Nakaokogen Hotel Kazaguruma

I truly don't like giving a negative review, however I'm going to do it anyways.The hotel itself is an OK place to sleep. Like said in previous reviews it seems to have its best days behind it, but for the price that we booked it, it seems quite a good deal in this region. Some spots in the hotel are a bit dirty / have had some moist problems and the room decoration is a bit old, but every room is equipped with a lovely private onsen bath which we enjoyed. It is also really close to a nice (mixed) public outdoor onsen near the bridge and you can take the nearby Shinhotaka Ropeway and hike downhill to kappabashi bridge (kamakochi).However the service at the restaurant was so bad, that I felt I had to write this review. After booking you get an email which recommends you to book a meal at the restaurant, because of the remote location of the hotel. If you want to eat in their restaurant you have to tell them a couple of days in advance so they can prepare for it. On the forehand I emailed them that I couldn't eat raw meat because of pregnancy, and if that would be a problem. They replied it wouldn't. When we arrived at the hotel I repeated that I couldn't eat raw meat for dinner, as well when we had to tell at which time we would like to eat, but they assured me it would be no problem. Having told them about this in total three times, I was surprised that the meal contained: raw meat. Partially you had to bake it yourself at the table, so of course this wasn't a problem. However, there was also salmon sashimi that had to be eaten raw and a hotpot containing raw pork. I felt a bit burdened to say for the fourth time that this would be a problem because of pregnancy, but mistakes can happen. However what strikes me the most is their rigid reaction is this situation: they promptly took away the salmon (however I said that I could also bake it on the plate) and replaced it with some salad. But the raw pork soup that concerned me the most, remained relentlessly in place. The woman kept on repeating that the little flame underneath it would make the dish warm enough in 5 minutes to eat the raw pork (and everything it had been in contact with) safely. When I said I didn't trust that way of preparation and if there really weren't any alternatives (maybe even bringing back the salmon to bake it?) there was no flexibility at all and no alternatives could be given. She only responded that if I didn't want it, I could give it away to my partner. The pork soup remained on the table for the whole dinner, but I haven't seen it becoming boiling hot; my partner who has eaten a bit of it told the soup was only warm, not hot. Also the way the rest of the dinner was served (same plates and chopsticks to be used as well for the raw meat as for the rest of the food) raises some questions if they have ever heard of the concept of cross-contamination. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten the rest of it either, but then I should have skipped dinner entirely. It has to be said the meat that had to be baked on the table was of a real good quality, although this quality would have been better served if the flame at the table could reach higher temperatures and did not go out all the time, leaving the dish soaking in the cooling fat. It was a pity that this dinner, which was the most expensive from our holiday so far (4000 each person), was also the most sorry one marked by eating a lot of white rice and re-heating all of the food. It would have been appropriate for the staff to respond to the concerns of a pregnant woman, or at least try to think along with her instead of standing their ground. Kindness doesn't have to be pricey. I'm still hungry writing this review. I would recommend other visitors not to eat at this restaurant for your health; there are plenty of alternatives with a 15 minutes drive away.

The hotel in the hot spring area is surrounded by greenery, the rooms are large and luxurious, and the private hot spring in the room is ♨️ as you wish, but the temperature must be controlled! This is the best hot spring hotel we have ever stayed in. The Japanese breakfast is also great, especially the beautiful view of the active volcano Yakidake!

Very nice hotel in the Japanese alps. Huge rooms although a little dated and with a private thermal bath (onsen) in the room. There are no restaurants/shops around. Recommended access by car. Very few buses to get there

We booked this hotel via booking as 4 stars hotel with 8.2 review. Its definitly not true anymore.Hotel is quiet old (15-20years) with zero reconstruction. All the photos are not present, equipment is old and rooms looks terrible. Possitive thing was private onsen bath in room, but still old.Instead of this all hotel was clean.Staff was really nice but, not very well english speaking.First day we have no towels at room. We asked and got some. Next day they asked us if we want to change towels. We filled the form, but no towels were replaced.Food was not bad but, you got only few options for breakfast and also for dinner.Then you have to eat same food every day. We stayed 2 nights and it was more than enaugh.

Not much of a review writer but this place was nothing like pictures make it out to be. Very run down, rooms and hotel smell funky, lots of water damage throughout the place and just an odd vibe compared to everywhere else in japan. In room onsen is only positive. Would not recommend this place.

I truly don't like giving a negative review, however I'm going to do it anyways.The hotel itself is an OK place to sleep. Like said in previous reviews it seems to have its best days behind it, but for the price that we booked it, it seems quite a good deal in this region. Some spots in the hotel are a bit dirty / have had some moist problems and the room decoration is a bit old, but every room is equipped with a lovely private onsen bath which we enjoyed. It is also really close to a nice (mixed) public outdoor onsen near the bridge and you can take the nearby Shinhotaka Ropeway and hike downhill to kappabashi bridge (kamakochi).However the service at the restaurant was so bad, that I felt I had to write this review. After booking you get an email which recommends you to book a meal at the restaurant, because of the remote location of the hotel. If you want to eat in their restaurant you have to tell them a couple of days in advance so they can prepare for it. On the forehand I emailed them that I couldn't eat raw meat because of pregnancy, and if that would be a problem. They replied it wouldn't. When we arrived at the hotel I repeated that I couldn't eat raw meat for dinner, as well when we had to tell at which time we would like to eat, but they assured me it would be no problem. Having told them about this in total three times, I was surprised that the meal contained: raw meat. Partially you had to bake it yourself at the table, so of course this wasn't a problem. However, there was also salmon sashimi that had to be eaten raw and a hotpot containing raw pork. I felt a bit burdened to say for the fourth time that this would be a problem because of pregnancy, but mistakes can happen. However what strikes me the most is their rigid reaction is this situation: they promptly took away the salmon (however I said that I could also bake it on the plate) and replaced it with some salad. But the raw pork soup that concerned me the most, remained relentlessly in place. The woman kept on repeating that the little flame underneath it would make the dish warm enough in 5 minutes to eat the raw pork (and everything it had been in contact with) safely. When I said I didn't trust that way of preparation and if there really weren't any alternatives (maybe even bringing back the salmon to bake it?) there was no flexibility at all and no alternatives could be given. She only responded that if I didn't want it, I could give it away to my partner. The pork soup remained on the table for the whole dinner, but I haven't seen it becoming boiling hot; my partner who has eaten a bit of it told the soup was only warm, not hot. Also the way the rest of the dinner was served (same plates and chopsticks to be used as well for the raw meat as for the rest of the food) raises some questions if they have ever heard of the concept of cross-contamination. Maybe I shouldn't have eaten the rest of it either, but then I should have skipped dinner entirely. It has to be said the meat that had to be baked on the table was of a real good quality, although this quality would have been better served if the flame at the table could reach higher temperatures and did not go out all the time, leaving the dish soaking in the cooling fat. It was a pity that this dinner, which was the most expensive from our holiday so far (4000 each person), was also the most sorry one marked by eating a lot of white rice and re-heating all of the food. It would have been appropriate for the staff to respond to the concerns of a pregnant woman, or at least try to think along with her instead of standing their ground. Kindness doesn't have to be pricey. I'm still hungry writing this review. I would recommend other visitors not to eat at this restaurant for your health; there are plenty of alternatives with a 15 minutes drive away.