Ancient Hotel Asama Karuizawa
アンシェントホテル浅間軽井沢
Does Ancient Hotel Asama Karuizawa allow tattoos? In a private bath
Ancient Hotel publishes no tattoo policy, so reserve its private hot-spring bath at the front desk. It’s held for one party at a time, in the morning and the evening.
No tattoo rule is published for the shared bath, Hibiki-no-yu.
The bath
The private bath (kazoku-buro) is open 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to midnight.
The shared bath, Hibiki-no-yu, is small and keeps the same hours. The hotel lines it with a stone it calls crystal stone. Children up to age 6 may go in with a parent of either sex. This is a shared bath with no published tattoo rule. Bathing tax is charged per night for guests 12 and older.
The hotel
The hotel opened in 2011 inside the national park and has 13 rooms, each themed on a gemstone. They range from Japanese tatami rooms to Scandinavian-style Western rooms with Hans Wegner furniture, and a loft room for up to seven. Some Western rooms have their own bathroom, and the Garnet Room has a fireplace and a semi-open-air bath. Dinner is Japanese, served 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and breakfast, Japanese or Western, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Ancient Garage, a lounge among classic cars with drinks and cigars, is open 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Good to know
- Toll road for drivers. The hotel sits on the Shiraito Highland Way. Guests drive through free until December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, a car pays ¥500, once per stay.
- Patchy phone signal. Some mobile carriers, including au, may not work at the hotel.
Getting there
Karuizawa STN · Hokuriku Shinkansen
About 5 km (3.1 mi) away; a taxi ride.
From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa, about 1 hour 10 minutes, with no change. From Karuizawa Station, take a taxi. The hotel covers the fare: pay the driver and hand in the receipt at check-in.
Where it is
- Shinkansen tickets Seats between any two stations, booked by date.
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass ¥16,000 · 3 days Covers the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo as far as Karuizawa and Sakudaira.
- Karuizawa day tour Shiraito Falls, Kumoba Pond, Old Karuizawa Ginza and the outlet mall, from Shinjuku.
- Japan Rail Pass from ¥53,000 · 7, 14 or 21 days For a trip that takes in several regions by Shinkansen and JR lines.
What happens when you arrive
Ask at the front desk to reserve the private bath, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 3 p.m. to midnight.
How we know
Bath layout confirmed, tattoo policy not published Checked on the official site (the hotel’s Experience page, private bath (private bath / hot spring))
Best for: couples who want a quiet 13-room hotel in the national-park forest, with a hot-spring bath to themselves
Book your stay
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