Utsukushigahara’s 7 Best Ryokan & Hotels - Come Relax in Matsumoto

Matsumoto City, with its beautiful castle (a national treasure) and impressive streets lined with warehouses, is located at Nagano. Matsumoto is a place where you can leisurely stroll around town while enjoying history, culture, and art, exploring its history, having tea at a café with antique Matsumoto folk craft furniture, and visiting a variety of museums. After enjoying a day of sightseeing in Matsumoto Castle Town, why not relax and unwind at onsen, a place that is said to have been loved by successive lords of the castle?

onsen Onsen, located about 20 minutes by bus from Matsumoto Station, is a historic onsen resort. The name is said to have appeared in the early Nara period, and around the Edo period it was cherished as a health resort for the lord of Matsumoto Castle. You can still feel the remnants of those days. In addition, the spring quality is a mildly alkaline simple onsen, and is said to be gentle on the skin. It's a little far from the city center of Matsumoto, so you can spend your time calmly and slowly.

In this article, we will introduce ryokans in onsen ryokan that are recommended from a female perspective. While valuing "cleanliness" and "services for women" where women can spend comfortably, we also paid attention to "Matsumoto-ness" such as Shinshu cuisine and space where you can feel the history. Please use this as a reference when choosing an inn.

Located on a hill, the onsen hotel "Shoho" is an inn with a superb view overlooking the magnificent Northern Alps and Matsumoto castle town from all rooms. You can relax both physically and mentally by taking a deep breath and enjoying the fresh air. The interior has a modern atmosphere, and there are facilities such as karaoke and beauty treatments. You can not only soak in onsen, but also have a fulfilling time.

In the spacious Observation Open-air Bath, you can enjoy onsen as if you were floating above the clouds. The view of the Alps and the night view of Matsumoto from the bathtub is exceptionally beautiful. It is a superb view that blows away your troubles.

The rooms are modern and stylish. You can see the expansive scenery from all the rooms, and it will lift your spirits♪ The "onsen Western style room with open-air hot spring bath" in the photo features a large screen-like window and a tatami-floored living room where you can relax. It seems that you can have a lively conversation with your friends.

"Shunsai Dining Shinshu" is a meal where you can enjoy freshly prepared dishes prepared in an open kitchen in a private room. The sounds and aromas unique to a live kitchen will whet your appetite, and you can relax and enjoy cooking in a private space where you won't be disturbed by others.

“ryokan Sugimoto” is a folk art-style ryokan with impressive Matsumoto-like buildings and antique furniture. Each guest room has a different taste, such as a room with a hearth, a room with a cat foot bathtub, and a room with bulbous audio. It's fun to look at the photos and choose which room you want to stay in! Recommended for those who like retro atmosphere and music.

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When you enter, you will find a lobby with an antique atmosphere. The impressive Matsumoto folk craft furniture, fireplace, and chandelier will make you feel like you've wandered into the world of a movie. Jazz is playing from high-quality audio, and you can feel relaxed and relaxed.

There is a source on the premises, so you can enjoy plenty of fresh natural onsen. The open-air bath is paved with blue stones, and the rugged stones give a pleasant stimulus, making it ideal for a foot massage♪ There is also a low-temperature mist sauna in the women's large public bath. The temperature is around 40℃, so you won't feel stuffy, and you can sweat slowly and refresh yourself.

Dinner is an original kaiseki meal. You can simply enjoy the deliciousness of Shinshu ingredients such as "grilled bamboo shoots" and "rock fish namero", and it goes well with sake. If you still can't drink enough after dinner, how about having a deep time at "Bar Hibiki"? The space is equipped with high-quality audio equipment, whiskey and wine, and has the atmosphere of a "secret base for adults." Enjoy a drink while listening to jazz and blues.

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Kinukan is an elegant onsen ryokan founded in 1928. It was completely renovated in 2020, while preserving the appearance and atmosphere of the time it was founded, using materials that increase in flavor over time. How about spending a relaxing and soothing time feeling the warmth of ryokan that has been loved for a long time?

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The space, which was designed with a “calm design that can be preserved for the next 100 years,” has a clean and sophisticated impression. Because of its simplicity, the beauty of the scenery, such as the small flower arrangement and the sunlight shining through the window, stands out. The warmth of the custom-ordered wooden furniture will also make you feel at ease. You can leisurely look at the garden or read a book. Surrender yourself to a beautiful space and relax from the bottom of your heart.

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There is also an annex, where each room is made of different precious wood, a moss-covered stone garden, a lounge with quiet music, and a small shop gallery, all of which will make your time at Kinukan even richer. You can relax and enjoy the natural onsen of Utsukushigahara while feeling the wind at the foot of the mountain at "Omoba-no-Yu", which is made entirely of Japanese cypress.

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At the dining room overlooking the garden, you can enjoy local produce and local consumption using Shinshu ingredients. It seems that the ingredients are used to make the seasoning simple, yet the dishes are finished with new discoveries. You will be able to feel the season of Shinshu, and it will satisfy not only your stomach but also your heart.

"Oiwake Ryokan" is ryokan that combines old-fashioned charm with modern services. The lobby with the hearth has a nostalgic atmosphere like grandma's house. The footbath terrace has a modern taste, and you can spend time while looking at the elegant garden. Warm up in the footbath while chatting with your friends. You will be freed from daily stress and feel relaxed.

It is also attractive to enjoy natural onsen in a variety of baths, such as a tatami room bath and an open-air bath that is lit up in rainbow colors. There are a total of 6 types of baths, including private baths and large public baths, so why not take your time and enjoy a tour of the baths?

This is the “Awa Este no Yu” that reminds you of Matsumoto's kurazukuri townscape. It is a microbubble hot onsen with 100% source. It looks cloudy white because of fine air bubbles. It is said to have the effect of removing dirt from pores and massaging the whole body. The bubbling bubbles are pleasant to the touch, and will soothe your mind and body.

There is a different theme for cooking every year, and the ingredients, as well as the dishes and table settings, are organized according to the theme. Past themes include "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter", "Matsumoto, the Town of Art", "The Beautiful Castle of Shinano", and "The Romance of Grapes". Just hearing the title will make you excited ♪ Don't forget to take a commemorative photo before eating!

Kappo ryokan Momoyama, located on a hill overlooking Matsumotodaira, is a quiet inn with a Japanese garden of about 3,000 tsubo. There are only 10 rooms on the vast grounds. Water flows through the hall, and there are waterfalls and bridges. You can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and spend a peaceful time in a beautiful space.

The rooms are pure Japanese-style sukiya-zukuri. Outside the window, you can see the proud Japanese garden and the Matsumoto city area, which makes you feel like you are looking at a beautiful painting. If you stay in the two special rooms "Myojin" and "Karamatsu", you can enjoy matcha green tea and welcome sweets in your room. The warm hospitality will ease the tension of your trip.

You can enjoy onsen at two types of hot springs: "Mashu no Yu" in the hotel and "Tenjiku no Yu" in the garden. At the bathhouse designed by Eitaro Kurahashi, known for the TV program "Drama Before After", you can enjoy the night view of Matsumoto city and the magnificent scenery of the Northern Alps. The natural onsen and beautiful scenery will soothe your mind and body, leaving you feeling refreshed.

The dinner, which is the pride of Kappo ryokan, is a multi-course meal that mainly uses Shinshu ingredients. Not only is it delicious, but it's also filling, so even a picky eater will be satisfied.

“Izumiya Zenbei” is a small and long-established ryokan founded in the Meiji era. The storehouse-style building is characteristic of Matsumoto, the town of storehouses. You can enjoy your stay while feeling the atmosphere of Matsumoto castle town. How about taking a commemorative photo in front of the black-and-white “Namako wall” as a memory of your trip?

If you want to feel more like Matsumoto, how about staying in one of the limited “Kura Style” rooms? The corridor around the room is made of "namako wall", and the door is made of earthen storehouse. The inside is also built like a storehouse. You can have a unique experience that will make you feel like you have slipped back in time to the Edo period. It's a hot topic, and it's sure to be a memory of your trip.

You can relax in onsen with an indoor bath, three private baths, a foot bath, and a walking bath. We recommend the slightly luxurious "Yamanobe no Yu". You can reserve two baths, an indoor bath surrounded by cypress and an open-air bath made of blue stone. How about enjoying the onsen springs without worrying about other guests?

Dinner has a variety of courses, and you can choose your favorite main dish from sashimi, grilled dishes, and table-made dishes. You can choose a different menu for each person rather than for each group, so don't worry if your friends and you have different tastes. The specialty dish is the handmade soba noodles that are made daily by the owner. They are particular about using only 100% buckwheat flour from Nagano and mineral-rich onsen water. It has a smooth texture and can be eaten easily even after drinking alcohol.

“Shunsai Tsuki no Shizuka” is a casual ryokan with the theme of health and peace. There are plenty of services from a female perspective, such as colored yukata rentals and an esthetic salon, so you can enjoy your stay comfortably. The variety of room types is also attractive, such as the annex that was relocated from a 250-year-old traditional house, the new sukiya-style building, and the Western-style main building. Please choose a room according to the people you are traveling with and the style of your stay.

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There is a theory that "Tsukama no Yu" that appears in Nihonshoki is Utsukushigahara onsen. You can relax and enjoy the famous hot springs with such a long history while gazing at the scenery that changes with the seasons. The spring quality is a weakly alkaline simple onsen that is gentle on the skin, and is known as a “hot spring for beautiful skin.” I'm looking forward to seeing your skin after bathing. After warming up in onsen, how about further polishing your skin at the beauty salon?

The Western-style rooms in the main building, where you can stay at reasonable prices, are recommended for casual girls' trips. It is a Western-style room with the calmness of a Japanese-style room. The spacious rooms are equipped with beds and sofas, so you can relax comfortably.

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For dinner, you can enjoy local ingredients such as Shinshu beef and Shinshu pork. The plan centered on "Shinshu Pork Soy Milk Nabe" is recommended for those who like healthy menus. Once you have boiled the Shinshu pork, dip it in the special sauce and enjoy! The refined taste will satisfy your heart.

We introduced ryokan in Utsukushigahara onsen, which overlooks Matsumoto castle town. An inn with a great view, an inn with kurazukuri, an inn where you can enjoy Matsumoto folk art, and an inn where you can enjoy Shinshu ingredients, each with its own unique character. Please choose an inn that suits you and enjoy a relaxing time.