Minami Aso Luna Observatory Auberge Mori no Atelier
Location: Shirakawa 1810, Minami Aso, jp
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Property Type: Hotels
About this Property
Unique Room Types
Minami Aso Luna Observatory Auberge Mori no Atelier offers a range of accommodations, from simple rooms to maisonette types. Some rooms even come with a kitchenette or loft area, providing a unique and comfortable stay for all guests.
Observatory and Planetarium
Guests can immerse themselves in the wonders of the universe with the on-site observatory and planetarium. Explore the night sky and learn about the stars, making your stay a truly unforgettable experience.
Local Cuisine and Nearby Attractions
Indulge in delicious French dishes made from local ingredients at Aso Cuisine. Additionally, the hotel's convenient location allows for easy access to Mount Aso, Aso Farm Land, and the Jigoku hot-spring area, ensuring a well-rounded and enjoyable stay.
Experience the charm of Minami Aso Luna Observatory Auberge Mori no Atelier and book your stay now for a memorable getaway.
Important Information
Stargazing tours (automatically included for guests) start at 8pm.
Guests who want to eat meals at the property must make a reservation at least 3 days in advance. Please note the property cannot prepare meals on the spot, and that there are limited dining available in the surroundings.
Guests who do not eat beef need to notify the property in advance. Please note the property cannot accommodate a vegetarian meals request.
Guests with children must inform the property at time of booking as child rates apply. Please contact property for further details.
"Room Cleaning for Consecutive Stays"
We will not clean your room during your stay.
We will not clean your room during your stay, but we will clean your room every 3 nights if you stay more than 3 nights.
If you would like us to change your towels or collect your garbage, please ask at the front desk.
Policies
Check-in: 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Amenities & Facilities
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking throughout
- Free wired internet
- Self parking (surcharge)
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Internet access
- Japanese garden
Rooms Available
-
Maisonette - Annex
This air-conditioned spacious maisonette features a sofa, a TV and Japanese Yukata robes. Comes with a kitchenette with a microwave, fridge and a dining area. Includes an private bathroom with a hairdryer and slippers. Located in the annex.
Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Seating Area
- Toilet
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Sofa
- Electric kettle
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Twin Room - Main Building
The spacious twin room provides air conditioning, a safe deposit box, as well as a private bathroom featuring a shower and a hairdryer. The twin room offers an electric kettle and heating. The unit offers 2 beds.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Electric kettle
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Maisonette Double Room - Main Building
The spacious double room offers air conditioning, a safe deposit box, as well as a private bathroom boasting a shower and a hairdryer. The unit has 1 bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Electric kettle
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Twin Room - Annex (2F)
This air-conditioned room features a sofa, a TV and Japanese Yukata robes. Comes with a kitchenette with a microwave, fridge and a dining area. Includes an private bathroom with a hairdryer and slippers. This room is located in the annex.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Toilet
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Sofa
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Maisonette Twin Room - Main Building
This quadruple room features air conditioning and electric kettle.
- In case a booking is made for 5 people, the 5th guest may have to sleep in an extra bed.
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Toilet
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Electric kettle
- Toilet paper
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
-
Twin Room - Annex (1F)
This air-conditioned room features a sofa, a TV and Japanese Yukata robes. Comes with a kitchenette with a microwave, fridge and a dining area. Includes an private bathroom with a hairdryer and slippers. This room is located in the annex.
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Shower
- Safety deposit box
- TV
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Toilet
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Dining area
- Electric kettle
- Toilet paper
- Cots
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body soap
Guest Reviews
- Nico (7/5): Man muss sich bewusst sein, dass alles etwas pragmatischer / einfacher gehandhabt wird - wobei man die Bemühungen de - Das leckere Abendessen und anschliessende Sternennacht (Blick durchs Teleskop und Liegen unter dem Sternenhimmel) hat uns gut gefallen. Die Sauberkeit im ersten Zimmer lies zu wünschen übrig, so dass wir das Zimmer wechseln mussten. Dies war aber zum Glück möglich.
- Ayumi (9/5): とても良い経験ができ、素敵な思い出です。 - 感動体験
料理 部屋にカメムシがたくさん出る
お風呂が寒い
- T.K. (9/5): - 大型望遠鏡等を使った星空体験がよかった
星の解説がよかった
- Wen Chia (10/5): 一切都很棒,值得。 - 房間是寬敞舒適的小木屋👍
接待人員非常友善🩵
觀星體驗很酷🤩
附近的景觀很美🌲 無
- Marc (10/5): - Tout, le lieu, l'accueil, les activités comprises, le petit-déjeuner
- Jamie (10/5): - The staff here were great, helpful, pleasant, and very knowledgeable! The stargazing tour in the evening was great, loved the experience - even if it was a little cloudy, it was still enjoyable and plenty to see.
Delicious food for breakfast and dinner too. Comfortable and very spacious room too! Would 100% recommend this hotel.
- Anita (8/5): A quaint stay - check it out! - Staff - very helpful (thank you everyone who helped with our transportation needs), warm & friendly
Accommodation - on the whole is quaint and unique (you can see the dome of the observatory from the entrance to the main house / hotel). Additional ‘lodges’ within the compound - where we stayed - made up the accommodation offered.
Only thing that marred the stay was the rain that prevented us from enjoying the full stargazing event. The planetarium was interesting - thank you!
NOTE: it would have been better if we had driven ourselves as there are more areas to explore around Minami-Aso. The path from the lodges could do with more illumination. Although torches were provided, it was fiddly to manage torch, brolly and watching out for uneven surfaces on the path to the main house for meals.
- Toshio (9/5): ただただ夜空が曇り空だったのが残念でした、 - 天体望遠鏡 部屋に入るドアの鍵部分がとても貧弱でした。
- ann (9/5): Minami Aso Luna Hotel gave us one of the most enriching and magical stargazing experiences we’ve ever had. We cannot rec - It was rustic, cozy and beautifully furnished, food was fantastic and best of all their staff were really welcoming and accommodating and that made its stay incredibly special slightly run down eg at the bathroom but it wasn’t a big issue for us
- Chiro Khmer (9/5): - Staff and food were excellent Rooms were old and a bit run down
- toshiko (9/5): - スタッフの対応
- Iwamoto (8/5): 非日常を体験 - お食事はこちらの希望を叶えていただきありがとうございます。帰る時雪が降ってて傘と毛糸の帽子を持たせていただきました。 天気が悪く天体望遠鏡で星を見られなかった事
- Kathryn (8/5): A truly magical experience - A couple of standout things: the breakfast, wow, so good. Please note it is a set breakfast Japanese Western style, not a buffet. Because my little brother and I stayed two nights we were so excited for breakfast the second morning because the first morning has been excellent and we were looking forward to having the same thing again but the kitchen in its incredible attention to detail noted we were there for two and we had a different set the second morning. Equally as delicious but our initial disappointment was hilarious. The great food was helpful as consolation.
The second standout was the observatory tour and star gazing. I don't want to ruin it for anyone but absolutely worth it.
The hotel itself is a whimsical delight with a retro feel and the staff were lovely. The lighting in the rooms was interesting and it was sometimes difficult to locate the switch for the right light. A small thing.
- René (10/5): - Lovely place to relax and experience the night sky away from the light pollution of the city. The staff are clearly enthusiastic on the subject and eager to teach in both Japanese and English. Breakfast is really good too.
For those travelling without a car, make sure to plan ahead, as trains to and from the area are fairly infrequent. They do line up well with the check-in and out times though.
I travel alone, but I imagine this would be a particularly great and romantic stay for couples, as the annex you stay in is very cozy and rustic.
- Tomohide (10/5): ロマン - 野外で寝袋に入っての星空の観測会があった。 なし
- TOSHIHIRO (10/5): -
- Catherine (10/5): - Wonderful place to stay in beautiful Minami-Aso. The star gazing experience was really special. Staff are kind and so informative. Meals are delicious. We loved the library, charming common areas and garden. Accommodation rustic, but cosy and Annex room was spacious for family. We hope to return some day!
- Tze Tai (10/5): -
- Alisa (8/5): Overall, we dont regret staying but i had higher expectations. - I felt the experience was a mixed bag. We stayed in the annex and the rooms were pretty comfortable. The breakfast the next day was basic (american style) but cute and filling enough. The observatory show was interesting though not outstanding. Our room was very cold. I know we stayed in December and the weather was cold, but the staff knows about it. it took a solid 2-3 hours to bring the room to a comfortable temperature. thanks god for heated floors. So it would be really helpful if they pre-heated the rooms for guests' arrival.
The observatory show consisted of 3 parts: a platenarium presentation (all in japanese), a look through the telescope, and outdoor stargazing. The planetarium part was a bit boring. I suppose if i spoke japanese it would have been more fun but the visuals were not that impressive. seeing through the telescope was really cool. but i wish they showed us the moon or something more impressive than jupiter that just looks like a blurry dot. i dunno, maybe i am just not into this or maybe the day was too cloudy to see clearly. But i was disappointed but what i saw through the telescope hahahaha
- Soke (9/5): Very interesting and lovely experience. - The observatory guided tour and outdoor stargazing inside a sleeping bag is an amazing experience.
The western style breakfast was very delicious! Would be nice if the bathroom could have some hook or bath towel racks to hang our towels and clothes. It need a heating device in the bathroom during cold nights.
- victor (10/5): -
- Kensaku (8/5): -
- Kayo (8/5): -
- Hiroko (8/5): -
- satoru (7/5): スタッフの人が楽しんで欲しいという気持ちが伝わった - 星をみる設備が素晴らしかった 夜中寝ている時
何度か動物が動く音がして怖かった
- 石田 (10/5): - 天体観測がとても良かったです。
- Shy Meei (9/5): Enjoy the unique experience star glazing.breakfast was good too. - The additional star glazing, observatory tour was very interesting addition to the accommodation. Very good experience The villa is old and prefer to have doors for the rooms
- Israel (10/5): מלון יפה ומיוחדת עם צפייה בכוכבים - המקום מיוחד מאוד.
החדר מרווח ונעים
ארוחת הערב והבחקר טעימות מאוד
פעילות הכוכבים בלילה היתה נפלאה במיוחד לשכב על מיטות שדה בשק שינה ולצפות בכוכבים.
יקר אבל שווה את המחיר
- Yamada (8/5): -
- YAMADA (5/5): -
- Lukas (4/5): - Star Gazing Ausrüstung im Zimmer war schlecht. Keine Pfannen, keine Teller oder Besteck in der Kitchenette.
Das WC hat stark nach Urin gerochen.
- ShiangS (8/5): -
- Minchieh (10/5): -
- YUMI (8/5): - 星が天文台から見れるのとお庭で寝そべって星をみるというとても素晴らしかった。 寝る部屋にカメムシが数匹いたり、
天井が高いせいか、上の埃が気になった。
泊まる部屋をもう少し新しく綺麗な空間にして頂けたら、最高!
- peter (9/5): Une expérience exceptionnel et inoubliable. - Hôtel familiale très charmant et chaleureux avec le personnel très sympa et attentives. Notre chambre/appartement était énorme . le diner, optionnel, 50 euros, Européen, 5 étoiles. petit déjeuner était excellent, Mais le clou du spectacle était le star gazing tour. en premier la planétarium avec l'explications d'un vrai astronome, après la vision par le télescope, un monstre de 11 tonnes. Et pour finir dehors sur un lit de camps regarder les étoiles et écouter les explications de l'astronome. Chambre un peu humide.
- Zi Keng (8/5): - Interesting experience
- Ken Pfeifer (10/5): - An absolute must visit for every stargazing fan.
We got to see Stars, Planets and even Comets trough the second largest telescop of Kyushu. We could see Saturn with some of it's Moons, a twin star and our guide even showed us Swan comet on request.
The House itself is packed with all kind of stargazing curiosities, we felt like being transported to an whole other world.
Western style dinner and breakfast made from local products was more than delicious.
All in all an otherworldly experience.
- Nancy (10/5): Lovely place to experience the locale. - Location, facility, observatory, food and staff were amazing. Nothing, all great.
- Rowena (8/5): - Oplevelse None
- JUNKO (9/5): -
- Chia Chi (7/5): - The staff was very attentive and friendly. Star glazing trip guides were very informative. The cabin was outdated and lack of maintenance.
- Leng Leng (7/5): - Property was selected for star gazing. Weather was not good and outdoor activities were shifted indoor. Did not manage to see any stars due to bad condition. Good breakfast. More maintenance should be done for external areas. The building near the parking area was sadly neglected and it formed a bad first impression.
- Виктория (8/5): -
- Shunya (10/5): -
- Kaoru (8/5): - スタッフの方が熱心な説明で、とても親切だった。料理も美味しかった。 部屋が少しカビ臭かった
- LESLIE (4/5): I would not rebook - the observatory
the food … we ate breakfast and dinner there which was perfectly good with attentive service and the staff were very pleasant and accommodating dated everything, grubbiness of the accommodation, majorly cracked washbasin which was home to god knows what.
The place needs a massive comprehensive refurbishment which looks to be long overdue.
- Rika (10/5): - 皆既月食の日で、夜中1時から朝5時まで展望台と外の寝ながら星が見える星が原の簡易ベッドを解放していただき、博士号を持つコンシェルジュの方々がどんな質問にも興味深い返事をくださり、充実した内容でした。
月食に合わせ手作りメロンパンをただきました。
- キャロリン (9/5): - The rooms and the facilities are UNIQUE. The fact that you can see the stars from the observatory is precious. It was unfortunately cloudy the day we were there!
- Judy (5/5): You have to consider the weather - it’s not worth it with bad weather - it was educational I understand that it’s an old building but everything is really musty and a bit mouldy especially considering the price I’m paying. and to be fair - the day we arrived was raining crazy- so the drive was all for nothing. There was an earthworm and mouse droppings in my bathtub. Portion of food was pretty small. I had pre-ordered food for my child but they didn’t get the email so all they could offer was bread and soup.
- Marcia (10/5): - Nous avons adoré séjour dans cet établissement. Le personnel est très aimable et lors des soirées d’astronomie, vous avez de véritables passionnés qui vous parlent des étoiles. Le petit déjeuner était bon et nous avons apprécié les efforts pour s’adapter à chacun, notamment à notre fils qui a des allergies alimentaires. Ils sont très professionnels et consciencieux. Tout était bien.
- CHUN WEI (10/5): -
- ?? (10/5): - 母を連れての旅行に利用させてもらいました。とても素敵な体験が出来、忘れられない旅になりました。ありがとうございます。
今度は子供達を連れてお邪魔したいです。
- SHAO-HSUAN (9/5): - The star-gazing tour was excellent. Even the weather was not so good, the staffs still tried their best to introduce.
- Timothy (10/5): - Fabulous high class European style food, friendly knowledgeable staff and wonderful observatory and star gazing experience set in a peaceful location with lovely maisonette style chalets.
- RYOSUKE (10/5): - スタッフは親切かつ天文の専門家の方が多く、ホテル全体が星が大好きなことがわかりました。
お料理も美味しく、静かで過ごしやすかったです。
- KarenShih (10/5): -
- Arnaud (10/5): - Ambiance incroyable, pouvoir voir les étoiles, en discuter, même si le ciel était un peu couvert la soirée était super
- Allan (10/5): Unexpected - I thought that I had booked a room but I had accidentally booked an adventure. The hotel has a planetarium and an observatory with the second largest telescope in Kyushu. You get a planetarium show and an actual telescope experience. Plus, they take you outside for sky gazing, a campfire and hot drinks ( including muled wine). The telescope.
- Grace (9/5): An intriguing experience learning about the universe! Really spacious room! - The staff were really friendly. The star-gazing tour is really nice (even though we could not see any stars on the day due to the cloudy weather). The room is so big and spacious! The breakfast is OUTSTANDING! The bed and pillow could be a bit more comfortable.
- Rene (9/5): Superb - The presentations at the observatory was great.
- Angela (10/5): Exceptional -
- Andrew (10/5): Exceptional -
- JORDYN (10/5): - Wonderful experience I would recommend for anyone.
- Mei Heung (10/5): - 早餐及晚餐非常美味,值得下次再來,房間很大,有客廳,按摩浴缸,如對天文地理有興趣,值得推;晚上用天文望遠鏡觀賞星球、接著外出睡在睡袋觀星,外面氣溫寒冷,有火爐及熱飲提供,非常貼心,一試難忘!
- Darren (10/5): Exceptional - Very friendly and helpful staff
Rustic but clean with modern facilities. Great food (make sure to try the Akaushi beef) None.
- Jiaxi (10/5): Exceptional -
- Katherine (10/5): A small hotel with a passion for Astronomy, and exceptionally delicious food! - A friend said this was her favourite hotel in Japan - and it lived up to expectations. We had one of the twin rooms in the main building, which had a separate sitting room and bathroom. The rooms were clean and beds comfortable.
What makes this hotel stand out is1) cuisine 2) astronomy 3) friendliness of all those who work there.
The breakfasts and dinners we ate at this hotel are some of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life. If you stay more than one night you get a different cooked breakfast and evening meal to the previous day. French cuisine with Japanese accents. The local beef was so tender, the vegetables so fresh, the homemade bread delicious! The meals are at set times with a set menu - I had contacted them in advance about my food allergy and they did not cook with mushrooms during our stay. They use local beef or pork - they can adjust menus for those who are pescatarian, or want to avoid beef or pork, but do not offer vegetarian meals.
The hotel has its own Planetarium with a show for guests each evening - live commentary mainly in Japanese with some English. Next door is the Observatory with an 82cm telescope (2nd biggest in the whole of Kyushu). As part of the stargazing experience ( free to hotel guests) we were able to look through the telescope to see Jupiter, Mars, Sirius, Betelgeuse etc - with live explanations in Japanese and English.
The final part of the evening was spent outside lying on camp beds wrapped up warmly in sleeping bags stargazing while a professional astronomer asked us questions on what we had already learnt that evening - could we find the stars and planets we had already looked at through the telescope. He pointed out how we can identify different stars and planets - and answered questions in Japanese and English ( having worked and studied at universities in the USA for 20 years he was bilingual). Many of the staff at the hotel are professional astronomers - post doctoral level. No room above to finish my review - so I will finish it here - the comments below are all still positive comments!
I loved staying at this hotel, and hope I can come back here some day. The hotel provide slippers at the entrance, and numbered cupboards to store outdoor shoes in which was a good idea, as the area surrounding the hotel can be muddy in wet weather.
NB – if the weather is wet then the stargazing experience is a little different: planetarium show still takes place but in the observatory guests look at (but not through) the telescope (as the roof will not be opened when weather is wet/overcast) and look at photos which have been taken from the observatory. Afterwards, instead of stargazing outside guests can play a simple space game (with lots of information about space).
- Francois (10/5): - Endroit sympa et personnel dévoué. L’expérience de l’observatoire est remarquable, on en est sortis émotionnellement grandis. Bravo !
- Raymond (10/5): Astronomy with a European feel in Japan - Unique experience on astronomy with opportunity to view the cosmos using the second largest telescope in Kyushu, knowledgeable staff on astronomy Price slightly on the high side although the unique experience it offers makes it worthwhile
- Scott (9/5): Book clear skies! We will be back! - We stayed here - with dinner and breakfast included. We did not expect the 5 star - 5 course meal for dinner. It was awesome & totally unexpected. The B&B is literally in the middle of nowhere - which is why we chose the dinner and breakfast options - so glad we did.
Guests also get to participate in a Virtual Space Tour and view the sky through their onsite telescope and outdoor observation beds.
We stayed on a night that unfortunately had skies that were cloudy and raining - so no telescope or outdoor observation. We did get to enjoy the amazing virtual space tour and truly delicious meals - would love to come back to see through the telescope.
Lovely people run this place. The staff and owners take real care to look after their guests - the food is extremely delicious, very well prepared and presented.
The Virtual Space Tour presenter was very engaging and passionate about space and telescopes etc. He took us above Japan, into the atmosphere above earth, through our solar system, then around the galaxy and outside it using realistic images and detailed video animations etc. With commentary in both English and Japanese. the weather :-(
- Jacob (10/5): Exceptional -
- Tan (10/5): Love the experience of watching/seeing the planets/stars/moon using their super telescope - good NA
- Ryan (9/5): Superb - Nice activities of star viewing.
- Louis (9/5): Recommended to stay for travellers seeking a comfy and enjoyable abode. - The staff from the kitchen, housekeeping to reception were exceptionally friendly and helpful making our stay an extremely enjoyable one and feeling as if it’s home away from home.
The accommodation has to make a last minute change to the menu of my wife who is lactose intolerant, during our entire stay. My mistake for not informing the hotel before hand.
Food was scrumptious and sumptuous. It’s French cuisine and the taste, flavour and flavour was very very good.
The star gazing tour, spanning 2 hours, was very interesting and educational. We were able to see Jupiter and Betelgeuse through the telescope of the observatory.
Overall despite the higher cost of accommodation it’s definitely value for money.
Lastly we regret to only able to obtain the name of one of the staff, Yoshi. Yoshi is a very dedicated and empathetic person and try his best to understand our needs and wants. The accommodation unit can afford to have more dishes, glasses and knives. We have to seek the help of the kitchen to slice a slab of Maguro.
- Kai-Shin (10/5): 很美好的假期 - 一切非常美好,縱使天氣不好。
清晰的英文講解天文台,舒服的劇院座椅,有趣的天文劇場解說,精美的餐點。
我媽媽不吃牛肉,希望以後能有選擇。
房間很精美,有香香的木頭味道。在2樓很舒適,歐風建築,我很喜歡。但要搬行李,建議不要拿太多行李。
一定會再訪,非常羨慕日本人有這樣的旅宿,十分令人敬佩。我住台灣,將來有孩子,一定要再過去。
- AKIKO (10/5): - 静かな森の中にたたずむ天文台で星についてたくさん勉強でき、とても楽しかったです
またスタッフの方々もとても親切でしたし、朝食も見た目からお味、レストランの雰囲気まで本当に最高でした!
残念ながら曇っていて星の観測が十分にできなかったのでぜひまた訪れたいです
- Lay (7/5): Good - beautiful location but hard to access without car. the area around was surrounded by maple leaves when we visited early December. meals are simple but enough. we did not get to see the stars as it was a cloudy day. the indoor show in the theatre was underwhelming. meals had to be served at a fixed time. there is no other dinner choices as the next dinning place is far away.
- Katherine (10/5): An incredible experience under the stars - The star gazing tour is quite incredible. It is a never-to-be-forgotten holiday memory. The experience of lying under the stars while an expert talks you through what you can see was incredible.
The breakfast was delicious too and the staff had prepared a vegetarian one for me, which I requested in advance.
The staff are very helpful and kind. The fact it is a little old and dated actually adds to its quirkiness and charm. I certainly have never stayed anywhere like it.
- Hein (9/5): Superb - The observatory shows were excellent and the staff friendly and presented well even though the part presented in English was limited. Stargazing in the open field even though it was so cold was an experience I will never forget.
The dinner meal was also excellent. Really refreshing that all staff could speak English so well.
- Ngoh (3/5): Poor - The food was good - half board was worth it. The staff made sure to text us to let us know what time dinner would be served so we wouldn't be late for the next activity. The contingency plan in the event that skies weren't clear enough for the star gazing was extremely lackadaisical. Staff didn't seem well prepared either. While it definitely wasn't within anyone's control, it could definitely have been planned better.
- Somnath (10/5): Exceptional -
- Peter (6/5): Pleasant - Expensive for what you get.
- TOSHIKI (8/5): 良い点と悪い点 - 一般にはお目にかかれない、大きな天体ドームと大きな望遠鏡で惑星を観望させていただけて、屋外広場で簡易ベッドとシュラフに包まれての星空観望など、とても素晴らしいです。
食事も申し分ない美味しい料理です。
ただ、部屋が
・風呂や洗面場所が寒くて、風呂に入る気がしない。
(12月に宿泊)
・ベッドの枕元に電気関係のスイッチがなくて不便
・部屋の明かりが、普通の蛍光灯ではなく、ランプ
のような照明なので、とても暗い。
- Livingston (10/5): phenomenal experience you do not want to miss - A wonderful experience and stay kerosine heaters in the main spaces.
- Anne (10/5): - Quirky and remote property from the Showa era that evokes Ghibli-esque charm. The weather was cold and rainy but our stay at one of the cabins was warm and comfortable. Dinner and breakfast were varied and delicious. Staff spoke English. Highly recommend!
- Vudhipong (10/5): Good experience in star observation course by hotel - Very natural even if it take some time to go there No
- Hnin (10/5): Phenomenal, inspirational, educational stay! First time seeing Saturn and a star in the observatory! - This place is a total gem! A public observatory, inn, fine dining, Astro physicist tour guides, star gazing in the field & amazing conversations about the universe!! Please don’t miss this experience! Nothing! The staff will share a schedule of your stay, so please let them know if the timing doesn’t work for you (e.g: 8am breakfast was too early for us and no issues to eat a little later)
- LIOR (4/5): - It’s a nice place and unique but I think it’s overrated
- Amy (9/5): Superb - The stargazing tour and dinner was spectacular. The stargazing brought us to the attic using a telescope to see the actual stars, followed by the planetarium projecting the stars we saw, and an outdoor camping style, coupled with camp fire to explain the stars location in the sky.
French style cuisine was delicious and exquisite using local produce. Some areas of the Annex wasn't upkeep properly, as there's algae growth at the balcony. Summer has a lot more mosquitoes in the mountains.
- Verified traveler (10/5): 수상할 정도로 천문학에 진심인 유럽식 호텔 - 유럽식의 고풍스러운 인테리어와 클래식한 식사가 아주 유니크한 숙박 경험을 줍니다. 라운지 공간에 굉장히 많은 천문학 서적이 있는 것도 심상치 않은데 본격적인 플라네타리움과 깜짝 놀랄만한 진짜 돔형 천문대와 망원경을 경험할 수 있는 별보기 체험이 잊지 못할 추억을 만들어주었습니다.
- Alicia (9/5): Superb - Fabulous star gazing tour and experience, staff made an effort to explain it to us in English as well. Food was also excellent. Great experience that is not to be missed! Nothing, everything was great.
- liliana (10/5): - Beautiful, tranquil property with an excellent dinner and star observatory show
- Pierre (10/5): A great place from which to visit the surrounding area - Friendly staff who was always willing to help, even when they did not at first understand our requests.
The night;y star gazing experience is fantastic!
- Kevin (10/5): - It’s a serene place in the countryside, I really appreciated the planetarium & observatory experience there. The staff and the owner are all very nice, they will help you with anything you need.
My room was so big, I couldn’t believe it. The bathroom was bigger than some hotel rooms in Tokyo.
- Giulia (6/5): Great, unique place, but no dinner for me! - This was a very special experience, and the stargazing was unlike anything I've ever done. However, arriving at the hotel and being told there was no way for me to eat dinner at the restaurant because I hadn't booked 3 days in advance left a bitter taste in my mouth. If you're going to have a rule like that, please MAKE IT CLEAR in your booking details, or with a separate message to those who have booked. It seemed like everyone there knew this except for me (everyone else was Japanese, leading me to believe whatever Japanese booking website they used actually makes this clear). I was forced to hire a cab to take me to 7 Eleven while gazing in at the dining room where everyone else was serenely eating a multicourse meal, and it was maddening.
- Douglas (8/5): unique hotel experience - stayed at the hotel as liked the novelty of staying in a hotel with an observatory, and it really didn't disappoint. even though the star-gazing tour was led in japanese, so was difficult to follow, the views were very impressive, and the enthusiasm of the staff was enough to carry the experience.
rooms were roomy and warm considering it was below zero outside. the initial impression of the hotel was quite strange. we had been staying in modern hotels up until this point, so seeing a more dated building which is quite out the way meant we had initial reservations. however, these were quickly overcome when we were inside.
we did not eat dinner at the hotel, and was quite tricky to find places to eat nearby (but we were there during a holiday period). also the hotel staff were very insistent at having breakfast at a set time which felt a bit high-strung.
- Chau Yuan (10/5): Strongly recommended - Very good experience to stay here.
- Isabelle (9/5): Lovely - The mansionette fits 5 pax and it’s ideal for the family. The heated floor was good as we were all warm during the winter. We totally love the stargazing tour. NIL.
- Tin Shu (10/5): 非常有特色的住宿。餐點非常好吃 - 整體環境非常舒適,櫃檯人員親切笑臉迎人,使用望眼鏡看星空是一次很特別的體驗,餐廳員工有禮,房間整潔
- Hwee (10/5): Star Glamping, Great Food and Stay - The star glazing and star glamping was a very good experience. I am a returning guest and they now provided more with a theatre for some presentation. We enjoyed the outdoor star glamping the most as beds and sleeping bags were provided to keep us warm with a camp fire and hot drinks. It is a very unforgettable experience which I understand from the owned that they just started in Jan 2023. The western breakfast and dinner were very nicely presented and delicious. Strongly recommend to stay for an exceptional experience. Provided with good weather in order to see the stars. We were lucky. The last time when I went, there were onsen, however, it is no longer available. It will be good f they can provide it again which will be great for cold weather.
Photos