Kawamotoya

This was our second stay at Kawamotoya, but the first in winter. We stayed in a 4 bedroom apartment with friends which is the largest apartment I have ever seen in Japan. Stylishly furnished with an huge lounge room and fully equiped kitchen. The rooms are very spacious with a nice Japanese feel with tatami mats and comfortable mattresses, each with their own en-suite. The staff are helpful and friendly and there is a shuttle service to take you to the lifts each morning - although it is only a 10 minute walk (albeit uphill!). The restaurant downstairs, "Hardings" is run by a Australian/Japanese couple who do outstanding food, the breakfast is really great, so too the pastries, sausage rolls and pies (just on the off chance you may need some 'western comfort' food). There are private onsens onsite, but there is a really great free public onsen right next door which we found great fun and a chance to interact with some of the locals (and if you have been to Nozawa before you will know that there are plenty of free onsens dotted through the village). Kawamotoya is located right in the heart of Nozawa Onsen village and easy walking distance to a whole heap of great restaurants and shops (be sure to book restaurants, it can get busy in winter). Overall, an excellent hotel/apartment complex. Be sure to check out Nozawa outside of winter as well - there are some excellent walks and it has a super chilled vice.

On the upside, Our bedroom was large and spacious and the facilities were good ( coffee machine, kettle, microwave, etc). There was a washer and dryer on the lower floor which we could use. The staff were really helpful in getting restaurants booked for us. There was a shuttle service that took us part way up the hill (steep hill!) so we could walk last little bit before getting on the very long travelator. This then got you on the mountain by the lifts. Total time is about 30mins from hotel to getting your boots on and getting to the lifts. Walking home down hill was a lot easier! Downside: Breakfast service was really slow. One morning we waited 50 minutes. The food was delicious but it took ages to arrive. The restaurant area ( seats about 20 people) was cold. Everytime the reception doors opened, a freezing cold draught blew three the dining area. Room 102 - There are no curtains on the bedroom windows, only paper blinds, and as we had a double aspect room, the light really shone through and woke us up early. The wardrobe was up on a platform ( about 2 feet off the floor) and when you climbed up on the platform, you had to crouch down so you didn’t bump your head. The TV was a right angle to the bed so not comfortable viewing position. I think if we had been there for more than a few nights, we would have asked to change rooms but overall, it was good for a few nights. Great little onsen (which was a lovely welcome treat at the end of the ski day.

Stayed in the 4 bedroom Family Suite at Kamamotoya for a few days in Green Season. The accommodation was top notch… staff were super helpful, the flat was newly renovated, exceptionally comfortable and beautifully clean, with afternoon sun and great views out over the valley. We made good use of the gym and private baths downstairs. Another highlight was Hardings Cafe in the hotel lobby downstairs… excellent coffee, great breakfast / lunch menu… and they also do a tapas dinner on certain nights which you shouldn’t miss. Nozawa Onsen was an absolute blast… unlike some other ski towns in Summer we found plenty of fun stuff to do on the mountain, and most of the restaurants and bars in town were open. This place really is as much a wonderland in Green Season as it is in the snow.