Matsumoto Hotel Guide. Independent Hotels in Matsumoto, Japan

We arrived in Matsumoto by JR Train after completing the Alpen-Route from Tateyama to Shin-Omachi. This hotel is very near the Matsumoto castle and two main shopping districts. Everything you want to see on foot in the core area is accessible from this location. We thoroughly enjoyed Matsumoto as a smaller city in Japan with wonderful shops, restaraunts, and cafes and a very rich historical treasure in the Matsumoto Castle and surrounding park.

Japanese style hotel were staff went out of there way to be helpful. Choice of western and Japanese breakfasts.

The busy spa has picture window views on the top floor, both indoors and open-air; some waiting for the one elevator is often required. Not long waits, usually, but unappealing to the seriously impatient. The hot and cold water baths and sauna are worth it. Breakfasts are great. Staff very friendly. Wierdly, room telephones connect only in-house. To make an outside call required asking the lobby clerk there to use her cell phone. She dials the calls. Charge: Y100 per minute (or part thereof). I didn't call often or for long, but the charge at check-out was an additional Y1,600 (roughly US$20). [Separate but related subject: I have an iPhone able to use sim cards anywhere, but in Japan getting a sim card is difficult for most foreigners.) Room rates seem reasonable. Bring cash. Some restaurants don't accept cards. Hotels don't change money; banks (closed weekends) may or may not; most ATMs don't work for foreign cards. The only source I found: the Suwa Post Office ATM. Local staff handle basic customer service needs well; for more complex problems they happily call an English-speaking associate in Tokyo who, after talking with you, instructs them in Japanese. Hotel guests seemed to include a nice mix of young couples with small children, older couples, and business people. The region around Chino offers much. The hotel is a good "home base."

Nice hotel that is close to JR Matsumoto Station and easy to get around like visiting Matsumoto Castle, restaurants. Good rest before going up to the Japan alps. Two female front desk staffs were very helpful and can speak English. I appreciated their hospitality. If you replace the bed mattress, I definitely will come back again. Thank you.

Clean Good location Rooms filled with light Good hotel for short stays

Sasaya was easy to find and is a beautiful old ryokan set in lush surrounds. We were personally greeted at the door, given tea and sweets while being checked in and were shown the facilities so we were familiar with where the baths were. Our room was 8 tatami mats with an extra annex, super quiet and very clean, with separate bathroom. But the best thing about this hotel were the baths - the outdoors rotemburo is just this side of heaven, especially on dusk, and it's private. The indoors baths are almost as nice. The waters in this onsen are milky-white and feel amazing. Both dinner and breakfast were great, and are included in the rate – almost more food than we could eat and lots of local vegetables and fish, prepared well. Two enthusiastic thumbs up to Sasaya.

Brsides check in and only some staff beeing friendly it was an over all good experiance. I wish that the staff would care more about the guests! The hotel was managed ok. The facility is in a bit poor condition and needs some care. Floors are a bit dirty and it makes an over all a bit older apperance even in the "new" part of the building. Worst part is the cold LED lighting. Not a hood atmosphere and makes the place cold and not very relaxing.