Matsumoto Hotel Guide - Taisho Pond hotels in Matsumoto, Japan.

"We had a fantastic stay at Wat Hotel & Spa Hida Takayama and would absolutely recommend it to anyone visiting Takayama. The location is super convenient—just a short walk from the station and within easy reach of the old town, which made exploring really easy. The rooms were surprisingly spacious (especially compared to typical Japanese hotels), very clean, and incredibly comfortable. One of the highlights was definitely the onsen and spa facilities. They were beautifully maintained, relaxing, and such a nice way to unwind after a day of sightseeing. I also loved the option of private baths—it made the experience feel even more special. A really standout moment for us was arriving to find a thoughtful honeymoon setup in our room, including a handwritten-style card, flowers, and balloons. It was such a lovely surprise and made us feel genuinely welcomed and celebrated—such a special touch that we didn’t expect. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and helpful throughout our stay, and everything felt very well organised. The breakfast had a good mix of Japanese and Western options and was a great way to start the day. Overall, this hotel offers amazing value for money with great facilities, comfort, and location. We’d absolutely stay here again!"

"Hotel was conveniently located close to the train station and close to many great little restaurants. A good place to stop for a couple of days to see the local sites. They provided a large bottle of water, which they replenished on a daily basis. Coffee and tea were mediocre, but there are many craft coffee, places nearby, which aren’t delicious. "

"A comfortable and peaceful place with private onsen"

"Clean tidy and a bit bigger than the usual small rooms we have stayed in. Nice view of the mountains."

"Great staff and hotel. It was in a great location to restaurants and Matsumoto castle as well "

"I had high hopes for this hotel because of the onsen, so we booked three nights in a japanese-style room with half- board (breakfast and dinner). First, this hotel is located in the middle of nowhere. You cannot walk to town or any restaurants outside of the hotel property. The closest town is Hirayu Onsen, which is a ten-minute bus ride. We should've stayed there instead. We've been traveling all over Japan for the past five weeks so we've stayed at several hotels before this one. This hotel is the worst so far. If I had to pick one main reason for my low rating, it would be the front desk staff, specifically the Japanese male manager. He was borderline rude. Did not speak a lick of English. The foreign workers are the nice ones. Here, the japanese service staff are surprisingly cold and unwelcoming. They gave us the impression that they do not like western tourists. As I mentioned earlier, we pre--paid for the kaiseki breakfast and dinners. All but one (dinner on the second night) were huge disappointments. We should've just eaten in town, even with the inconvenience. The Japanese-style rooms are subjective. I would never do it again. The tatami beds are just too hard on my back. The onsen is nice. We tried all of them and found the ones outside (shared) were just too hot for us. I guess this is the only redeeming feature of this hotel, but you can also find a better hotel option in town (Hirayu Onsen) where you can walk to many restaurants and the bus station."

"Beautiful outdoor Onsen. The Japanese breakfast was very delicious. The staff were friendly. We want to come back! "

"We had a wonderful 4-day, 3-night stay at Ryokan Sansui and truly enjoyed every moment. The ryokan has a very traditional Japanese atmosphere—an old wooden building full of character, beautifully maintained, clean, and well cared for. It feels authentic and calming, exactly what you hope for in a classic ryokan. After skiing during the day, the indoor and outdoor onsen were incredibly relaxing. Soaking in the hot spring in the cold winter air was one of the highlights of our trip and the perfect way to unwind each evening. The ryokan is also very kid-friendly, which we really appreciated while traveling with our toddler. All the staff were exceptionally kind, patient, and welcoming, and they went out of their way to make our child feel comfortable. That warmth made a big difference for us as a family. We stayed on a half-board plan, and both breakfast and dinner were excellent, with a wide variety of beautifully prepared dishes. Over the course of our stay, we enjoyed Hida beef in different styles, including shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, and nikuyaki—each one delicious and thoughtfully presented. Overall, Ryokan Sansui offers a perfect blend of traditional charm, comfort, great food, and heartfelt hospitality. It’s an ideal place to relax, especially after outdoor activities, and we would happily return again."

"We had a really great stay, the location and the Onsen is the main attraction for this hotel. There are generally not that many options and variety with food both in the hotel and in the nearby by restaurants and cafes, but that’s understandable given that the location, nature and ski resorts are nearby instead."