Overview

Stay beside Lake Suwa at Hotel Saginoyu, a long-established ryokan in Kami-Suwa Onsen. Its history began around 1905, when the first owner created a simple bathing facility around a spring rising from the lakeside fields.

The spring once contained more sulfur and left white deposits that resembled the feathers of an egret, inspiring the name Saginoyu. The water later changed and now has a light amber-brown colour.

Today, you can enjoy lake-view rooms, a Japanese garden, seasonal Shinshu cuisine, and natural hot spring bathing. The lakeside promenade begins just outside, while Kami-Suwa Station, Katakurakan, museums, and central Suwa are within easy walking distance.

Accommodation

Hotel Saginoyu has 50 non-smoking rooms, including Japanese rooms, Western twins, Japanese-Western rooms, business singles, and 13 rooms with private open-air hot spring baths. Wi-Fi and washlet toilets are available throughout the room collection.

The Shurokaku Premium Twin with Open-Air Bath was renewed in spring 2024. This 65-square-metre room includes Simmons beds, a lake-view terrace, and a private bath supplied with 100% free-flowing spring water. The room accommodates up to three people and includes access to the dedicated lounge.

The Shurokaku Twin with Open-Air Bath was also renewed in spring 2024. It measures 49 square metres and includes Simmons beds and a private free-flowing onsen. This room is designed for two people and also includes lounge access.

The Shirasagitei Twin with Open-Air Bath was renewed in 2021. Its 51-square-metre layout includes Simmons beds, a lake-view terrace, and a private open-air bath using 100% free-flowing source water.

The Panoramic Japanese Room with Open-Air Bath offers either ten or 12.5 tatami mats. You can soak in amber-coloured spring water while looking across Lake Suwa, watching the sunset, or sitting beneath the night sky.

The Healing Japanese Room with Open-Air Bath offers between ten and 12.5 tatami mats. Five rooms belong to this category, each providing a fully private bath with 100% free-flowing spring water.

The Spacious Japanese-Western Room combines a 12.5-tatami Japanese area with a 23-square-metre Western bedroom. Two Simmons beds are provided, while futons allow the room to accommodate up to six people.

The Shirasagitei Comfort Twin measures between approximately 47 and 50 square metres. Renewed in 2021, it combines Western-style sleeping with Japanese decorative elements and Simmons beds.

The Shurokaku Lake-View Japanese Room provides between ten and 12.5 tatami mats. Large windows open towards Lake Suwa, while traditional futon bedding completes the ryokan experience.

The Shirasagitei Japanese Rooms have ten tatami mats and come with either a lake or garden outlook. A compact single room is also available when you are travelling alone or visiting Suwa for work.

Your room includes a television, refrigerator, kettle, tea, towels, yukata, toiletries, air conditioning, and an air purifier with a humidifying function. Bathroom arrangements differ by category, so choose a room specifically described as having an open-air onsen when private natural spring bathing is important to you.

Dining

Dinner follows a seasonal Japanese kaiseki format using meat, freshwater fish, lake produce, and vegetables from Shinshu. The ingredients and presentation change throughout the year.

Shinshu beef is one of the main specialities. The cattle are raised with apples added to their feed, producing tender meat with rich flavour. Selected plans serve 120 grams of Shinshu beef as sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, or stone-grilled steak with three sauces, including an apple-based house sauce.

Horse sashimi offers a leaner regional taste. The soft loin is served raw and lightly seasoned so you can appreciate its clean flavour.

Fresh iwana raised in clear mountain water may appear as sashimi. Seasonal meals can also include wakasagi and river shrimp connected with Lake Suwa.

Your dinner location depends on the room and meal plan you reserve. Selected plans include in-room dining, while others use a private dining room, restaurant, or banquet space. Rooms with panoramic or twin open-air baths normally receive meals in a private dining area under the standard plan.

Breakfast is a Japanese set meal prepared with local ingredients. It is normally served between 7:00 and 8:30 in Hakuhou or another assigned dining space.

Share food-allergy requirements at least three days before arrival. The same kitchen and equipment handle multiple ingredients, so complete separation from allergens cannot be guaranteed. Vegan and vegetarian meals are not provided under the current allergy policy.

Onsen and Wellness

Hotel Saginoyu draws water from its own two-source blended spring, named Kami-Suwa Onsen Yumoto Saginoyu No. 1 and No. 2 Mixed Spring.

The water is classified as a neutral, hypotonic, high-temperature sodium-calcium bicarbonate spring. It emerges at approximately 46.9°C and cannot be used for drinking.

The spring once appeared white because of its sulfur content. After changes around the time of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, the water developed the light amber-brown appearance you see today.

Two tubs within the bathing areas receive 100% natural water as complete free-flowing kakenagashi baths. The main indoor baths and large garden open-air baths use a combined overflow and circulation system.

Traditional bathing indications include neuralgia, muscle and joint discomfort, frozen shoulder, stiffness, bruises, sprains, sensitivity to cold, fatigue, minor cuts, burns, and selected skin and digestive conditions.

The large outdoor bathing areas use rocks, trees, and garden planting to create an open setting. The two sides have different designs and change between men and women during the night, allowing you to experience both during an overnight stay.

The shared baths normally open from 13:00 until 9:30 the following morning. They close for approximately 30 minutes around midnight while the men’s and women’s areas are changed.

The garden footbath, Ashiyu, uses water from the spring rising within the grounds. You can rest your legs while looking across the plants, pond, and seasonal flowers.

Hotel Saginoyu does not have a reservable private bath or sauna. Private bathing is available only when you book one of the 13 rooms with its own source-fed open-air bath.

Guests with Tattoos

You cannot use the shared indoor baths, large open-air baths, changing rooms, or other communal bathing areas when you have a tattoo, temporary tattoo, or fake tattoo.

Cover seals do not provide an exception to this rule.

For private natural hot spring bathing, you must book one of the 13 rooms with its own source-fed open-air bath.

Facilities

Juen provides a traditional restaurant setting for smaller meals and celebrations. Shointei stands within the garden and gives you a more private place to enjoy seasonal food.

Shikian contains individual dining rooms, while Hakuhou can support larger dinners, celebrations, conferences, and organised gatherings. Karaoke can be arranged for selected banquet use.

Kantori is available with selected private-bath rooms. From 15:00 until 18:30, you can enjoy drinks such as sparkling wine and beer. After 20:00, the space can become a reservable karaoke lounge.

Tea Lounge Riido looks towards the Japanese garden and serves freshly prepared coffee. Its seating gives you a pleasant place to pause before departure or after walking around Lake Suwa.

The shop carries Shinshu soba, quince products, local food, drinks, and original Saginoyu items. Parcel delivery can also be arranged.

The gallery displays paintings, objects, and other items connected with people who stayed at the ryokan. Works associated with Japanese painter Ikegami Shuho form part of this collection.

Meeting and exhibition rooms can support seminars, presentations, art displays, and business events. Accessible facilities include entrance ramps, handrails, multipurpose toilets, wheelchair covers for tatami, and one step-free wheelchair-friendly room.

Activities

Begin with a walk beside Lake Suwa. The waterfront has promenades, parks, cycle routes, boat services, and places where you can stop to enjoy the mountain views.

Katakurakan is close to the ryokan and gives you another perspective on Kami-Suwa’s bathing culture. Its large Senninburo bath sits inside an early 20th-century Western-style building.

Continue along the lakeside to the Lake Suwa Geyser Center, the public footbath, museums, and the stone sculpture park. Seasonal sightseeing cruises and wakasagi fishing are also available on the lake.

Takashima Castle introduces you to Suwa’s feudal history. Its park is especially attractive during the cherry blossom season.

The four Suwa Taisha shrines are spread around the lake. You can visit Kamisha Maemiya, Kamisha Honmiya, Shimosha Harumiya, and Shimosha Akimiya by car, train, bus, or bicycle.

Five sake breweries stand within a short section of the old Koshu Kaido road in central Kami-Suwa. You can walk between Maihime, Reijin, Honkin, Yokobue, and Masumi to discover Suwa’s brewing culture.

For a longer outing, travel towards Kirigamine, Kurumayama, Yashimagahara Wetland, Lake Shirakaba, or Tateshina. These highland areas offer walking trails, alpine flowers, autumn colour, winter sports, and wide mountain views.

Additional Features

Check-in begins at 15:00, and check-out is by 10:00. The entire room collection, including balconies, is non-smoking. Designated smoking areas are provided inside the building.

Kami-Suwa Station is approximately seven to ten minutes away on foot. A station shuttle is not provided, but taxis are available outside the station.

Complimentary parking is available for up to 50 vehicles.

Wi-Fi is available in every room and around the lobby. The entrance has a ramp, although you will still find steps in selected room, restaurant, and bathing areas.