Hoshinoya Karuizawa
星のや軽井沢- Say it
- ho·
shee· no· ya ka· roo· ee· za· wa - Also written
- HOSHINOYA Karuizawa
About Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Seventy-seven villas in the Hoshino area of Naka-Karuizawa, about 80 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen and then a short taxi ride. Hot-spring water flows freely at the Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-yu bathhouse and in a Meditation Bath kept for staying guests; the tubs in the villas use tap water.
- OnsenYesFree-flowing, in the bathhouse
- Bath in your roomEvery roomA bathtub in every villa
- Private bathNot stated
- TattoosAllowedNot restricted
- MealsNot includedRates are room-only
- Dietary needsSome dietsVegetarian kaiseki
- ChildrenWelcomeUnder-12s can share a bed
- Check-in and dinnerCheck-in 15:00; out 12:00
- Getting thereFree shuttle from Naka-Karuizawa
Good to know before you book
- Villa tubs are tap waterEvery villa has a bathtub with ordinary tap water; the hot-spring water is at the Tombo-no-yu bathhouse and the Meditation Bath.
- The shuttle is reserved aheadThe free shuttle from Naka-Karuizawa Station runs for check-in and check-out, has limited seats and needs a reservation.
- No children's vegetarian menuThe vegetarian kaiseki has no children's version; the regular kaiseki has child prices for ages 4–6 and 7–11.
- Villas
- 77, for 1–4 guests
- Dogs
- Niwaroji dog villas take up to two dogs
- Heating and cooling
- Geothermal floor heating; natural ventilation in place of air conditioning
- Parking
- Free
Rooms and their baths
- Indoor bath
Mizunami (water side)
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
Balcony over the water
- Indoor bath
Mizunami King
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
Wide terrace
- Indoor bath
Yamaroji (mountain side)
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
Balcony and living room
- Indoor bath
Yamaroji King
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
The smallest villa; terrace
- Indoor bath
Yamaroji, mountain view, 2nd floor
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
Looks over the Wild Bird Sanctuary
- Indoor bath
Niwaroji Junior Villa Grand
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
Enclosed small garden
- Indoor bath
Niwaroji Junior Villa Maisonette
Bathtub with tap water; separate toilet
Two floors
The fine print
Last checked November 12, 2026.
- Onsen
Yes. Hot-spring water, free-flowing
The Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-yu bathhouse, indoor and open-air, plus a guests-only Meditation Bath.
- Bath in your room
Every room. A bathtub in every villa
Ordinary tap water: the onsen is the shared bathhouse.
- Private bath
Not stated. Not stated by the ryokan
- Tattoos
Allowed. Not restricted
Hoshino Resorts' group rule: staff may still turn someone away from a shared bath if they judge other guests would be frightened.
- Meals
Not included. Not included: rates are room-only
Dinner and breakfast are booked separately after you book the room.
- Dietary needs
Some diets. Vegetarian kaiseki, ¥21,780
No meat or seafood. There's no children's vegetarian menu.
- Children
Welcome. Welcome; under-12s can share a bed
Up to the room's capacity.
- Check-in and dinner
Check-in 15:00, check-out 12:00
- Getting there
Free shuttle from Naka-Karuizawa Station, booked ahead
Naka-Karuizawa is 5 minutes from Karuizawa on the Shinano Railway. Seats are limited.
Meals
Nothing is included in the villa rate. Prices are per adult.
- Dinner
- "Yama no Kaiseki" at Kasuke, the dining room, ¥21,780. Ages 7–11 ¥13,200; ages 4–6 ¥4,235
- Dinner, shabu-shabu
- Beef shabu-shabu at Kasuke, ¥21,780, with the same child prices
- Vegetarian dinner
- Vegetarian kaiseki at Kasuke, without meat or seafood, ¥21,780. There is no children's version
- Winter dinner
- A yakuzen medicinal hotpot from 1 December to 22 February, ¥24,200
- Casual dinner
- Sonmin Shokudo, ¥9,800
- French dinner
- Yukawatan, in the Hoshino area, from ¥21,780. Preschool children are not admitted
- Breakfast
- Not stated by the ryokan
Baths
- Tombo-no-yu bathhouse
- Hoshino Onsen hot-spring water, free-flowing, in indoor and open-air baths
- Meditation Bath
- A hot-spring bath for staying guests only
- Bath in your villa
- A bathtub with tap water, and a separate toilet
- Bath hours
- Not stated by the ryokan
- Private bath
- Not stated by the ryokan
Getting there
- Train
- About 80 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen to Karuizawa, then about 15 minutes by taxi
- Shuttle
- Free between Naka-Karuizawa Station and the ryokan for check-in and check-out; seats are limited, so reserve ahead. Naka-Karuizawa is 5 minutes from Karuizawa on the Shinano Railway
- Car
- Parking is free
Who it suits
- Couples and families
- A forest villa within about 80 minutes of Tokyo; Mizunami villas sleep up to four
- Dog owners
- The Niwaroji dog villas take up to two dogs
- Winter visits
- Floor heating in every villa, and the yakuzen hotpot from December to February
- Less suited
- Travelers who want dinner inside the rate, or hot-spring water in the room
Place and season
- Winter
- The yakuzen hotpot is served from 1 December to 22 February
- Nearby
- The Wild Bird Sanctuary, which the 2nd-floor Yamaroji villas look over
- Beds
- Futon-style beds, about 200 × 105 cm
History
- 1915
The first-generation owner of the Hoshino business opens the Hoshino Onsen hot spring in Karuizawa.
- Today
The same spring feeds the Tombo-no-yu bathhouse beside the villas.
Ryokan elsewhere to compare
Questions
Does Hoshinoya Karuizawa have an onsen?
Yes. Free-flowing Hoshino Onsen water fills the indoor and open-air baths of the Tombo-no-yu bathhouse, and there is a Meditation Bath for staying guests only. The bathtub in each villa uses tap water.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, in the Niwaroji dog villas, which take up to two dogs.
How do I get to Hoshinoya Karuizawa from Tokyo?
Take the Shinkansen to Karuizawa, about 80 minutes, then a taxi for about 15 minutes. Or ride the Shinano Railway five minutes to Naka-Karuizawa and take the ryokan's free shuttle, which is reserved ahead.
Where do guests eat dinner?
At one of three places, each booked separately from the villa: Kasuke for kaiseki or beef shabu-shabu, Sonmin Shokudo for a casual meal, or the French restaurant Yukawatan in the Hoshino area.
Is there a vegetarian kaiseki?
Yes, a course without meat or seafood at ¥21,780 per person, tax and service included. It has no children's menu.
Which villa takes four guests?
Mizunami, on the water side: 57–68 m² with a balcony over the water, for one to four guests. Children under 12 can also share a bed, without a meal or bedding, up to the villa's capacity.