{
 "slug": "fujiiso",
 "name": "Fujiiso",
 "url": "https://ryokancatalog.com/inn/fujiiso",
 "location": "Yamada Onsen",
 "prefecture": "Nagano",
 "region": "Chubu",
 "geo": {
  "lat": 36.6833,
  "lng": 138.35
 },
 "tier": "B",
 "score": 7.7,
 "score_scale": "1-10",
 "unscored": false,
 "confidence": "low",
 "evidence": {
  "units": 2,
  "op_stays": 1,
  "member_stays": 0
 },
 "kinrt_rank_claim": null,
 "rooms": 24,
 "property_type": "Onsen ryokan",
 "style": "Kaiseki",
 "features": {
  "in_room_onsen": "Yes",
  "meals_in_room": null
 },
 "summary": "A historic Nagano inn with 240 years of pedigree and many repeat guests, which added two fresh, spacious suites in 2022 with source-fed onsen baths, so you can stay at a famous old ryokan without giving up comfort. The nakai service is stellar and the kitchen is creative with local produce. KI-NRT gladly drove the extra half hour for the experience and still recommends it in 2026, but says one night is enough unless you have a car, since off-season Yamada Onsen offers next to nothing.",
 "aspect_scale": "1-5",
 "aspects": {
  "cuisine": {
   "label": "Food",
   "score": 4,
   "text": "Head chef Atsushi Fujimoto builds the meal on Nagano's produce and sansai (wild mountain plants), which in April meant white asparagus, bamboo shoots and nozawana at their peak. KI-NRT liked the grated white asparagus soup with uni and shiso flowers, the fried age soba-gaki, and Fujiiso's own signature dish, Ponpon Nabe, a fondue of skewers deep-fried in olive oil that looks far too heavy and turns out light. He calls the cuisine very nice."
  },
  "onsen": {
   "label": "Bath",
   "score": 4,
   "text": "The onsen water comes straight from the source and flows freely into the in-room baths of the two Tokubetsu suites built in 2022 (some of the older rooms have the same feature): granite in the Fuji Balcony Suite and hinoki cedar in Yamazakura. The bathing area has large windows that open right up, so the soak turns into a half open-air onsen bath. Nobody in the thread has described a communal bath here."
  },
  "service": {
   "label": "Service",
   "score": 4.5,
   "text": "A nakai-san (butler) is assigned to each room, and KI-NRT found both of his stellar: Mariko and Chie were elegant, charming and attentive, and they took their time deliberately explaining each feature of the rooms and each course at dinner and breakfast. Chie speaks good English and is usually assigned to foreign guests, so ask for her if your Japanese is not up to snuff. Meals are served in a private dining room (although not in your own room)."
  },
  "room": {
   "label": "Room",
   "score": 4,
   "text": "Book one of the two Tokubetsu Shitsu (special) suites built in October 2022, Fuji Balcony Suite and Yamazakura, which are fresh, stylish and much larger than the other rooms while keeping traditional Japanese decor. Fuji is the one to get, with 158 square metres against Yamazakura's 110 and a very nice entrance hallway. Both have a Western-style living room, a tatami room, a bedroom with Western beds and an onsen bath."
  },
  "setting": {
   "label": "Place",
   "score": 4,
   "text": "Fujiiso is the historic inn of Yamada Onsen, a small and sleepy hot-spring town 20 to 30 minutes by car from Nagano city. The lobby lounge is enormous for a 24-room inn, with an expansive viewing area that should be picturesque in summer and fall. Nearby Matsukawa Keikoku is a gorge counted among the most beautiful in Japan, but only with leaves on the trees; otherwise there is little to do, and KI-NRT says one night is enough without a car."
  }
 },
 "transit": {
  "cities": [
   {
    "city": "Tokyo",
    "hours": 2.3,
    "time": "2h20",
    "transfers": 0,
    "estimated": false,
    "text": "Hokuriku Shinkansen Tokyo→Nagano (~1h20–1h30), then a ~30–45-min car up to Yamada Onsen (Fujiiso arranges transport; no rail last mile — nearest is Suzaka Stn + taxi). ~2h20 door-to-door."
   },
   {
    "city": "Kanazawa",
    "hours": 2,
    "time": "2h",
    "transfers": 0,
    "estimated": false,
    "text": "Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa→Nagano (~65 min), then a ~30–45-min car to Yamada Onsen. ~2h door-to-door."
   }
  ],
  "note": ""
 },
 "photos": [
  {
   "url": "/img/fujiiso-0-ff2ab9ad.jpg",
   "tag": "setting",
   "width": 400,
   "height": 300
  },
  {
   "url": "/img/fujiiso-1-e791e068.jpg",
   "tag": "room",
   "width": 400,
   "height": 300
  },
  {
   "url": "/img/fujiiso-2-14a9e1ee.jpg",
   "tag": "bath",
   "width": 400,
   "height": 266
  },
  {
   "url": "/img/fujiiso-3-735edf50.jpg",
   "tag": "food",
   "width": 400,
   "height": 266
  }
 ],
 "links": {
  "website": "https://en.fujiiso.co.jp/",
  "map": "https://www.google.com/maps?cid=12876939545693936145",
  "jp_site": {
   "source": "Ikyu",
   "score": 4.82,
   "reviews": 62,
   "url": "https://www.ikyu.com/00001534/review/",
   "as_of": "2026-07-10"
  },
  "flyertalk_reviews": [
   {
    "post": 97,
    "author": "KI-NRT",
    "url": "https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35154080-post97.html"
   }
  ],
  "flyertalk_discussion": [
   {
    "post": 314,
    "author": "KI-NRT",
    "url": "https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36227060-post314.html"
   },
   {
    "post": 624,
    "author": "KI-NRT",
    "url": "https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37275703-post624.html"
   },
   {
    "post": 759,
    "author": "KI-NRT",
    "url": "https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37726002-post759.html"
   },
   {
    "post": 761,
    "author": "KI-NRT",
    "url": "https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37726093-post761.html"
   }
  ],
  "tripadvisor": [
   {
    "rating": 5,
    "stay": "April 2023",
    "url": "https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g1403544-d1440356-r885560640-Fujiiso-Takayama_mura_Kamitakai_gun_Nagano_Prefecture_Koshinetsu_Chubu.html"
   }
  ]
 },
 "as_of": "2026-09-07"
}