Recommended Hotels in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture | A Highland Resort Area with Tateshina, Shirakaba Lake, and Yatsugatake
Chino City (Chino-shi), located almost in the center of Nagano Prefecture, serves as the gateway to climbing the Yatsugatake Mountains, surrounded by towering peaks. If you want to fully enjoy the highland resorts of Shinshu, staying at a hotel in Chino City is highly recommended. Chino City can be broadly divided into several areas: the Tateshina area, loved as a summer retreat; the Shirakaba Lake and Kurumayama area, ideal for highland leisure; the Yatsugatake area, one of Japan’s leading mountain regions; and the town and countryside area, where you can experience history and culture. With its diverse attractions, Chino City also offers many budget-friendly accommodations. This time, we’ll introduce some recommended affordable hotels and inns.
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Recommended Hotels in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture | A Highland Resort Area with Tateshina, Shirakaba Lake, and Yatsugatake
Business Hotels Near Chino Station and Suwa IC, and Resort Hotels in Shirakaba Lake and Tateshina Highlands
Chino City offers a wide range of accommodations. For business travelers, hotels near Chino Station or Suwa IC provide excellent accessibility and convenience. On the other hand, if you’re visiting for sightseeing, staying near Shirakaba Lake or Tateshina Highlands allows easy access to major tourist attractions.
The areas around Shirakaba Lake and Tateshina Highlands offer a variety of accommodations, from large resort hotels to quiet hot spring inns and pet-friendly guesthouses. Whether for business or leisure, Chino City has plenty of comfortable lodging options, so be sure to book a hotel that suits your needs.
Candeo Hotels Chino
Located about a 2-minute drive from Suwa IC, Candeo Hotels Chino is perfect not only for business travelers but also for tourists visiting Nagano’s famous attractions such as Lake Suwa and Suwa Taisha Shrine. The hotel offers free parking, making it a great choice for drivers. One of its highlights is the "Sky Spa," an open-air bath located 40 meters above ground, offering a stunning panoramic view of Chino’s mountainous landscape.
Breakfast is served buffet-style, featuring a rotating selection of Japanese and Western dishes. Even for guests staying multiple nights, the variety ensures they won’t get bored. The buffet includes a wide range of options, such as bread, salads, and drinks, providing both quality and quantity.
Shirakabako Hotel Pipe no Kemuri
If you’re looking for an affordable resort hotel near Shirakaba Lake, Shirakabako Hotel Pipe no Kemuri is a great option. Despite its prime location in a popular tourist area, it offers budget-friendly accommodations.
The hotel features a large public bath and an open-air bath with scenic views of Shirakaba Lake and Mount Tateshina, making it an ideal place to relax. Meals are served buffet-style, allowing guests to enjoy as much food as they like. The buffet includes cakes and soft-serve ice cream, making it popular among children and women, while the dinner buffet offers unlimited drinks, making it appealing to men as well.
Additional amenities include a coin laundry and a kids’ room, making it a family-friendly choice.
Kurumayama Kogen Sky Park Hotel
This hotel lives up to its name, "Sky Park," boasting spectacular views. The large public bath uses natural spring water called "Tengon-sui" and is equipped with saunas for both men and women, along with well-stocked amenities. The open-air bath, "View-Yu," offers a relaxing time with breathtaking views of the Yatsugatake Mountains.
The hotel grounds feature well-maintained walking trails, allowing guests to enjoy the unique natural beauty of Shinshu while strolling. One of the highlights is the natural garden, carefully tended by a dedicated gardener. Visitors can admire colorful flowers and fragrant herbs that bloom throughout the seasons.
Resort Hotel Tateshina
If you're exploring the Tateshina area, Resort Hotel Tateshina is a great choice. The hotel features a 20,000-tsubo (approximately 66,000 square meters) sculpture park, where guests can admire around 70 modern art pieces surrounded by nature.
After a day of sightseeing, relax in the hotel's hot spring, sourced from the Mimuro Onsen, which is said to be connected to the deities of Suwa Shrine. Additionally, the barrel-style baths offer three types of therapeutic waters: natural herbs, natural minerals, and medicinal baths.
Dining is another highlight, with a buffet featuring 60 Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes at the hotel’s top-floor restaurant. One of the most popular dishes is the steak made from domestic beef, grilled fresh by the chef in front of guests. The menu also includes seasonal ingredients for a diverse dining experience.
Tateshina Shinyu Onsen
Tateshina Shinyu Onsen is a quiet hotel with a nostalgic, retro atmosphere. One of its unique features is the Misuzu Lounge & Bar, where guests can choose from a collection of 30,000 books and enjoy them with a glass of wine or whiskey—perfect for book lovers.
The hotel offers various types of rooms:
Tateshina Club: Inspired by cultural figures associated with the inn
Seiryutei: Rooms with breathtaking views
Miyamatei: Standard accommodations
Suzurantei: A budget-friendly option located slightly away from the main building
The hot spring facilities include a large public bath connected to an open-air bath, private baths, and a tatami-matted "zashiki" bath, making it ideal for couples, families, or groups of friends looking to enjoy a relaxing soak.
Tateshina Tokyu Hotel
Famous as a classic highland resort, Tateshina Tokyu Hotel is surrounded by the magnificent nature of Tateshina, making it the perfect place for a relaxing getaway.
The guest rooms are designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The main building offers two types of rooms: Garden View and Maisonette, while the cottage-style accommodations provide a more private retreat.
Stepping outside the hotel, guests will find a vast garden that changes with the seasons. Walking through the area, you can spot wild birds, lush greenery, and delicate wildflowers while enjoying the refreshing mountain air.
Tateshina Grand Hotel Takinoyu
Located in the Tateshina Onsen area, Tateshina Grand Hotel Takinoyu is a long-established hot spring inn founded in 1923. The hotel takes pride in its hot springs that blend harmoniously with nature. From the garden-view large public bath, guests can admire the hotel’s iconic waterfall. The riverside open-air bath offers different scenic views during the day and night.
Inside the hotel, the “Onsen Yuagari Street” features relaxation areas for families and children, as well as massage and body care services, allowing guests to unwind after a soothing bath.
For dining, guests can choose between a buffet with around 70 dishes or a traditional kaiseki meal with delicate flavors.
Shikisai-no-Yado Shirakabako Little Grebe
Located on the shores of Lake Shirakaba, Shikisai-no-Yado Shirakabako Little Grebe offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of nature. The hotel has only two special corner rooms that provide uninterrupted views of Lake Shirakaba. In addition, spacious Japanese-Western style rooms are available for families.
Meals are made with organic vegetables from the hotel’s own farm, ensuring a healthy dining experience. Breakfast is served in a sunroom dining area overlooking the lake, creating a resort-like morning atmosphere.
The hotel is also close to Shirakaba Resort Family Land, Hope Lodge Horse Riding Ranch, and Suzuran-no-Yu Hot Springs, making it an ideal base for sightseeing.
Guesthouse Bern
If you want to enjoy Kurumayama Kogen with your pet, Guesthouse Bern is a great option. The accommodation welcomes dogs of all sizes, allowing you to create special memories with your furry friend.
The guest amenities include both human and pet essentials. In addition to standard toiletries, the hotel provides dog pads, deodorizing spray, a cleaning mop, a lint roller, and dog bowls.
Outside, there is a dedicated dog run, where your pet can freely run around in nature. This also serves as a great place for dog owners to connect and socialize.
Meiji Onsen Yamanoyado
With 130 years of history, Meiji Onsen Yamanoyado is a traditional hot spring inn that offers a serene retreat surrounded by nature. One of its biggest highlights is its hidden hot spring, which is said to be a secret onsen.
Discovered in the mid-Edo period, the Meiji Onsen is rich in iron, giving the water its unique properties. Guests can enjoy the open-air bath, panoramic large bath, and cold waterfall bath, each offering a different way to relax in the healing waters.
Enjoying a colorful meal while gazing at the flowing river of Shibukawa Gorge and the Oshidori Kakushi Waterfall is a popular experience. Guests can savor traditional Shinshu cuisine, rich in local flavors.
For accommodations, guests can choose between two room types: a riverside room or a forest-view room. The tatami-floored Japanese-style rooms provide a serene and relaxing atmosphere.
Convenient for Suwa Lake and Yatsugatake Sightseeing
Chino City is not only ideal for business travelers but also serves as a great base for sightseeing. The area has several hotels and inns that provide easy access to destinations like Tateshina, Lake Shirakaba, and Kurumayama Kogen.
Additionally, it is convenient for exploring Yatsugatake, one of Japan’s most famous mountain ranges. By staying at an accommodation near Suwa IC, visitors can easily reach Lake Suwa and Suwa Taisha Shrine, as well as other attractions beyond Chino City.
If you wish to fully enjoy Nagano, choosing a hotel in Chino City allows for more opportunities to visit multiple tourist spots and make the most of your trip.
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