The breakfast was really tasty with plenty of local fresh foods. I enjoyed soaking in the onsen after a long day. All the facilities were really clean. The room was comfortable and sufficiently spacious for Japan. The hotel view on the rice fields is really nice in summer. Bicycles can be rented through the hotel although we didn't need them. Laundromat on site was welcome (they sell you the soap) and you need to use coins for washing and drying. Nice relax spaces in the hotel.

Nothing I didn't like. A few comments to help other travellers: The hotel is a fair walk from the bus/train station (especially with suitcases). About 25 minutes. Try to arrange a taxi through the hotel if you can. Restaurants are a minimum of 10-15 minutes walk from the hotel. Check in is a bit late compared to other hotels we have been to (15:30) although they gave us the room earlier at 15:00 as it was ready (this was appreciated).

The place is overall amazingly and uniquely designed. The rooms are large and of excellent quality, which is fun to be in, but: 1. The sauna and baths are a bit too small 2. Restaurant: It seems like an attempt to squeeze money out of the guests. I have no other word Bottom line - great place. Delicious and varied breakfast. Excellent staff. Just save dinner there

The cost for dinner is very high and it feels like you are getting the minimum possible so that the price justifies itself. There is a free buffet during the meal with bread and 4 side dishes - very generic and just everything from a can.. Raw materials are cheap compared to the high price The dishes look very simple and I believe this is to justify the Nordic design

Extremely beautiful hotel, very friendly and accomodating staff, great onsen, sake bar, library, and you get your steps in as it‘s fairly big. Next time I‘d like to try the in-room massage service. We have stayed at a Shigeru Ban designed place in Karuizawa before, but at around three or four times the price of what we paid here. While that one felt very secluded, this one had a bit of a communal feel to it. Breakfast was nice (not too many vegetarian options, but clearly labeled), and the breakfast area was gorgeous.

Unfortunately it‘s so popular that dinner was booked out - to be fair though, we only reserved our rooms a couple days before the trip. Depending on your size, the double bed may be a bit small as it‘s only 140.

I don't know why this isn't a 5 star hotel. They had better service, facilities, rooms, food, everything - much better than any of the 5-star hotels I've ever stayed at. Everything was amazing. They had open air onsen, gym area (mostly cardio and 1 pull, 1 push machine), sake bar and lounge, library to hang out. So many things, I really wish I stayed a bit longer!

Parking was across the street, which is not fun during the rain But otherwise none

Onsen is excellent quality . Bath changes everyday for men/women, try them both during your stay . Ranked by sauna Michelin some years ago, really deserves the title . Even some insects came nearby the bath, it is a real natural experience !! The gym has the latest machines from Technogym . View under the grass while running is incredible . Breakfast is made of local food . Very healthy, large choice . Environment and minimalist architecture of the building make is very natural and made me forget about city life for a few hours . Wood smell everywhere in the hotel . I wonder if is natural or artificial . But very nice smell ! Staff could speak good English . You can book a taxi back to tsuruoka station for 1200 yen .

A bit far away from the train station. A shuttle service would be great . Dinner plan is a bit pricy over 5000 yen for a vegetarian meal, I think it is not reasonable .

Bedroom was spacious and neat. But the bathroom was tiny. Toilet was clean. Spa/ HOt spring was nice. The view from the big bath was beautiful. Restaurant food was excellent and the staff provided great customer servive.

Front Desk Service - no one answers a phonecall. I called and called and eventually they hanged up on me. Check in-process was not smooth. THey made me to wait at the lobby before checking in. Room amenity - need body lotion

The onsen and spa from a natural warm spring are outstanding, bathing under the stars or watching the sunrise - feeling the fresh air while sitting in lovely warm water was amazing. The bedrooms are large and comfortable, the staff are super helpful. Perfect retreat and 20 min from the airport in Shonai. Idyllic.

This hotel is perfect, I can find nothing I didn't like.

The hotel is beautiful from the outside and the inside. The rooms are very creative and the entire theme of the hotel is very creative and engaging. It also has a spa including onsen, and a cozy library. The breakfast was amazing featured produce from the local farms

Excellent staff, smooth check in and extremely clean. The breakfast is worth the upgrade and is made with quality local produce. I particularly enjoyed the stewed aka-kabu (red turnips) and kan-dara miso soup. The bath and sauna facilities were also nice with iridescent tiling and basic amenities.

I hoped as a spa hotel there would be a few more basic amenities such as toners or lotions available, though most guests seemed to have brought their own anyway.

A stylish, comfortable and relaxing hotel, with a fantastic outdoor onsen - perfect for rejuvenating in after the walk up Haguro-San on a cold and snowy day. There's a library, too, to spend time in, and other public areas. Because the property's on the edge of town and surrounded by rice fields, there a feeling of space which can be hard to find elsewhere in Japan, with good views of the mountains when the weather's clear. Note that you're about a 25-minute walk from the train station, but a taxi - for about 890 yen - will take you there, and the friendly, eager-to-please staff. will call you one when you're headed back there or elsewhere. The inclusion of local beef on the breakfast menu was a nice touch, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

Food in the restaurant in the evening was a touch on the pricy side - with a sobering mark-up on local sake - but good. The hotel's sake bar doesn't open until 9.30, and we'd opted for early nights during our stay, but it looked cosy. A self-service sake bar opens much earlier, with different numbers of samples available for set prices. We didn't try it either, on account of the onsen winning out!