Ryokan

Tsuruya Ryokan

389-0102 Nagano, Karuizawa, Kyukaruizawa 678, Japan – Excellent location – show map

Excellent location – rated 9.1/10! (score from 170 reviews)

Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions

8.7
Excellent
169 reviews

Very cosy Japanese style inn. Located at the end of main shopping street. Very convenient, but quite.

Phoebe United Kingdom

The staff were friendly and the hot spring was wonderful. Not too big and not too smell.

Sonny Japan

The hotel is so special. The rooms, small gardens, location - all is wonderful! The staff was so helpful and generous. We celebrated a birthday party, the staff organized a private room just for us and gave us full attention, it was an unforgettable night due to their amazing hospitality and the excellent food!

Mirit Israel

Very friendly and helpful staff. The room was big and clean. We especially enjoyed the kotatsu and public onsen.

James Japan

Great location in Karuizawa Machi. Wonderful food, friendly and accommodating staff, retro and cool lobby good ofuro. This was our second visit to Tsuruya Ryokan.

David United States of America

The staff were friendly, the facilities were nice, and the kaiseki meal was innovative and the public bath was pleasant. Generous breakfast buffet. Karuizawa is a nice day trip or one-nighter from Tokyo.

Christopher Switzerland

Staff was kind, all facilities are well maintained and the location is perfect, at the right end of the main street. I booked the room at the last minute, but it was a great deal. Would like to stay here for a longer period next time. Thanks a lot!!

Icchy Japan

The staff were brilliant, the onsen, location, futons, cleanliness all amazing. The kids loved it here, got to try some local culture whilst havi g relaxing time.

Angeco Indonesia

Lovely traditional Ryokan with modern facilities. Great location. Delicious dinner. Wonderful staff. Bonus of having an onsen within the property as well as laundry facilties.

Emma Papua New Guinea

Good location (Just 7 minutes walk from Old Karuizawa). Meal (dinner ordered in advance) is delicious. We are allowed to check-in upon arrival ( 3 hours in advance). The hall of the hotel is decorated in warm family style. Breakfast is in buffet with lots of fresh fruit provided. This hotel is equipped with hot spring. The room is extremely clean.

Anonymous Hong Kong
8.7
Excellent
169 reviews
  • What guests loved the most:
  • “Very cosy Japanese style inn. Located at the end of main shopping street. Very convenient, but quite.”
    Phoebe Phoebe United Kingdom United Kingdom
  • “The staff were friendly and the hot spring was wonderful. Not too big and not too smell.”
    Sonny Sonny Japan Japan
  • “The hotel is so special. The rooms, small gardens, location - all is wonderful! The staff was so helpful and generous.”
    Mirit Mirit Israel Israel
  • “Very friendly and helpful staff. The room was big and clean. We especially enjoyed the kotatsu and public onsen.”
    James James Japan Japan
  • “Great location in Karuizawa Machi. Wonderful food, friendly and accommodating staff, retro and cool lobby good ofuro. This was our second visit to Tsuruya Ryokan.”
    David David United States of America United States of America
  • “The staff were friendly, the facilities were nice, and the kaiseki meal was innovative and the public bath was pleasant. Generous breakfast buffet.”
    Christopher Christopher Switzerland Switzerland
  • “Staff was kind, all facilities are well maintained and the location is perfect, at the right end of the main street. I booked the room at the last minute, but it was a great deal.”
    Icchy Icchy Japan Japan
  • “The staff were brilliant, the onsen, location, futons, cleanliness all amazing. The kids loved it here, got to try some local culture whilst havi g relaxing time.”
    Angeco Angeco Indonesia Indonesia
  • “Lovely traditional Ryokan with modern facilities. Great location. Delicious dinner. Wonderful staff. Bonus of having an onsen within the property as well as laundry facilties.”
    Emma Emma Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
  • “Good location (Just 7 minutes walk from Old Karuizawa). Meal (dinner ordered in advance) is delicious. We are allowed to check-in upon arrival ( 3 hours in advance).”
    Hong Kong Hong Kong

Categories:

  • Staff9.5
  • Facilities8.3
  • Cleanliness8.9
  • Comfort9.0
  • Value for money7.9
  • Location 9.1
  • Free WiFi8.8
High score for Karuizawa

Located in the city center, Tsuruya Ryokan features chic guest rooms with antique furniture. It features large public baths, and free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the property.

Each room comes with a historic ambiance with comfortable warm colors, and fitted with a flat-screen TV, an air purifier and a personal safe. Some rooms have tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon bedding.

Guests at Ryokan Tsuruya can enjoy thorough in-room massages at an extra charge (reservation needed), or relax in the spacious baths. Coin launderette and souvenir shop are available on site. Guests’ luggage can be left at the front desk for free after checking out.

Traditional Japanese meals are offered for dinner in the elegant dining room. A breakfast buffet features both Western and Japanese dishes.

The ryokan is a 5-minute drive from JR Karuizawa Shinkansen (bullet train) Station. St.Paulo Catholic Church is a 5-minute walk away, while Karuizawa Outlet Shopping Plaza is a 7-minute drive from the property.

This property is a ryokan, which is a type of traditional Japanese Inn. Learn more

  • What's a ryokan?
    A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. They usually feature bathhouses, multicourse dinners, communal spaces where guests can relax, and rooms with woven-straw flooring and futon mats. Like hotels, a range of ryokans (from budget to luxury) is available. What originated centuries ago as a free rest house for long-distance travelers has evolved into a popular destination for relaxation surrounded by therapeutic mineral springs.
  • What are the big differences between a ryokan and a hotel?
    Unlike a hotel, where the guest room is just a place to turn in for the night, a ryokan is more than just a place to sleep. In Japan, many travelers journey long distances to relax in a hot spring bath and feast on a traditional multicourse dinner – staying in a ryokan is an experience in and of itself. These ryokans typically have Japanese-style rooms with woven-straw floors and futon beds (no Western beds and carpeting). You should also remove your shoes at the entrance of the room, or before you enter it. Modern ryokans might serve buffet-style meals in a dining area, while more traditional ryokans tend to serve in-room dinners. Some ryokan rooms have a private bathroom, and others might just have a shared bathroom.
  • What's a kaiseki meal?
    Kaiseki is the culinary highlight at a ryokan, embodying beautifully presented dishes that delight both the palate and the eyes. Every one of the 10 to 15 dishes that make up the multicourse Japanese dinner is prepared in a way that highlights the unique textures, colors, and flavors of featured seasonal ingredients and local specialties. Most commonly served at special restaurants and ryokans, a traditional kaiseki dinner usually consists of bite-size appetizers, fresh sashimi (raw fish, like sushi), soup, grilled fish or meat, a hot-pot dish, rice with miso soup, and a small dessert.
  • What's a yukata?
    A yukata is a casual summer kimono or robe, typically made of light cotton. Many ryokans provide guests with yukata robes during their stay. In some areas, it's common to see guests strolling through the neighborhood in their yukatas. The loose-fitting garment is perfect for sleeping and relaxing in.
  • How should I wear a yukata?
    First, put your arms through the sleeves like you would with a robe. Take the right side of the yukata and wrap it across your body. Then, take the left side and wrap it over the right, making sure that the robe is level at your ankles. Pinning the yukata closed on the right side, wrap the sash around your waist a couple of times and then tie a bow. Generally, the bow is tied around the waist for women, and the hips for men.
  • What's a Japanese hot spring (onsen)?
    Onsen (literally "hot spring") is a term often used to refer to both the mineral-rich hot springs and the bathing facilities that house them. Whether the bath is public or private, gender-segregated or mixed, indoor or outdoor, soaking and unwinding in the soothing geothermal waters at an onsen is a millennia-old custom deeply embedded in Japanese culture.
  • What's standard bathing etiquette?
    At a bathhouse—onsen or not—guests are expected to remove all clothing in their respective changing rooms before entering the bathing area. As a common courtesy, once inside the bathing area, guests should wash and rinse their bodies thoroughly before quietly stepping into the hot water. Whether you relax in solitude or converse softly with others is up to you, but guests should always be mindful of others. Wash towels are often used to cover one’s private areas while walking around. However, note that you should not put towels in the water.
  • Why are tattoos not allowed?
    While tattoos have become more popular among Japan's youth, many Japanese people still associate them with outlaws and organized crime. Nowadays, not all businesses ban customers with tattoos, but you might still be refused admission to bathhouses and swimming pools. Small tattoos can be covered up using waterproof bandaids, but keep in mind that each property has the final say on what’s acceptable.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.3 for a two-person trip.

Tsuruya Ryokan has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Apr 23, 2013

Show me more

Most popular amenities

Non-smoking rooms
Free parking
Family rooms
Free WiFi

Property Highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.1)

Breakfast Info

Buffet

Free Private Parking Available On Site

Saved to 1056 lists

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

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4 reasons to choose Tsuruya Ryokan

  • Prices you can't beat!
  • Booking is safe
  • Manage your bookings online
  • The staff speaks English

Guest reviews

8.7
Excellent · 169 reviews
Read all reviews
Categories:
  • Staff9.5
  • Facilities8.3
  • Cleanliness8.9
  • Comfort9.0
  • Value for money7.9
  • Location 9.1
  • Free WiFi8.8
High score for Karuizawa

Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Phoebe
    United KingdomUnited Kingdom
    “Very cosy Japanese style inn. Located at the end of main shopping street. Very convenient, but quite.”
  • Sonny
    JapanJapan
    “The staff were friendly and the hot spring was wonderful. Not too big and not too smell.”
  • Mirit
    IsraelIsrael
    “The hotel is so special. The rooms, small gardens, location - all is wonderful! The staff was so helpful and generous. We celebrated a birthday party, the staff organized a private room just for us and gave us full attention, it was an...”
  • James
    JapanJapan
    “Very friendly and helpful staff. The room was big and clean. We especially enjoyed the kotatsu and public onsen.”
  • David
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Great location in Karuizawa Machi. Wonderful food, friendly and accommodating staff, retro and cool lobby good ofuro. This was our second visit to Tsuruya Ryokan.”
  • Christopher
    SwitzerlandSwitzerland
    “The staff were friendly, the facilities were nice, and the kaiseki meal was innovative and the public bath was pleasant. Generous breakfast buffet. Karuizawa is a nice day trip or one-nighter from Tokyo.”
  • Icchy
    JapanJapan
    “Staff was kind, all facilities are well maintained and the location is perfect, at the right end of the main street. I booked the room at the last minute, but it was a great deal. Would like to stay here for a longer period next time. Thanks a lot!!”
  • Angeco
    IndonesiaIndonesia
    “The staff were brilliant, the onsen, location, futons, cleanliness all amazing. The kids loved it here, got to try some local culture whilst havi g relaxing time.”
  • Emma
    Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
    “Lovely traditional Ryokan with modern facilities. Great location. Delicious dinner. Wonderful staff. Bonus of having an onsen within the property as well as laundry facilties.”
  • A
    Anonymous
    Hong KongHong Kong
    “Good location (Just 7 minutes walk from Old Karuizawa). Meal (dinner ordered in advance) is delicious. We are allowed to check-in upon arrival ( 3 hours in advance). The hall of the hotel is decorated in warm family style. Breakfast is in buffet...”
Property questions and answers
Browse questions from guests for anything extra you want to know about the property
The property usually replies within a few days
  • Is this location is near in outlet shopping mall
    It's 10 mins driving from here to the outlet.
    Answered on November 29, 2021
  • Do you cater for any allergy or food preferences?
    Please let us know if you have any allergy beforehand.
    Answered on November 24, 2019
  • What time are the communal baths available?
    Our public bath opens from 3pm to 10 am.
    Answered on November 24, 2019
  • What time do I have to arrive for dinner?
    Please arrive before 5pm to have dinner. (Please make sure to reserve dinner beforehand.)
    Answered on November 24, 2019
Area info *
Guests loved walking around the neighborhood!
Excellent location – show map
* All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.
Amenities of Tsuruya Ryokan

Most popular amenities

Non-smoking rooms
Free parking
Family rooms
Free WiFi
Bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Slippers
  • Private Bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • Bathtub
  • Shower
Bedroom
  • Alarm clock
Outdoors
  • Garden
Activities
  • Hiking
  • Massage
Living Area
  • Sitting area
Media & Technology
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Video
  • Telephone
Internet
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking
Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
Services
  • Vending machine (drinks)
  • Baggage storage
  • Wake-up service
  • Laundry Additional charge
Safety & security
  • Safe
General
  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Smoke-free property
  • Heating
  • Family rooms
  • Non-smoking rooms
Languages Spoken
  • English
  • Japanese

House rules Tsuruya Ryokan takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Check-out

Until 11:00 AM

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 13 and above are considered adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

There's no capacity for cribs at this property.

This property doesn't offer extra beds.

No age restriction

There's no age requirement for check-in

Mastercard Visa NICOS JCB American Express Tsuruya Ryokan accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed.

Parties

Parties/events are not allowed

Quiet hours

Guests need be quiet between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

The fine print

If you are arriving after 20:00, please inform the property in advance. If the property is not informed, you may not be able to check in.

Please inform Tsuruya Ryokan of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Guests must check in by 6:00 PM to eat dinner at this property. Guests who check in after this time may not be served dinner, and no refund will be given.

This property does not accommodate bachelor(ette) or similar parties.

FAQs about Tsuruya Ryokan

  • The prices at Tsuruya Ryokan may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • Yes, Tsuruya Ryokan is popular with guests booking family stays.

  • Room options at Tsuruya Ryokan include:

    • Quad
    • Triple
    • Twin
    • Family

  • Tsuruya Ryokan offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Massage
    • Hiking

  • Guests staying at Tsuruya Ryokan can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 10.0).

    Breakfast option(s) include:

    • Buffet

  • Check-in at Tsuruya Ryokan is from 3:00 PM, and check-out is until 11:00 AM.

  • Tsuruya Ryokan is 1.2 miles from the center of Karuizawa.