Best Hotels & Lodges

Matsumoto is Nagano's handsome castle town, home to one of Japan's oldest fortresses and, since 1992, an internationally renowned summer classical music festival that has stitched the city firmly into Japan's cultural map. On its quiet northern edge lies Asama Onsen, a bathing district so prized by Matsumoto's ruling lords it was nicknamed the 'inner parlour' of the city. KAI Matsumoto, Hoshino Resorts' polished spin on the ryokan, leans into both tales: live music plays in the lobby nightly, the rooms are built for listening, and dinner is a playful Italian affair matched to Nagano wines. It reopens in August 2026 after a full renovation.

Matsumoto Jujo is the collective name for the revitalization project of Koyanagi, a long-established inn with a history dating back to 1686. Jujo means "ten stories." The name was chosen with the hope that visitors will experience various stories in this place, and that their own stories will begin here.

The premises include two hotels, "HOTEL Matsumoto Honbako" and "HOTEL Koyanagi," as well as a bookstore, bakery, shop, restaurant, and hard cider brewery. Outside the premises are two cafes, "Oyaki and Coffee" and "Philosophy and Sweets".

This hotel, located close to the Matsumo catle, has the perfect location for your stay. Their spacious guest rooms are designed for convenience and comfort, making them ideal for individuals as well as groups.

Thirty minutes above Matsumoto, tucked into the forest at 1,050 metres, Myojinkan feels genuinely otherworldly. The Saito family has welcomed guests here since 1931, and the mythology runs even deeper. In fact, local legend talks of gods that once came to these mountains to soak in the hot springs. With three communal onsen open around the clock, private baths in every room, and silence broken only by birdsong and the babble of the Susukigawa river, this is a place built entirely for slowing down. Unusually for a ryokan, there are two distinct restaurants – organic French and traditional kaiseki – both sustained by local ingredients.

The Celecton Matsumoto sits within easy walking distance of Matsumoto Castle — and some rooms look straight out at it. The design are neo-vintage: exposed brick, warm wood, and interiors that feel more Brooklyn coffee shop than corporate Japan. It's a mid-range chain hotel, so nobody's coming here for a transformative experience, but it punches above its weight with a communal bathhouse, a bakery-style breakfast, and Serta beds that do exactly what you need after a day in the Japanese Alps.

Ayca La Flora is a haven that blends heritage architecture, nature, and sustainability. Meticulously restored, it has been designed to evoke the tranquility of the past with the comforts of the present. Its unique charm reflects the hospitality of a Chilean-German fusion, where every detail invites you to stay.