Le Grand Karuizawa Hotel and Resort

Very spacious, luxurious and full of character. Beautiful artworks and antiques adorned the halls and foyers - we happily entertained ourselves for an afternoon exploring the hotel, wandering around its scenic grounds, and collecting the hotel stamps. Dinner at Minori was divine. There were plenty of vegetarian options, and we stuffed ourselves with about 10 dishes for 8000 yen (2 diners), which we thought was very affordable (we’re originally from Australia). The buffet breakfast at the French on-site restaurant was also wonderful, and offered a range of Western and Japanese dishes (and more!). Staff were very gracious and helpful. As native English speakers (with basic Japanese), we had no problems with communication. The shuttle to and from town was pleasant, although the first bus of the day left at 10am and the last one at 3pm, which we found quite restrictive given that a round trip via taxi is around $80AUD. Our room was lovely, with a very generous bathroom and tub. Only complaint is that the shower could have used a more thorough clean, as there was a fair bit of mould buildup! This is definitely an expensive stay, however, if you are looking for a luxurious stopover point to catch your breath and relax, Le Grande Hotel Karuizawa is ideal!

Michelin star French restaurant. great onsen. beautiful grounds.

breakfast was good! The bathroom space has a good design!

I love how nice and cosy the hotel was. The staff were also very kind throughout our stay. We really enjoyed the onsen.

Very clean and spacious room, quality appliances and amenities. Staff was friendly and professional.