Matsumoto Jujo

This is the place you won’t find anywhere else. Honbako where you can find all kinds of books is my favorite place and I could literally spend all day reading books there. There is private Onsen bathtub in each room and it is just perfect. Food was also great. They use lots of local foods and arranged them in such a beautiful way. It was a wonderful experience, so much better than we expected. Definitely highly recommended. 全てが想像以上の素晴らしい体験でした。本箱は気付けば何時間も滞在してしまう程の落ち着いた、特別感のある空間です。 お食事は地元の食材が多く使われていて、素材の味を活かしつつ独創的なアレンジも加わり見た目も味も大満足でした。是非たくさんの方に体験してもらいたいです。

Hands down the best hotel experience we’ve had in Japan. The whole property was a vibe, food was immaculate, and the staff were so nice. The cherry on top was the private onsen. We made the most of it, especially after a difficult trek through snowy Kamikochi. It was extra convenient to have a coffee machine in the room as well. We were looking for a ryokan-like experience while in Matsumoto that was also modern, and this was the perfect place for that.

The oyaki served after check-in was absolutely delicious. The staff's warm welcome was very much appreciated. The room I stayed in had an outdoor bath, and the cypress bath was wonderful. The view of the mountains from the window was breathtaking. For dinner, the main dishes featured vegetables grown in Nagano, all of which were delicious. The portion sizes were just right—not too much, not too little. For breakfast, I had miso granola. The combination was surprisingly good, and I even bought some as a souvenir. An especially unique touch was the library, which had been converted from an old bathhouse. It created a fascinating and distinctive space that I truly enjoyed. Overall, it was a very satisfying stay.

Actually, the hotel was far better than I expected. Open-air bath in my room was excellent in its 24/7 availability and its temperature(pic.1). The library next to the main building makes this hotel the most unique one in Japan(pic.2). It is 24/7 available for the costomers and has so many comfortable chairs that you can spend the whole day reading their books(pic.3). You even can have some drink at a liquor bar there at night! (pic.4) The dinner was terrific! (pic.5). Immersed in cozy background music, I enjoyed the dinner course one by one. Near the vicinity, there are lots of good shops, and staffs there were very kind and of full of hospitality. (pic.6) When I left the hotel, I realized that I no longer felt any tiredness both mentally and phisically. I strongly recommend this hotel to heal your fatigue completely.

Staying here was the highlight of our recent trip to Japan. We stayed in a one room terrace suite with open-air bath in the Koyanagi building. The room was beautiful, spacious, light and airy, with a terrace overlooking the hills. The building is recently renovated and is historical, having been a bath house for lower class samurai centuries ago. There is a wooden Japanese bath kept filled with warm water from the nearby onsen, that we used multiple times a day. There are only two suites on this floor, so the room is very quiet and private. The king size bed was very comfortable. There is a small fridge and coffee and a free bottle of sake was provided. On the ground floor there is a small shop making and selling delicious croissants and other baked goods. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and most speak some English. The hotel is close to the edge of Asama Onsen, which is an outlying suburb of Matsumoto. A taxi from Matsumoto station costs between 2,000 and 3,000 yen. We had one meal in the hotel: the food was delicious. I dream of returning.

I'm already dreaming of my next trip back!! I loved everything about my stay at Matsumoto Jujo's Honbako hotel, the beds were the best I've ever laid down on in a long time, and having an open-air hotspring bath in the balcony is just the cherry on top. But here are my top 3 things I enjoyed during my stay at Matsumoto Jujo's compound: - the Philosophy & Sweets cafe was such a cozy spot, and I'm still dreaming about the pumpkin baked cheese cake I had paired with milk amazake! I can imagine myself coming back to visit for coffee and desserts even if I'm not staying at Matsumoto Jujo. - the food at Dining 367!! Every dish served was not only delicious but came with a story shared by the friendly and capable service crew. Also most ingredients incorporated in the dishes come from the Shinshu area, aka Nagano. The non-alcoholic drink pairings were the highlight for me, which were all so creatively made! - the bathhouse-turned-bookstore/library called Honbako. If you are a book lover this is the place to be...I loved how the shower taps and sinks are still left as they were (there's also a kids' section that looks like a maze and has a ballpit!!) This place is also very aesthetically pleasing and I can't take enough photos of the area. Definitely a must-stay if you are visiting Matsumoto. Asama Onsen is a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered, and I have Matsumoto Jujo to thank!!