviews

Hoshino Resorts KAI Matsumoto

Designed with an artfully whimsical touch, KAI Matsumoto offers a luxurious multi-feature onsen bath and premium beef and vegetable dishes. KAI Matsumoto is surrounded by the breathtaking Japanese Alps in Nagano prefecture. After soaking in eight baths of hot spring water drawn from Asama Onsen Hot Springs, go on a walking tour to nearby Matsumoto Castle, the National Treasure of Japan.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Matsumoto - 3 of 4

Reviewed By TheClairvoyant

Having previously had a wonderful time at Hoshinoya Karuizawa, our family of four felt we could trust their brand and devised a driving holiday which took us from Kawaji over to Nagano. KAI Matusmoto was the third of four Hoshino branded resorts that we stayed. Of the four resorts, KAI Matsumoto was the most different in that it had a very boutique\city hotel feel to it. The main lobby is an extremely impressive space and, whilst not overly large, really makes the resort feel special. We really enjoyed the live music that was played in the evening. Our room was smaller than the other KAIs but was the most modern and stylish. Again there was a partition between the main sleeping and living areas. It also had a private hot-tub on a small balcony that the whole family made use of (individually…its very small). Dining here was something that was very special. The dining rooms appear to occupy two floors that surround an internal courtyard that had a typical Japanese style garden. Eating dinner in the evening, overlooking the courtyard, with snow falling was a magical experience. We had ordered the special meal as we were only staying one night and it did not disappoint. Although I have said that Kawaji had the best standard food, Matsumoto gave us the best meal of our entire trip plus also introduced us to the amazing Kato. KAI Matsumoto also appeared to have the most elaborate onsen configuration. With only 1 night we didn’t get chance to make the most of it but what we saw we really enjoyed. The resort is on the edge of Matsumoto itself; although it’s only a short drive to Matsumoto Castle. The castle is not massive, but extremely impressive and we really enjoyed visiting it. Although it was only a short stay, it was a very enjoyable one and we would definitely return.

7. Awanoyu

4181 Azumi, Matsumoto 390-1515 Nagano Prefecture
Excellent
33%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
6%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 216 reviews

Awanoyu

Finding an ideal romantic onsen hotel in Matsumoto does not have to be difficult. Welcome to Awanoyu, a nice option for travelers like you. You’ll enjoy relaxing rooms that offer air conditioning, bringing comfort and convenience to your visit. For guests with a vehicle, free parking is available. While you’re here, be sure to check out Abbey Road, one of the cafes that can be found in Matsumoto, which is a short distance from Awanoyu. Awanoyu puts the best of Matsumoto at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.

Very pleasant staff, lovely onsen

Reviewed By woodsie9

We spent a day and night here in April just after it opened for the season. With snow still on the ground it was very beautiful. The ryokan itself is comfortable if a little tired in places but the food is superlative and the onsen is very well laid out. There is a games room with ping pong and TVs in the bedrooms. The futons were very comfortable. Highly recommend.

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