The Prince Karuizawa

I brought my own snowboard to Karuizawa. It's a 70-minute Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station to JR Karuizawa Station. The Shinkansen luggage racks have straps to secure snowboards. After exiting the station, head to the hotel service center (open until 7 PM) located on the far right of the 7/11 convenience store at the South Exit (Pic 7). You can drop off your luggage there and then explore the Plaza unencumbered. Take the brown hotel shuttle bus to B21, where The Prince is located, every hour on the hour and half-hour. Your luggage will already be in your room, but snowboards are not allowed inside. Each day, I'd take my own snowboard on the brown bus to the gondola at the East Building. You can buy ski passes and rent equipment there. Ski pass prices are shown in Pic 6. Only guests staying in the East Building can use the hotel's lockers for ski equipment. The West Building also has a gondola, but it requires a short walk. You can't enter the hotel wearing ski boots, but the Makibi restaurant seems to be an exception. After skiing, take the green bus back to the hotel. Of the two onsen, Hongye Bisen has newer facilities and better views from the outdoor bath. All Prince Hotel restaurants require reservations made via QR code. Pics 4 and 5 show the breakfast at the main building, which is high quality and delicious. From 10 AM to 8 PM, you can enjoy unlimited soft drinks in the bar area. Finally, use the luggage delivery service when checking out. I think The Prince offers the best value for money.

Facilities: Although old, everything is in working order. Hygiene: Clean and tidy. Environment: Very pleasant, you could spend days here without even leaving the hotel. Service: The hotel offers a shuttle bus, and if you miss it, the staff will even arrange a business car for you, which is very convenient.