Wellies is a simple hotel but I am very surprised by the sizes of the rooms as most hotel rooms in Japan are tiny. The family suite managed to accommodate 2 adults and 4 girls and 7 luggages! Its location is very good too!! The owners and staff are exceptionally kind and helpful. I had a really bad backache after a day of skiing; they drove out and bought me pain plasters to ease my backache! When my sister lost her phone at the Prince outlet, they again drove her back to retrieve it!! It was difficult for us to get taxis due to the peak season and our group size; the very sweet hotel staff would send us to the ski resort or pick us up if they were free at that time. I would definitely recommend Wellies for anyone who travels to Karuizawa! Thank you for making our stay so special!

The only comment is perhaps to improve the menu in the restaurant.

As a Brit living in Japan I was pleasantly surprised with the at-home feel of Wellies. The interior strikes the perfect balance of a cozy lodging with an at-home feel. There's a great deal of care taken to decorate the bar/dining area and longue, the halls and the rooms. There's so much character and love emanating from the interior There's even more effort into maintaining a beautiful garden. I wish I'd had more time to spend relaxing inside. The room and bathroom were spotless, all amenities were provided and the bed was extremely comfortable. I had possible the best sleep in weeks. The owner Chris went out of his way to give me information on the area, to ask my preferences, and to make sure I was taken care of, too. Also the breakfast was incredible. Calling it the best full English breakfast in Japan is misleading because it may be the only place serving one. I would have been just as happy ordering that breakfast in England.

The one and only thing I didn't like was that the double room has a small side window without a curtain. As a light sleeper, the natural light of sunrise woke me up early but I was quickly back to sleep.

Well kept B&B. Beautiful decor. Has 8-10 car parks. The living and dining area well appointed - warm English look. The rooms were adequate. The bed was a queen size, would’ve loved a king. The toilet is good, in Japanese style. Breakfast was excellent. Service was attentive and friendly. Chris and all the staff were wonderful and warm.

There is a long flight of stairs to the rooms on the second floor. Keep your luggage minimal and light. They are inflexible with dinner times if you choose to have dinner there.

It was an amazing stay, which exceed our expectation. Judy and her team are really nice, communicative, try you to feel welcome and home. They have great stock of entertainment like books, dvd, records, board games etc. Outside is teracce with seats and grill....All hotel has a strong english touch. For our children it was like a paradise :) and gave them strong home feeling. We had no dinner, but we enjoyed a full english breakfast, which was great.

I can imagine, that all this friendship feeling can scare some introverts people, but they can stay in their room and hide themself! :-)

The owner, Chris, and his staff are excellent. They went out of their way to help us get around (e.g., Chris picked us up and dropped us off at the main train station, including one time when a storm knocked out the local train) and helped us organize events/meals. Our room was spacious, well air-conditioned, clean and comfortable. English and Japanese (and presumably) are interchangeable at the hotel, so communication is excellent.

No complaints

Great experience beyond expectations! The hotel's restaurant is incredibly charming, with a carefully curated ambiance filled with thoughtful details. It feels as comfortable and relaxing as visiting a friend's home. The Fish & Chips for lunch and the breakfast the next day were both delicious, offering ample portions and a wide variety of choices. The owners and staff are exceptionally warm, humorous, and helpful. They provided us with valuable travel advice, and on the day of our departure, the owner even drove us to the station, saving us a lot of time. I also recommend purchasing the owner's book, "We don't shoot Khawajas." It delves into the owner's early experiences in Africa. While I haven't finished it yet, I can already tell it's a fascinating read.

Gracious & responsive owner Chris, very friendly customer oriented staff. Quaint cozy hotel that felt like a large English tavern with distinctive bedrooms upstairs and large dining room & bar downstairs. Spacious well- appointed relaxing room with great bathroom and comfortable bed. Excellent dinner and breakfast meals that were distinctive & tasty. Quiet location, but more birds chirping here than at the Wild Bird Sanctuary.

Nothing.

Quirky, comfortable, great breakfasts and warm, considerate owners. Chris was full of useful knowledge and went above and beyond for our family!I can vouch for his book too. Well worth getting to enjoy his travels and adventures of Africa. The hotel (in Karuizawa that is) is perfectly located for the big nature reserve nearby - just wish we’d been able to stay for longer.

Nothing

Chris’s (the proprietor) hospitality was exceptional. A genuine interest in the well-being of his guests. Due to similar musical taste, I greatly enjoyed his pop/rock music playlists. I booked a large room with a lovely view of the area behind the hotel. The room was comfortable.

The hotel is best accessed by car. I had no troubles booking taxis. The stairs to the rooms are steep.

The staff was great, the food was really good (though Western only), and the location was reasonable. It is close enough to several ski resorts, but obviously you're gonna need a car to get around. We had a good experience staying here for a long weekend while snowboarding.

Food options were a bit limited, and there's nothing much around within walking distance. If you're ok with this, it's a great place to stay