Tsumagoi Prince Hotel

Stayed at the Manza Prince Hotel for 1 night and subsequently at the Tsumagoi Prince for the next. I have to say that comparing the 2, the latter is definitely better in most aspects. Rooms at the Tsumagoi Prince are spacious by Japanese standards and despite the age, they are still very well kept. The open air onsen is quite basic that faces the mountains which should look really nice during the winter. This is perhaps the only aspect that can not compare with the Manza Prince which has multiple open air onsens. What differentiates the hotel though is the service which I felt was over and above the already great typical Japanese service. I really have to commend the lady at the front desk. Unfortunately we didn’t get her name but she made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived with her warm greetings and infectious laughter. We had arrived early and she tried her best to get us an early check in, taking the time to explain the hotel facilities and what we can do. She greeted us with the same hospitality when we checked out. Highly recommend anybody who has sometime to relax in the Karuizawa area to pay a visit there, especially for golfers as the golf course is just next door. Note: the hotel is 1 hr from Karuizawa station and there are complimentary shuttle services there daily.