“The accommodation was wonderful.”

The accommodation was wonderful and exceeded all our expectations. Everything was clean, tidy, and well organized. The staff was always helpful and available whenever needed, and the breakfast was served in traditional Japanese style. There is also a real onsen, including facilities suitable for families. I promised myself that I would come back with my family because the experience was truly amazing. I highly recommend it.

A beautiful old Onsen Ryokan right in the middle of the town. Nice big traditional rooms and authentic interior. The outdoor bath was perfect and had just the right temperature.

“Exceptional :D”

Wonderful ryokan with the best staff. I felt really welcomed here and it's been nothing but impressive how staff cared about us. Also the switch between men's and women's onsen at night was greatly appreciated, so everybody could enjoy both baths.

We loved our room, traditional Japanese style, the yukatas and the hotel's own onsen baths

“Quiet stay in an authentic Ryokan”

The atmosphere of the Kamesei Ryokan is warm and quiet as a family of 4 we enjoyed our stay.

“Great stay in family-run ryokan”

Tyler and Marie made our short stay in Nagano prefecture one of the highlights of our trip. I highly suggest ordering the dinner and breakfast option; the food was amazing and unlike anything we had tried before.

“A highlight of our family holiday.”

Hosts Tyler and Mari were wonderful and looked after us. It was our first visit to an Onsen town and they took the time to explain how to bath in an onsen, wear a yukata and activities around Chikuma. We also decided to include dinner as well as breakfast and both were delicious. Highly recommended. Also a big thank you for Tyler for going out of his way to post to us a necklace my daughter left in the room. It wasn't straight forward as we were travelling in Japan but Tyler was able to co-ordinate the posting so we could pick it up in Tokyo. We had such a lovely time and will recommend Kamesei Rykon to all of our friends.

“The perfect alternative to busy boring Nagano”

We had a perfect 3 night stay at Kamesei Ryokan. It’s a great way to see all the sights around Nagano while avoiding the big city and boring hotels there. Having spectacular onsens right in the hotel at this price point is a proper treat. Tyler and Mari were super lovely and helpful! Make sure you try the Kaiseki dinner there one night!

The owners were really friendly, warm and welcoming. The room was clean and comfortable for 4 people. Overall, a nice place to stay when visiting Nagano and we enjoyed our stay here :)

A beautiful and welcoming stay. We loved the experience and the warmth of welcome extended by the proprietors and the whole town.

“An excellent traditional Japanese experience in a relaxing, quiet Onsen town.”

The staff and service were the highlight of this lovely traditional Ryokan. We opted to have the Kaiseki dinner go both nights and we were extremely satisfied with the outcome. The onsen was wonderful to relax in and a private onsen was an option we could book. The hosts are so knowledgeable about the area and were able to inform us of what we can experience in Kamayimada Onsen.

We had a wonderful experience at Kamesei Ryokan. Tyler and Marie were incredibly welcoming, inviting us to warm up by the fire on arrival and taking the time to explain how the ryokan works, which immediately made us feel at ease. The baths alternate daily, so you can experience both the larger and the smaller onsen. They are drained and cleaned every day, and all the necessary products are provided, making it a genuine self-care moment. We especially appreciated staying in a place that preserves traditional elements, from the room layout to details like the mochi pounding tool and the taiko. It really added depth and authenticity to the stay. Tyler also kindly drove us back to the station, which was very much appreciated in the winter weather. We stayed two nights and genuinely wished we could have stayed longer. On top of that, Tyler gave us excellent recommendations for foot baths, hikes, and restaurants in the area. Regarding comments about the cold outside the heated rooms in winter, I think it is worth remembering that part of traveling is adapting to local ways of living. In Japan, heating often focuses on warming people rather than entire spaces, with solutions like localized heating or kotatsu. If one expects the exact same comfort standards as at home, it may be worth reflecting on what kind of travel experience one is seeking. For us, this was part of the charm and authenticity of staying at Kamesei Ryokan

“Will come back”

Dinner was amazing.

“Worth to stay”

Everything

“Very peaceful and relaxing”

Tyler and his wife were very kind and helpful throughout our stay. We stayed in a traditional Japanese room with futons, with breathtaking views of the mountains and garden. The ryokan offers indoor, outdoor and private onsen, and we tried them all. The town is quiet and peaceful. When I got sick, Tyler kindly brought me medicine, no matter how late it was. We also enjoyed a Geisha performance with dance, music and games. The next morning’s Japanese breakfast was delicious. Overall, it was a relaxing and memorable stay. Highly recommended, and we will definitely return.

“Great place to stay that is authentically local.”

The whole Ryokan was super authentic and unusually spacious for Japan. From pick up at the station to assisting us with meals at a local restaurant, Tyler and Mari were exceptional. The design of the outdoor onsen is great and the fact you can book it for exclusive use is a huge bonus.

“Beautiful and authentic Japanese hospitality. A warm and comfortable stay - highly recommended.”

Beautiful traditional Japanese hospitality. Spotlessly clean, wonderful food, and a natural onsen (complete with sulphur aroma!). Gorgeous tatami rooms with paper walls, which were comfortable and warm. Breakfast was amazing! Tyler and Maru were fabulous hosts and we so enjoyed our stay. Tyler even helpfully picked us up and dropped us back to the train station.

“A peaceful ryokan with great service and amenities”

The ryokan is in a quiet, quaint town. Amenities are great, with the onsen and spacious classic Japanese style rooms. Dinner was fantastic and staff were very kind and helpful. Tyler and Mari were very accommodating. He picked up and dropped us off at the station. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, thank you very much Tyler and Mari-san!

“We really enjoyed our stay and would happily return in the future.”

The staff was very friendly and the food was amazing. We also really enjoyed the walking tour through the onsen town.

Great facilities and knowledgeable host.