Kimimachisou
8,1/10 Excellent - Based on 59 reviews
Kimimachisou sits on the shore of Lake Shirakaba, presented as a compact, family-run ryokan that pairs traditional tatami rooms with practical modern comforts. Guest rooms are primarily eight-mat Japanese-style layouts with futons, some offering ensuite bathrooms while others share facilities; standard in-room equipment includes air conditioning, a small refrigerator, an electric kettle and a flat-screen TV. The setting emphasises immediate access to the lakeside promenade and clear views across the water to the surrounding highlands, making it an accessible base for both summer cycling and winter excursions in Nagano. This property presents itself as a ryokan with onsen in Nagano without compromising basic conveniences such as complimentary parking and on-site laundry facilities.
The onsen at the ryokan is a natural alkaline simple spring, maintained as a communal hot-spring bath with set public hours for morning and evening use; the women’s bath is equipped with a baby bed and both baths provide toiletries and hair dryers. Bathing periods and cleaning windows are published by the house, and the inn also points guests to a nearby day-use hot-spring facility for alternative soak times. The mineral profile is described for general benefits such as fatigue recovery and skin condition, and the layout and rules reflect a traditional shared-bath etiquette rather than private, in-room onsens.
Dining follows a regional focus: multi-course meals built on mountain-country ingredients and occasional selections from local breweries and sake producers, served in-house with advance reservation for evening meals. The ryokan supports active itineraries through bike rentals, a ski-pass point in season and multilingual guest information, and communal spaces face the lake to encourage quiet relaxation after outdoor days. Service is described as locally attentive, and house policies note a non-smoking environment and accommodation of common traveler needs while preserving the ryokan’s compact, lakeside character as a convenient ryokan with onsen Nagano prefecture.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Kimimachisou
Positive Reviews
Delicious meals (breakfast and dinner)
Multiple guests praised the food—especially the evening meals and breakfast—describing portions as generous and dishes as tasty and carefully prepared.
Excellent lakeside location and scenic views
Many reviewers highlighted the hotel’s location on the lake, noting beautiful lake views from rooms and dining areas, memorable sunsets and a tranquil lakeside atmosphere.
Warm, attentive staff and good service
Staff and owners were repeatedly described as friendly, patient and helpful (including assistance for foreign guests), contributing to a welcoming, hospitable stay.
Clean, comfortable rooms and relaxing onsen
Guests reported well‑maintained, clean rooms (comfortable tatami) and enjoyable hot‑spring baths with a pleasant bathing experience and adequate space.
Useful amenities and convenient facilities
Many appreciated practical amenities such as on‑site parking, bike rental, laundry facilities (with detergent), multilingual info, and proximity to a bus stop—convenient for longer stays or self‑catering.
Negative Reviews
Occasional noise (traffic and internal noise)
Some guests experienced early morning road noise from cars and disturbances from people walking in corridors or creaky floors, which affected light sleepers.
Limited accessibility (stairs, no elevator)
The property has stairs only and no elevator, making it less suitable for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility or difficulty climbing stairs.
Dining and reservation challenges for larger groups
Several reviews noted difficulties when travelling in groups—dinner venues nearby were full, reservations could be hard to secure, and some menu items were unavailable when staff were short.
Facility comfort and heating concerns
A few guests mentioned the building feels older, some areas felt cold, heating or room heater instructions were not clear, and some would have preferred thicker futons for back issues.
Limited transport options and small amenity issues
Visitors noted infrequent bus service to ski areas (car recommended), occasional unstable Wi‑Fi, lack of drinking water in the bath area, and one comment about a change to buffet breakfast reducing perceived warmth of service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most Japanese-style rooms are arranged with up to four futons and can accommodate up to four guests; some room types include a private bathroom.
The ryokan has a communal hot spring (onsen) and public bath for guests; private onsen rentals are not offered, although some rooms have private bathrooms.
There is no regular airport shuttle; the nearest airport is Shinshu-Matsumoto (around 50 km), and most guests travel by train to a local station then taxi or bus to the ryokan.
Staff are primarily Japanese, and the property provides some English information and assistance for international guests.
Rooms are traditional tatami-style with futons; the ryokan serves Japanese meals (breakfast and dinner) and dinner reservations are recommended since dining options nearby are limited.
The ryokan sits on Lake Shirakaba and is ideal for lake activities, cycling and winter skiing; scenic drives such as the Venus Line and local parks like Takato are within easy reach.
There is free on-site parking and bike rental; local buses stop nearby but taxis are the most convenient option from regional train stations.
Check-in is from 15:00 to 18:00 and check-out is between 07:00 and 10:00; guests must inform the ryokan in advance if arriving later than the check-in window.
Children are not permitted and guests must be at least 18 to check in; pets are not allowed and the property is not available for full-property privatization.
Dining options around the lakeside are limited and supermarkets are not close by, so guests often reserve dinner at the ryokan or bring any necessary supplies in advance.