Hotel New Kotobuki

Local buses depart from Matsumoto Station every 30 minutes, making access convenient. The facilities were somewhat outdated, but the rooms were clean and comfortable. The inner bath of the public bath has a vibra bath and the open-air bath is a small rock bath, surrounded by walls and ceilings, so there is no sense of freedom, but I could feel the cold outside air in winter. The water is clear and odorless and does not feel punchy, but it blends well with the skin and heals.

Warm hosts welcomed us and gave advice (despite language differences we communicated). Great introduction to enjoying Japanese Meals - so many different foods - all beautiful and in beautiful pottery dishes - and so much food! Enjoyed sleeping on futons, the efficient tiny bath and the balcony - lovely sliding partitions and textures. Great hot spring public bath, and lovely yukatas for guests to wear. View of snow-topped mountains from balcony. You can catch the little public bus down the hill to go into town- after buying tickets from a charming elderly lady in the tiny ticket store there! Local bus is lovely slow way to see the town, but best to take a taxi to and from station. Old rotary phone and TV in the room, together with low table, teapot and minifridge. A very pleasant place to stay !

First the bottom line and then the caveat. The bottom line is that my two adult kids (20's) and I (64) had a lovely one-night stay here - we'd go back in a heartbeat. The caveat is simply that we know nothing about the alternatives and location is on the edge of town. Our room was spacious with a private outside hot-tub (don't know the proper term) on a small balcony looking back at the city. Everything seemed operating-room clean and modern (the toilet, of course, was heated and hi-tech). The staff was very friendly and adequately conversant in English. A traditional dinner was served in a private room and was out of this world -- I felt guilty about how much food we left on our plates, but we simply couldn't eat it all. Breakfast was also served in the same private room and was delicious (and again substantial). We slept on thin futons but they were comfortable enough even by softer, Western tastes. A great experience all around.