Manza Hotel Juraku

“Outdoor onsen with great view”

Good Japanese style hotel with great onsen. There are no other restaurants nearby so better to stay in hotel for meal. Buffet dinner and breakfast are good with choices. Car park is free and the hotel is closed to the ski area. Overall the stay is very good.

“onsen is good!”

we checked in around 2pm and decided to take our launch there.unfortunately,there is no restaurant so we ended up waiting our dinner time which was included in our plan.dinner and breakfast is in buffet style.there is a kids room for children to play beside the relaxation room with chair massage.we… more

we checked in around 2pm and decided to take our launch there.unfortunately,there is no restaurant so we ended up waiting our dinner time which was included in our plan.dinner and breakfast is in buffet style.there is a kids room for children to play beside the relaxation room with chair massage.well,the onsen is the best thing in this hotel!

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“Nice sulphur onsen with beautiful scenery”

Good: nice Onsen Drawback: not easily accessible, hotel website in Japanese only ====================================== Room stayed: Japanese style room that can accommodate 4 adults (attached toilet only) Room rate: 8650 yen/person (weekday, including Onsen tax 150yen) with buffet style dinne… more

Good: nice Onsen Drawback: not easily accessible, hotel website in Japanese only ====================================== Room stayed: Japanese style room that can accommodate 4 adults (attached toilet only) Room rate: 8650 yen/person (weekday, including Onsen tax 150yen) with buffet style dinner and breakfast Location: Located at above sea level 1800m, surrounded by mountains. Except ski resort, nothing else at this area. Free pickup service is available during winter. Nearest JR station is Manza Kazawaguchi. There is bus (西武高原バス) to the hotel. According to hotel website, it takes 40mins. But the actual journey should be longer. The cost is 1310yen. You may want to check with the hotel on the details like bus schedule. Free Pickup: Advance reservation is a must. Limited seat available. Two pick up points. One is at JR Karuizawa station and the other one is JR Manza Kazawaguchi. Please refer to hotel website (only in Japanese) for pickup schedule. I sent an email to the hotel for seat reservation (forth and back) in English + google translated Japanese. Hotel staff replied me in English. So English communication is still not an issue for reservation. You may add in Chinese. There are interns from China working at the hotel so I guess is also okay to type in Chinese. Pick up point: 1st pick up point is at the bus stop in front of the outlet shopping mall Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. Take JR Karuizawa station South exit. It is just beside the taxi stand. The pick up point is also the bus stop for 西武高原バス. The hotel shuttle bus will then be heading to the 2nd pick up point at JR Manza Kazawaguchi (about 1 hour journey). The pick up point is just outside the station at ground floor, at the car park area. It will take another 1 hour to reach the hotel from here. Travel Tip: If you are traveling from Tokyo, I think Karuizawa pick up point is a better choice. You can buy JR Kanto Area pass which covers the fees of bullet train to Karuizawa station from Tokyo/Ueno with free seat-reservation. Front desk staffs: Not really front desk staffs. You are invited to take a seat at the lobby area. The staff will call out guest name and then approach you for the check in. While waiting, free coffee is served. However, English communication is challenging here. The staff tried his best to explain everything in English. Although he found it difficult, he did it professionally. The staff tried to inform about meal time, Onsen closure time due to cleaning, Onsen swapped for male/female after cleaning, check out time, emergency exit, shuttle bus back to station time etc. Room condition: Looks old but still well maintained. Slightly bigger than the one I stayed at Hokkaido Noboribetsu Sekisuitei hotel before, which is also famous of its sulphuric Onsen bath. Surprisingly the sulphur smell is not that strong in this hotel. There is one western bed in the room. No attached shower room, only toilet. Quite a standard old type of Japanese style room. Toiletries/amenities: Toothbrush/paste, hair dryer, fridge, kettle are provided. In-room slippers are recycled. No disposable slippers are provided. There is a safe in the room. No bottled drinking water is provided and you have to boil yourself. Tap water is drinkable natural water as labeled. But the tap in the room looked rusty so I collected water from the tap near Onsen area at 3rd floor. Green tea and complimentary snack are served. Vending machines (selling beer and drinks) are available at 3rd floor near Onsen area as well. There is shop (operated by the hotel) selling souvenir at lobby. Internet: Only WIFI at the lobby. Area is big with plenty of sofa chairs. Meal: Buffet style, Japanese and Western. Taste is okay. Recommended dinner dishes: pasta, udon, fresh vegetables (boiled yourself with steamboat). Onsen: Sulphur bath is good for the skin. The open air Onsen has good scenery view of mountains covered with snows during winter. Quiet and starry night makes you feel peaceful while soaking in the open air bath as well. Onsen is with good air ventilation so you don't feel strong pungent sulphur smell. One onsen is with higher water temperature than the other. You can experience both since the baths will be swapped for male/female after cleaning (800-830pm) Razor and comb is available here. Locker is located outside the changing room. I like this place, quite relaxing and just to enjoy soaking in onsen. Not sure if Kusatsu onsen is better, which attracts more tourists. But I like it with less crowd and view of snow mountain.

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