Ryokan Aburaya Tosen is recommended when staying in Yamanouchi Town. You can enjoy a variety of in-house facilities and services along with a high-class presentation. Guest rooms at the ryokan with hot spring facilities offer a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a refrigerator, and getting online is easy, with free wifi available. Ryokan Aburaya Tosen features a 24 hour front desk, a coffee shop, and shops. In addition, Ryokan Aburaya Tosen offers a hot tub and a bar/lounge, which will help make your Yamanouchi trip additionally gratifying. Please also take advantage of the free parking lot. Ryokan Aburaya Tosen is located close to some of Yamanouchi's most popular attractions, such as Snow Monkey (5 km), Yumiya Shrine (0.4 km), and Kaede no Yakata (0.4 km), making Ryokan Aburaya Tosen a great choice for travelers. While in Yamanouchi-cho, be sure to try Saruza Cafe or Nakayoshi Shokudo, where you can enjoy local ramen and tsukemen. Will you be sightseeing around the area? In that
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We went as a triple generation group of 8. The staff was so helpful and polite. We could only get the family rooms, which was 4 to a room but they were very spacious so we didn't feel crowded. I would highly recommend getting the kaiseki dinner. We enjoyed the private room, the sushi chef preparing our sushi, the owner coming in and checking on us, it was all very special & attractively presented. We all wore our yukatas to dinner and will have an amazing Christmas card picture. The onsen was wonderful, so spacious and full of amenities. They provide lots of amenities in your room too. The breakfast was amazing. My mom grew up in Japan and couldn't get over the selection of Japanese items. Best breakfast we had during our Japan trip. We also utilized the shuttle to Snow Monkey park (which was a highlight of our 12 days in Japan, so many baby monkeys, go early). It was also easily walkable to the train station, even with luggage. We bought gifts in the little gift area and really appreciated the hospitality of all the employees.
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Date of stay: September 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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Loved this place. A calm and quiet Onsen with wonderful facilities. The highlight was the amazing dinner we booked in the restaurant which was made even better by the fact they could cater for both omnivores and vegans without any issues, something we have struggled with on this trip.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Take the bus to Onsen-ji and walk through the atmospheric old town to see the beautiful...
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I wanted to travel to Nagano, so after doing some research, I decided to go along the river, have an open-air bath in my room and Rating the food as delicious. My wife usually decides where to stay, but this time she made her own decision, but she has a good Rating. The food was also very good. Mr. Itamae made sushi for supper and cooked breakfast and omelet in front of me. Unfortunately the weather was fine, but I also enjoyed the rooftop bar and lounge on the first floor. I was very happy to walk along the river in the morning. It's a bit far away, but I'm very happy to have an inn I want to visit again.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked this hotel for our family trip this Jan. I have never seen such a dirty hotel in Japan in my whole life. stains on the cabinet, room is small, it is claimed to be luxury kaiseki dinner, it is a joke, small portion, not fresh. we paid extra for the sushi course, two tiny sushi, beef with lots of tendon and hard to chew, the worse Japanese hotel and meals I have ever seen. will never ever go back
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Travelled with family
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This hotel was awful. The photos and the description was not accurate. The cost was also crazy for this property. The owner was an awful man who didn’t care about his guests. I would never recommend this hotel. Room had a view of a gas station and broken bus. They claimed to have a spa with massage but massage was only available from 8pm-1am. My husband is 6 feet tall and had to duck in the room. The amenities in the bathroom were shared from prior guests. We travel the world in high end hotels and stayed in plenty of moderately priced properties. This was by far the worst value of any property we have ever stayed. The worst part however is the owner who was literally the only bad person we encountered in two week trip to this fabulous country. Do NOT stay. Our hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto were fantastic and as advertised. This hotel is misrepresenting themselves as a luxury property.
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Date of stay: December 2019
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The snow filled landscape was so beautiful facing the river. Was glad to be able to travel before all the covid lock down. Private onsen on balcony was very relaxing and private dining was fun and delicious. Dressing in a Yukata for dinner and breakfast was different, most of the Japanese people also wore them. Roof top bar at night in a plastic igloo covered in snow was unique. They also shuttle you too and from the station and up to the snow monkey park. All staff were excellent and the lady owner came to speak to us several times.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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We were lucky enough to stay here for 2 nights in Jan 2020 and absolutely loved it. We received such a warm welcome with a glass of sparkling wine. We enjoyed the private onsen twice which was amazing in the evening. The tasting menu served each night was absolute fine dining, served in a private room, and our hostess was brilliant - super attentive and very friendly - thank you so much!! We also loved immersing ourselves in the Japanese culture here with clothing provided, and were very appreciative of a lift to the station when we checked out.
Highly recommended! Darren and Claire
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Private onsen on balcony was very relaxing and private dining was fun and delicious. Dressing in a Yukata for dinner and breakfast was different, most of the Japanese people also wore them. Roof top bar at night in a plastic igloo covered in snow was unique. They also shuttle you too and from the station and up to the snow monkey park. All staff were excellent and the lady owner came to speak to us several times.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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Just got back from an amazing overnight trip to Nagano with a stay at Aburaya Tosen. Emphasis: Amazing.
We booked one of their Senyukan suites with a private open-air bath on the balcony. They aren't cheap, but are well worth it.
First of all, starting at the beginning of our experience. We were met at the station by the staff (we had informed them what time we would be arriving). You can't miss them as it is a small station and they will be holding an Aburaya Tosen name scroll. The ryokan is only a couple of minutes away by car. You could walk there in about 7-8 minutes, but with luggage it is much better not to. You could always get a taxi there as there is a stand right in front of the station. Anyway, this is a place that epitomizes the Japanese concept of omotenashi and they make it clear with things like the little foot stool they put on the ground to make getting into the van easier.
A few minutes later we arrived at the hotel to find some other staff waiting to greet us at the hotel's entrance. We were escorted into the lobby area where we sat at a little table. While we did the check in process, they served tea and a small snack.
One reason for staying at Yudanaka was to to go the Snow Monkey Park. The hotel is about a 15 minute drive away. You wouldn't want to walk it, but they have a free one-way shuttle there at 9:20 am. During check in they will ask you if you want to go the next morning. If you don't, they may not have the space to take you. Some information about it: The shuttle service is a one-way trip, so you have to get the local bus back to the station (It was only about 310 each) or get a taxi (about 1600 yen according to the taxi stand's prices at the station). If you are just doing an over-nighter like us, you will have to check out before going to the Monkey Park. Just let staff know and they will drop your bags off at a cafe across the road from the train station on the way (The cafe seems to be used by a number of places as a free left luggage place).
Anyway, after check in they took us up to our room. On the way to the room, they showed us the private lounge suite-guests can use. There are a variety of sofas and desks where you can relax. They play some jazz music on a stereo and provide free coffee, apple juice, etc.
The room? Worth every yen. It was immaculately clean. They look just like the photos on the webpage. All the space really made it a relaxing experience. Not to mention, of course, the private open-air bath... The interior bathroom is nothing special, but we didn't use it once. There is a shower on the balcony as well as a bath.
Our plan included a kaiseki dinner and breakfast. If your plan doesn't include the kaiseki dinner, I think it is still an option, but you have to let them know by 15:00 or something. I don't know how much it costs, but while not cheap, it is an experience. First of all, my girlfriend doesn't eat seafood and kaiseki dinners are usually half fish-based. I had informed them beforehand, so they were able to provide her with a fish-free dinner. We were asked during check in whether we wanted a 18:30 or 19:00 sitting. At dinner time, you go to the third floor where staff will be waiting for you to take you to your private dining room. Make sure to really enjoy the experience by going to dinner in your yukata and slippers (in the entrance of our room was a couple of stickers and a pen for you to 'tag' your slippers with your name so they don't get mixed up when you leave them at the entrance of the dining area). The dishes are all small as per usual for kaiseki dinners, but they are made from fresh ingredients and are beautifully presented. And, there are so many courses that you shouldn't be anything but full by the end. Any drinks must be paid for upon check out. I recommend the local Shiga Kogen Pale Ale they have on draft. A highlight is when the sushi chef comes into your private dining room and makes a couple of pieces of sushi for you at the table. During dinner, the landlady came in to introduce herself and make sure we were having a good stay. We happened to mention that we were keen to go wander around nearby Shibu Onsen after dinner (it is about 1.5 km up the road). Although not a standard service, she said she would get staff to drive us there. In the end, she actually ended driving us herself. It's little things like this that go above and beyond what you expect that made our stay memorable.
For breakfast, we were given the choice of a buffet breakfast in the public dining room or a private breakfast. We opted for the former as it is quicker. They had a good selection of Japanese and Western food.
If you don't want to eat at the hotel, there are plenty of restaurants around the station. There is also a Lawson (a convenience store) next to the station.
That brings us to the end of our brief, but memorable stay.
Some last thoughts
1. The private open-air bath is the big draw to the suites. And, it is worth it if staying as a couple. If only staying overnight, make sure to check in as early as you can (check in is at 14:30) so you can enjoy a few baths in the afternoon, evening, and morning. Note that you can raise or lower the straw 'curtain' to provide some privacy from the outside. If you were getting there late and leaving early, it wouldn't really be worth the expense. The hotel, of course, does have a public bath on the top (7th) floor. They switch the genders every day. To be honest, the suite's bath is much better. There is also a private bath on the 7th floor that you can rent for 50 minutes if you want the private experience without forking out for the suite.
2. Room Tip: We stayed in suite 412. It is a corner room on the river side of the building (where you want to be). The balcony and bath is right on the corner, so you can look out in two directions. In this room, I recommend choosing the room that leads to the balcony as your sleeping room (they ask which room you want them to make the futons up in). Why? The other room shares a wall with the neighbouring suite and you can hear voices though the wall (the ceilings seem to be well insulated as we didn't hear any footsteps from upstairs, though). This room is also far from the elevator and you get no hallway noise. I presume rooms 512 and 612 are also similar.
3. Critiques? I think the only critique I have of our stay is to do with the pillows. They are those memory-foam type pillows and are quite hard and really aren't good for stomach sleepers. They may have other pillow types if you request, but by the time I realized it was quite late, so didn't bother inquiring. Also, I am okay with futons, but they are quite hard, so you may want to bear that in mind and if available request a Japanese-Western suites.
4. There was a CD player with speaker in our room. Our one had an iPod dock which was good. Note that it hadthe old-style dock, not the newer Thunderbolt type, which was ideal for my iPod Classic.
5. The TV had HDMI inputs on the back. We didn't end up with time to watch movies from iPad, but I presume you could watch them on the TV screen as long as you had an HDMI cable with you.
6. I'm not sure if the rooms are non-smoking or not (I had requested a non-smoking room, naturally). I didn't see any signs about smoking, but didn't see anyone smoking there or smell smoke anywhere which I appreciated.
Anyway, a BIG thank you to all the staff for making our trip so wonderful and memorable. My girlfriend said it was her best birthday. I only wish we could have stayed longer.
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Date of stay: February 2016
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If you can, go a suite. Room 412 (and 512/612, too, I guess) is a corner room on the river side....
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We (two couples) stayed in both a standard room and a luxury hot tub suite.
We found the staff to be welcoming and eager to please. We enjoyed unexpected extras such as live jazz, treats left in our room and the lounge offering coffee and views of the snowy mountains.
Aburaya is a short walk across the river from Yudanaka town proper. There you will find a couple of restaurants, convenience store and train station. Skiing in Shiga Kogen is very possible, as long as one catches the right bus - hotel staff will assist. It's half an hour or so to Hasuike (the nearest slope).
The breakfast was excellent, with lots of options (Japanese and western) including for vegetarians. The views from both of the rooms were lovely. The whole place is warm, clean and relaxing. We had massages in our room, and enjoyed soaking in the hot tub on the balcony in the snow.
The nearby monkey park is good: it is accessible by bus, or the hotel had a shuttle service (they will also collect and drop you at the station if you request it). We recommend the Shiga Kogen brewery, which is 20 minutes walk upriver, for free sake tasters and nice beer.
It's worth every ¥: we would come back every Christmas if we could.
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Date of stay: December 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Best is to call them. They speak English. Email seems to not get any reply.
They have a bus to the snow monkey park but got to catch the city bus back to the train station and a 8 mins walk back to the hotel.
The hotel takes you up by a shuttle bus in the morning about 9.30am. Getting back there are scheduled buses, but we walked back to the hotel which took just over 30 mins. (Its a nice walk depending on how much snow there is). It cost 800 y to enter the reserve
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