Kamesei Ryokan - Chikuma

Incredible attention to detail: From the personalized pick-up service to the homemade cookies and tea waiting in our room, this hotel goes above and beyond to make guests feel welcome. Charming location in a small town: Nestled in the scenic mountains, this hotel offers a peaceful retreat away from the bustling city. The town itself is filled with traditional charm and offers plenty of opportunities for exploration. Friendly and helpful staff: The hosts, Tyler and Mari, were exceptional in ensuring our stay was enjoyable. They provided valuable local tips and recommendations, making our experience authentic and memorable. Delicious and diverse breakfast: Each morning, we were treated to a mouthwatering breakfast made with locally sourced ingredients. The variety of dishes showcased the flavors of the region, leaving us eager to embark on a day of adventure.

No major concerns - everything was perfect.

This great traditional Japanese inn complete with onsens in Togura is a lovely way to spend your time around the Nagano area. The hosts were lovely and provided pick up and drop off at the local train station.

We did not want to leave and will be back. Always amazing service and fantastic location. Got room with hills view...

We were happy with our choice and would definitely come back whenever we can. the staff and food were top-notch, just like everything else there! 👌

Kamesei Ryokan was a great find in a strange and fascinating little town. Tyler-san and his wife were great hosts, helping with lots of insider information, pickup and delivery to train stations. Bikes were available for exploring the environs. The baths at the ryokan were nicely appointed and very clean (the onsen water was a little sulphur-y - which I don't mind, but it kinda sticks with you through the day). I recommend this place highly! a real gem.

My boyfriend and I made plans to travel to Japan at the eleventh hour - he just really wanted to take me away :} Having just a rough idea of the things we would do and the places to visit, we saved the booking of Ryokans to the last minute. Thankfully, we ended up in the most serene, family-run Ryokan in the Tohoku Region, in Chikuma City. It was a pleasant surprise meeting Tyler, his family and having the inn to ourselves for one night. They built the baths with their own hands, pruned the garden with love and held so much commitment and pride in the up-keeping of the inn - you feel the warmth of their hospitality the minute you arrive. Tyler picked us up from Togura Station, and because it was Cherry Blossom season, took us up a hill to the best welcome view i could ever ask for. The rooms were comfortable, self-sufficient and warm. We took bicycles around the charming city for a day - the best way to explore the city. Went on a food trail and had my favourite soft-cream ice cream, onigiri, soba noodles, the most perfect meringue + gelato at L'Avenir Bakery and apple juice on our many pit-stops. We loved every minute of being in Chikuma City, especially under the care of Kamesei Ryokan. To see what the family has built and to see the next generation take honour in continuing this legacy is truly one love for me in my heart - and the most definite reason why everyone should experience their warmth as well! Take care Tyler + Family! Thank you so much for all your help - we made it to Tokyo safely and found a lovely place in Shinjuku to rest our feet. Thank you for showing us your hospitality on our spontaneous trip away from home. Much love +++ PAMM + V

Waking up at 5 in the morning, we found solace and tranquility as we practiced meditation and allowed ourselves to let go of the stresses of everyday life. The air in the temple and the peaceful atmosphere created a sense of serenity that we couldn't find in the big city. we highly recommend this ryokan for its unique and calming experience.

The bi-lingual proprietors were very warm and welcoming, providing all the help we required. Being able to converse in fluent english made for a relaxing experience and helped when planning our sightseeing around the area. Our room, along with the Onsen's were clean. The Inn was a very short walk from the local bus stop and the eateries in the local area were fantastic. We can recommend this establishment for a budget stay.

To make it brief Excellent quality of the onsens very nice price (been looking for a nice onsen ryokan for less than 10 000 yens per night and it's kind of hard) English spoken fluently (Tyler the owner is american and he's married to a japanese woman who is also co-owner. That's very convenient) Magnificent food (breakfast or dinner it's important to eat there)

You can't go there with a jr pass but it doesn't really matter! You take a train to Shinonoi with your jr pass and then you take the private line to togura... It cost about 200 yens (2 euros) going to the hotel take 25 minutes by walking a taxi cost about 1000 yens (10 euros) and there are bus easy to take brief the situation is not perfect but this is not a real problem

I recently had a wonderful stay at a traditional inn in a small town. The hotel's attention to detail was impeccable, with rooms that had their own private gardens. The staff were friendly and provided excellent service, going above and beyond to make my stay comfortable. The location was perfect, being not far from the train station but still in a quiet area. The prices were very reasonable, especially considering the value for money. Lastly, the breakfast offered was a delicious and satisfying start to the day.

All in all, my experience at this hotel was exceptional and there was nothing that I felt needed improvement.

Owners try to make your stay as pleasant as possible, Hotel it self is a bit old but at least they have outdoor onsen :-)

Bathing in the onsen baths

Missed the dinner

Tyler's personal attention, beautiful private outdoor hot spring bath, comfortable rooms with garden views, delicious traditional Japanese dinner, informative owner.

Nothing to fault.

Friendly and informative owners. Actually, Tyler walked us to a store and helped my husband find what he wanted to purchase. Extra futons in the closet for us Americans who don't like too firm bedding. Our room had a lovely seating area looking out over the gardens and rooftops of the town. Good recommendations for good local food that I would never have found on my own. The baths were spacious and well tended. We didn't eat any meals there so can't comment. There were events held in the main room on some evenings. It was nice to have the option to join in but when we went to our room it was relatively quiet.

The location isn't that interesting but the people in the area are great so it depends on what you are looking for. All ryokans use tiny comforters. We are both very tall people (over 6ft) and had to turn our comforters at an angle to cover feet and shoulders. I would like to see places like this (that cater to foreigners and Japanese) offer a selection for us taller individuals. I imagine Tyler would have grabbed us one if we had asked, but we didn't.

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel. The location was convenient - close to train station and good restaurants. The hotel facilities were excellent - the hot springs were amazing and the rooms were clean and spacious. The breakfast was delicious with many options to choose from. The staff were friendly and helpful.

Nothing to dislike.