Wanting to visit Nagano Prefecture’s wild nature but worried that staying the night might negatively impact the environment? Not to worry – Nagano has a fantastic selection of ryokans, hotels, lodges and guesthouses that are striving to protect the environment for future generations. Beyond the basics of Reduce / Reuse / Recycle, eliminating plastic amenities, locally sourcing ingredients and switching to LED lights (which most of the places listed here do), these inns feature ecologically minded methods that are truly inspirational. So go ahead, come enjoy Nagano’s natural beauty and then spend the night – your place of accommodation may teach a valuable lesson about sustainability.

Myojinkan (Tobira Onsen, Matsumoto)

Green Key-certified since May 2009 (the first in Japan), this luxurious ryokan tucked into a deep valley in a quasi-national park prides itself on being as conscientious of the lush nature it is blessed with.

From natural hardwood flooring and diatomaceous earth walls to recycling kitchen waste into organic fertilizer for their own farms, Myojinkan strives to be as ecologically-minded as much as possible. To encourage guests to use public transportation when coming, the inn even offers free shuttle service from central Matsumoto.

Details

Location: Matsumoto, between the city center and the Utsukushigahara Highlands
Website: Official Website (English)

Il Bosco (Hakuba)

This cozy hotel is so passionate about reducing carbon output they offer a 10% “Green Discount” for guests that come by train, bike or EV. Il Bosco boasts a 6.6 kw rooftop solar panel for electricity. For heating they use a wood burning stove; and for cooling they pipe in snow-melt stream water. Even their hot water boiler is heated by firewood. The staff encourages low-carbon sightseeing by walking or bicycling. That’s not to mention the shade trees planted to keep the hotel cool in the summer.

Details

Location: Hakuba Village, 1.5 km from Kamishiro Station
Website: Official Website (English)

Shirouma-so (Hakuba)

A traditional ryokan in the heart of Hakuba’s Happo district, Shirouma-so is strongly focused on SDG’s. One of their most notable endeavors is a program with the local school to have students come for internships, instilling in the next generation an appreciation for sharing and protecting Hakuba’s natural wonder. Shirouma-so’s conservation ethos can be seen in the fine details, such as guestroom refrigerators having switches to cut electricity waste.

Details

Location: Hakuba Village, Happo District
Website: Official Website (English)

Kamikochi Imperial Hotel (Matsumoto)

This landmark lodge in Kamikochi, the gateway to the Northern Japanese Alps, allows guests to co-exist with nature at an altitude of 1,500 meters. Kamikochi Imperial Hotel prides itself on being Zero-Carbon using electricity from renewable sources. From providing natural spring water for drinking water for guests to using wood and bamboo (instead of plastic) for amenities, this lodge offers a guilt-free stay in Kamikochi’s majestic wilderness.

Details

Location: Kamikochi, west of central Matsumoto
Website: Official Website (English)

Hotel JAL City Nagano (Nagano City)

Conveniently located between Nagano Station and the venerable Zenkoji Temple, this modern hotel offers surprisingly local touches such as silk lanterns made by local school children and a farmers’ market where every other Sunday guests can meet local farmers and purchase produce as well as arts and crafts. Meanwhile, every morning the hotel serves a breakfast banquet featuring Nagano’s distinct fermented dishes like miso and sake lees. The highlight is “katte-meshi”, a traditional countryside breakfast with your choice of a variety of toppings placed on top of a bowl of freshly-steamed white rice.

Details

Location: Central Nagano City
Website: Official Website (English)

Prince Grand Resort Karuizawa

Karuizawa is a resort town that takes its proximity to nature seriously. This member of the esteemed Prince chain of hotels is no exception. From reusing timber cleared from thinning the forest on its premises and from the adjacent ski area, to creating electricity from their own hydropower plant, Prince Grand Resort Karuizawa is extremely mindful of the environment. Wood pellet stoves, shuttle buses that run on electricity and discouraging waste at the buffets are just a few more examples. Then there are the numerous programs in support of the local community, such as honoring International Women’s Day, art collaboration with a local nursing home, and support projects for children.

Details

Location: Central Karuizawa Town
Website: Official Website (English)

Tateshina Shin-yu Onsen (Chino)

Located deep in the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains, Tateshina Shin-yu is a grand onsen resort hotel. Through their efforts to be environmentally friendly such as using snow melt-fed spring water throughout the hotel, Tateshina Shin-yu has achieved a 2-Star Rakuten Sustainable Travel rating. On staff is a certified Universal Design Advisor that endeavors to make the hotel accessible to as wide a variety of people as possible. For a welcoming, ecological-minded hotel deep in Nagano’s wilderness, seek out Tateshina Shin-yu.

Details

Location: Oku-Tateshina area of Chino City
Website: Official Website (English)

Sekitaitei Ishida (Hirugami Onsen, Achi)

This traditional Japanese ryokan is in Hirugami Onsen, the closest hot spring resort town to the Nakasendo post town of Tsumago. Ishida’s chefs showcase the region’s unique culinary heritage which features both local delicacies from the southern area of Nagano Prefecture (wild edible plants and local fruit and pickled vegetables, etc.) as well as “bounty from the sea” with the Pacific Ocean a short river trip away. With local ingredients and a menu reflecting the area’s distinct culture, their kaiseki dinner provides a sensorial immersion into Southern Nagano. The inn features the area’s famous flowering peach trees as well as an actual Noh stage with nightly traditional performances. Ishida takes the ryokan tradition of seasonal decorations to the next level with 2,000 Hina dolls displayed in early spring, and 1,000 traditional wind chimes set out each summer.

Details

Location: Hirugami Onsen, Achi Village
Website: Official Website (English)

Raicho Onsen Inn (Norikura, Matsumoto)

Named after the endangered ptarmigan, symbol of the Japanese Alps, Raicho Onsen Inn prides itself as being as environmentally friendly as possible. All electricity is from renewable sources, the milky-white onsen bath is 100% natural, and besides bike rental they also offer water bottle rental to guests can avoid disposable plastic. They also promote the many walking trails in the surrounding national park. Perhaps most noticeable is their upcycled “donguri” furniture used throughout the inn.

Details

Location: Norikura Highlands west of central Matsumoto
Website: Official Website (English)

Kanaguya (Shibu Onsen, Yamanouchi)

Kanaguya’s classic wooden façade (pictured at top of page) is straight out of a Ghibli animation. Located in the onsen resort of Shibu-Yudanaka next to the famous Snow Monkeys, this historical ryokan has been a trailblazer in using onsen water as a source of heat. In 2005, the ryokan introduced an efficient system to harness onsen heat from its 98 degrees C (208 deg F) onsen source, using it to warm guest rooms and banquet halls during the brutally cold winter. As a result, they lowered heating fuel costs by a whopping 83% with reduced fossil fuel consumption continuing today. Another example of Kanaguya’s ecological efforts can be seen in their gift shop. The ubiquitous “yu-oke” onsen bath buckets for sale are made of recycled plastic bottle caps!

Details

Location: Shibu-Yudanaka Onsen, Yamanouchi Town
Website: Official Website (English)

Summary

From its majestic mountains and grand river valleys, Nagano Prefecture is blessed with picturesque nature. While visitors come from near and far to enjoy Nagano’s natural wonder, there is the fear the prefecture’s beauty gets trampled. Many innkeepers and hotel owners share a concern for how to best preserve Nagano’s beauty. Hopefully this list of environmentally-friendly establishments will allow you to fully experience Nagano without leaving the proverbial carbon footprint.