Mampei Hotel

I stayed at this hotel with my wife and two children during a two-night trip to Karuizawa in early February. The hotel is around 100 years old and its claim to fame is that John Lennon has stayed there. The piano that he played on is still in the bar. Location: The hotel is near Old Ginza Street and around a 15-minutes drive from Karuizawa station. It was not difficult to find, but you must navigate a narrow approach to the hotel which is icy at this time of the year, so you must drive carefully. Cleaniness: The staff told me that the hotel was only recently and everything was very clean and in good condition. Service: The receptionist that conducted the check-in was probably the Japanese that spoke the best English that I had encountered on this trip. He spent a lot of time explaining the hotel to our family. The porter was also very helpful and polite. When we asked for extra toothbrushes and slippers for the children, housekeeping was very prompt in delivering them and even brought some children's robes for my sons. Facilities: The hotel did not have many facilities. There is a small shop, a bar and a french restaurant but not much else. Some rooms had private hot springs in them and they gave us the opportunity to upgrade. Our room, had a small balcony even though we were on the ground floor. It looked onto a wooded area so there was not much to see, especially at night. However, when it snowed the next morning, my kids loved going out and playing in the snow. I was particularly impressed by the breakfast. It was a simple American breakfast very well presented. It was very pleasurable to look out into the inner courtyard with it was snowing. Overall: I like this hotel as it has a lot of character. It is architecturally attractive and has kept a lot of its charm despite renovation. The staff are very professional and polite. I would stay in this hotel again.