Two hours from Tokyo! A trip around the onsen kingdom of Nagano. 13 recommended ryokan for girls' trips

When you're exhausted both physically and mentally from work or relationships, why not relax in onsen? There are many onsen springs all over Japan, but onsen in Nagano are characterized by the wide variety of spring water types. Of the 11 types of spring water types in the whole country, Nagano alone has 10 types, making it a hot onsen kingdom.

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Nagano 's onsen are characterized by their tranquil, relaxing atmosphere and high level of relaxation. Here, we introduce 13 recommended onsen resorts, hotels, and ryokan in Nagano. Why not visit the famous hot springs of Nagano one by one with your close friends? It's a trip that will warm your body and mind.

*All hotel and ryokan information is current as of December 2023.

Myojinkan is a onsen ryokan located about 45 minutes by car from JR Matsumoto Station. Its Japanese-style exterior is combined with a Western touch to create a comfortable and functional inn. Taking advantage of its long tradition as a hot onsen for healing, ryokan will help you refresh your body and mind.

This bath is a clear, colorless alkaline simple spring. onsen, incorporating the scenery of the mountains in front of you, is like a painting. In particular, the "Standing Bath Setsugekka" where you bathe while standing is a magnificent bath where you can become one with the Wasabizawa valley. This is a hot onsen will instantly relieve your fatigue and stress.

meal are a course made with home-grown organic vegetables, local wild plants, and river fish. When making a reservation, you can choose between kaiseki, modern Japanese, or French cuisine, and the food is so delicious that you'll want to try a different course next time.

"Awanoyu" is a onsen ryokan located about 70 minutes by car from Matsumoto Electric Railway Shinshimashima Station. The huge open-air bath is one of the largest in the prefecture. It is a mixed bath, but you don't have to worry because you will need to wear a bath towel. Take your time soaking in the hot onsen, which changes color depending on the light.

The spring quality is a rare carbonated sulfur spring in Japan. The water flows at 1,730 liters per minute, and of the three indoor baths, the "warm water" is the same as the source water, without any heating. The water is an exquisite 37 degrees, warming you to the core.

meal are Japanese cuisine made with the bounty of the mountains of Shinshu. Various dishes using local ingredients are popular, such as "seiromushi," which is steamed seasonal vegetables and meat. For breakfast, try the Shirakotsu specialty "onsen porridge," which will help soothe your tired stomach.

"Shoho" is a onsen hotel located about 20 minutes by car from JR Matsumoto Station. During the day, the magnificent Northern Alps spread out beyond the lobby, and at night, the hotel boasts a great view overlooking the Matsumoto nightscape. It is also a popular hotel for its attentive hospitality, having been selected as one of the "Top 100 Hotels and ryokan in Japan Selected by Professionals."

This bath is a privately-sourced onsen that overlooks the mountains of the Japanese Alps. The seven baths include a panoramic bath and a "Silk Bath" that relaxes the body with ultra-fine bubbles. This is a famous hot spring that will relax both your body and mind.

There are two meal options. At the open kitchen "Shunsai Dining Shinshu," you can enjoy freshly grilled vegetables from Shinshu, baked in a stone oven, and even desserts are baked in the stone oven! Discovering new cuisine is one of the best parts of traveling. There is also a salad buffet from Shinshu, perfect for getting the full taste of Shinshu. If you want to enjoy a relaxed conversation in a private space, we recommend Shokusai Kamikochi. Enjoy a kaiseki course filled with Shinshu brand ingredients in a relaxing private room. You can enjoy a high-class dinner without being disturbed by anyone.

Onsen Hotel Omoto is located in onsen Onsen area in the northeast of Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, about 15 minutes by shuttle bus onsen JR Matsumoto Station. It is located on a hill overlooking the vast nature of Shinshu and the Northern Alps, and has excellent access to Matsumoto, a city of history and culture. The guest rooms are a mix of Japanese and Western style, with beds on tatami mats, making them very relaxing. This is a hotel where you can relax while looking out at the magnificent nature, and spend a truly healing holiday.

The most attractive features of this hotel are its onsen and views. From the observation public bath on the 8th floor, you can get a magnificent view of the Northern Alps, and the scenery is like a painting. You can enjoy the beautiful nature of the four seasons while soaking in onsen, and refresh your mind and body. The open-air bath is only located in the large public bath on the 8th floor, and on the 7th floor there is a Finnish-style sauna with an observation deck from which you can see the Northern Alps. Please enjoy a luxurious time in the open-air bath and sauna to your heart's content.

For breakfast, you can choose from rice and bread bento boxes that are handmade every morning using seasonal ingredients. The rice options include rolled omelet and salmon with salted rice malt. The bread options include sandwiches with plenty of fillings and a variety of side dishes, so you'll be satisfied with both the quantity and the taste. Enjoy a comfortable stay while taking in the nature and onsen of Shinshu.

Hotel Saginoyu is a onsen ryokan located about a 5-minute walk from JR Matsumoto Station and Kami-Suwa Station. It is said to have started as a public bathhouse built in onsen during the Meiji period, and is one of the oldest hotels in Kami-Suwa onsen. It is also famous as an inn where Japanese painters and calligraphers have stayed, and there is a Japanese painting gallery inside the building, where just looking at the paintings will soothe your soul.

This bath is an amber-colored bicarbonate spring. The water, which is said to be effective in relieving fatigue, flows directly from the hotel's own hot spring source in the garden on the premises. There is also a foot bath in the garden, so you can relax and unwind while watching the four seasons of Lake Suwa.

meal include shabu-shabu (pictured) made with apple-fed "Shinshu beef," and "sakura meat kaiseki" made with horse meat. Horse meat is a local delicacy commonly eaten in Shinshu. Low in calories and rich in minerals, iron, and calcium, horse meat is a popular ingredient among women. It has a light, mild flavor, so even first-timers can enjoy it.

Shinshu Shimosuwa onsen Gingetsu is about a 10-minute walk from JR Shimosuwa Station and is a convenient base for sightseeing in the Suwa area. This inn opened as a traditional Japanese restaurant in the Taisho era, and even after it became ryokan it has gained popularity as a hot onsen ryokan takes pride in its cuisine. The purely Japanese-style rooms are relaxing and spacious, perfect for a relaxing trip for adult women.

In the large public bath and open-air bath, you can enjoy the "Cotton Water" hot spring, named after the legend of the goddess. The water is as delicate as cotton and gentle on the skin. The open-air bath is a little small, but it has a charming atmosphere and you can spend a comfortable time there. Love cards are floating in the open-air bath, so you can enjoy love fortune-telling. Let's heal the fatigue of everyday life in onsen and refresh both mind and body.

Inheriting the tradition of traditional Japanese cuisine that has continued since the Taisho era, you can enjoy exquisite cuisine made with fresh local ingredients. From appetizers to soup, sashimi, grilled dishes, and desserts, the inn is proud of its cuisine that reflects the changing seasons. After relaxing in onsen, spend some time enjoying gourmet food that will satisfy both your body and mind.

"Tateshina Kaorukaze" is a onsen hotel located about 40 minutes by car from JR Chino Station. This lodge-style hotel, located in a quiet villa area, was originally a resort for a megabank. This hotel offers the comfort of a villa, as well as activities such as mountain climbing, golf, and skiing, allowing you to blow away stress.

This bath is a luxurious bath that flows from the Tateshina Mimuro Onsen. It is a rare high-temperature acidic spring in Nagano, and the water is said to be effective for whole-body fatigue and neuralgia. Take a leisurely bath in the open-air bath where you can feel the breeze of Tateshina and regain your energy.

meal uses many branded ingredients from Nagano in its meals. The recommended item is "Shinshu Premium Beef." This is the first Wagyu beef in the country to have its oleic acid content measured, and it is characterized by its smooth, melt-in-the-mouth flavor. The deliciousness of this beef has been confirmed by numerical values.

"Kurotake is about a 30-minute drive from JR Iida Station, onsen ryokan is a different world that combines the goodness of Japanese style with modernity, based on the concept of Taisho romance. It is a highly rated inn that has been selected as one of the "10 best small inns" in the Japan ryokan 100 selections by professionals".

This bath is a simple sulfur onsen, known as a beauty bath. The water is smooth and viscous, and leaves your skin moist and smooth after a bath. The two private baths offer views of the Achi River, helping to relieve fatigue. Private baths are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend making a reservation when you check in.

meal are Japanese cuisine, featuring horse meat and alpine salmon, unique to Shinshu. Alpine salmon is raised in Nagano, which is rich in water resources, in the pure streams it flows through, so it has no smell, is thick, and has a melt-in-your-mouth flavor. If you're staying in Nagano, it's a delicious treat you'll want to try at least once.

Located about 30 minutes by car from JR Iida Station, Hirugami Grand Hotel Tenshin is a onsen ryokan in Achi Village, Nagano, known as the "Village of Starry Sky." Within walking distance of the hotel is the onsen Onsen Morning Market, where you can purchase fresh local ingredients and specialty products. This is the perfect location to refresh both body and mind in the tranquil scenery of the mountains.

The most attractive features of this hotel are the open-air bath with a view and the open-air garden bath. The soft water of Hirugami onsen is known for its skin-beautifying effects. In particular, the open-air garden bath allows you to relax in the hot onsen while enjoying the seasonal nature. The spring quality of Hirugami onsen is an alkaline simple sulfur spring, which is expected to have a fatigue recovery effect, making it ideal for soothing the fatigue of everyday life. The starry sky you can view while soaking in onsen is so beautiful it feels like another world.

In the evening, you can enjoy banquet cuisine made with plenty of local ingredients. The dishes, which use Shinshu mountain produce, river fish, and fresh vegetables, are all exquisite. In particular, the dishes made with local specialties such as Shinshu Premium Beef allow you to enjoy new flavors every time you visit.

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Yumoto ryokan is a onsen ryokan located about 10 minutes by car from Nagano Electric Railway Yudanaka Station.
The building, built in the Taisho period, has a relaxing atmosphere, and both the exterior and interior are perfect for Instagram. It faces the main street of onsen town, making it an ideal place for touring the outdoor baths.

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This bath, "Kishiro no Yu," is made by pouring the hot spring water directly from the source on the premises without adding water, heating, circulating, or disinfecting it. The private bath, "Eri no Yu," does not require a reservation, and you can borrow a private key at the front desk, so it is safe for women to use the bath alone.

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meal are centered around Shinshu mountain delicacies such as mushrooms. The final dish, "grilled rice balls with tea," is also a very popular menu item. If you are staying with up to two people, you can in-room dining for breakfast and dinner, and if you are staying with three or more people, you can use a private room, so you can eat at your own pace without worrying about other guests.

Yorozuya is a onsen ryokan located about a 10-minute walk from Yudanaka Station on the Nagano Electric Railway. It is a long-established inn that has been in business since the Kansei era, and the detached building "Shouraiso", built in 1939, is a registered tangible cultural property of the country. Although it is a purely Japanese-style ryokan, it also has Japanese-Western rooms, making it an easy-to-use inn. Relax your body and mind at this famous ryokan that represents Shinshu.

The bath here, Momoyama Bath, is characterized by its pure wooden temple architecture. With thick beams and pillars that give it a sense of history, it was designated a national tangible cultural property in 2003. It has also been chosen as one of the "Top 10 Large Baths in Japan," and is a famous bath that will relieve your stress with its spaciousness.

For meal, let's have Japanese food that you can taste the "Kitashinshu" style. There are three types of course menus at the main building. The most recommended course is the "Irodori" course. The dishes using "Shinshu beef raised on apples," a local brand of beef, are very popular. The kaiseki course, which makes the most of ingredients grown in the rich mountains and clear streams, is also very appealing to the eye. The cooking methods change according to the season, so you will want to visit again in different seasons. The beauty of the dishes and the carefully selected tableware is also something to savor with each dish.

Sumiyoshiya is a onsen ryokan located about 30 minutes by car from JR Iiyama Station. It is a long-established inn that was founded 150 years ago, and the three-story wooden main building has a hearth and a simple impression. Right in front of ryokan is Ogama, a famous spot where 90-degree hot spring water gushes out, where you can see Nozawana and eggs being boiled.

This bath is a free-flowing bath from two natural springs in the building. The ceiling of the indoor bath is high, and the light coming through the stained glass feels soft. The water is slightly hot, and is said to be effective for cold sensitivity and fatigue recovery. Take your time and let the fatigue melt away from your body.

For meal, you can enjoy both kaiseki cuisine and Nozawa's local dish, "Tori-mawashi-bachi." "Tori-mawashi-bachi" is a celebratory dish that has been passed down since the Edo period, and is served on a large plate with pickled potatoes, salt-boiled potatoes (small potatoes boiled whole), wood ear mushrooms, and Nozawana leaf pickles, all of which are served with each guest to choose what they want to eat. It is a simple dish that is typical of Shinshu.

ryokan Hanaya is a onsen ryokan located about a 5-minute walk from Ueda Electric Railway's onsen Station. Founded in 1917, the wooden building is 1500 tsubo (5,000 m2) on a 21,000 tsubo (1,200 m2) site, and each building is connected by a walkway. Most of the building is a registered tangible cultural property, and it has been repeatedly repaired to make it a comfortable and relaxing inn.

The baths here are 100% natural onsen that flow directly from the source. There are three baths: the retro "Marble Bath" with its dome-shaped ceiling and stained glass, the "Young Grass Bath" with its cute lighting and stained glass, and the tranquil "Open-air Bath." The indoor bath also has a large glass window, allowing you to view the lush Shinshu scenery.

The meal are multi-course meals that make use of the simple flavors of mountain ingredients. Each dish has a strong dashi stock, and the light yet rich flavor is popular with women. The elegant meal area is also highly rated.

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Many of onsen in Nagano blend in with the scenery of Shinshu, so just taking a bath in onsen will warm your body and soul. Enjoy the scenery of the majestic mountains, clear streams, and onsen, and then head home feeling relaxed and refreshed.