Unbelievable Tateshina Chino: Your Dream Tokyu Vacation Awaits!
Unbelievable Tateshina Chino: My Tokyu Dream Vacation (Almost Too Good to Be True?) - A Review That's Actually Real
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Unbelievable Tateshina Chino: Your Dream Tokyu Vacation Awaits! and I'm still unpacking the feelings. This place is… well, it’s a LOT. And I mean that in the best, and sometimes slightly overwhelming, way possible. Let’s break it down, shall we? Because frankly, after a week of fluffy robes and panoramic views, my brain's a little scrambled.
First Impressions: The Arrival & Accessibility (Struggles & Small Wins)
Alright, so, Accessibility. This is important, because you know, life. Getting to Tateshina Chino was a breeze. The Airport Transfer they offer is smooth as silk – crucial after a long flight. Car park [free of charge] is a massive win for us budget-conscious travelers. I'm not sure about the Car power charging station but it sounds like something from the future, which this place occasionally feels like.
Now, for those with mobility concerns, this could get tricky. I didn’t personally test the Facilities for disabled guests, but I’m curious to see how it performs. The Elevator is a definite plus, because who wants to haul luggage uphill? The website vaguely mentioned something about some of their areas not being "fully" accessible. I'd call and clarify before booking if this is a dealbreaker.
The Room: Sanctuary or Overkill?
Okay, the rooms. Wow. Seriously, wow. The Non-smoking rooms are a godsend (because, ew). My room was a symphony of comfort. Think Air conditioning, Blackout curtains (essential for sleeping off that jet lag), an Extra long bed (hallelujah!), and a Seating area perfect for sipping complimentary Free bottled water. I even had a Balcony with views that made me question my life choices (in a good way).
The bathroom? Another level. Separate shower/bathtub, Bathtub with AMAZING water pressure, Bathrobes, Slippers. Felt like a pampered penguin. There's even a Bathroom phone, which made me feel like I was starring in a rom-com that I was not expecting.
And all the other room goodies? Alarm clock, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping (angels! absolute angels!), Desk, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale (oops), Seating area, Shower, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], and Window that opens. The Air conditioning kept me nice and cold. I mean, the level of in-room amenities here is frankly ridiculous, like they're trying to out-do themselves. They probably just had stuff lying around!
Internet Access (Because We Can't Live Without It)
Okay, so Internet Access is a must. And thankfully, this place delivers. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! It worked flawlessly, even when I was streaming a particularly embarrassing reality TV show at 3 AM. They also had Internet [LAN] if you're old-school, and the Internet services were top-notch. Wi-Fi in public areas? Check. No complaints here.
Things to Do (Because Relaxation is the Goal)
This is where Tateshina Chino truly shines, and also where my brain threatened to explode from the sheer variety. Let's dive in:
- Ways to Relax: Whew. Where do I begin? The Pool with view? Stunning. Sauna? A haven of sweaty bliss. Spa/sauna? You got it. Then they have also, a Spa, Steamroom, and even a Foot bath. This is heaven.
- Massage: Oh. My. Gosh. The massage. I got the hot stone treatment and it was the best massage of my LIFE. The therapist was like a wizard, melting my tension away. Seriously, I'd return just for that.
- Body scrub and Body wrap options (I didn't try them, but considering the massage experience, I'm seriously regretting it).
- Fitness center and Gym/fitness: For the masochists among us. (I walked past it.)
- Swimming pool [outdoor] - It was closed for the season when I went so I didn't get to experience it personally.
- Indoor venue for special events and Outdoor venue for special events: Did not use but seems like it could enhance your experience.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Prepare to (Maybe) Overeat.
Okay, the food. Let's be real: this is where things got dangerous for my waistline.
Restaurants: Multiple restaurants. And they all looked amazing.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes, yes, and yes.
- Buffet in restaurant: The breakfast buffet was epic.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Fuel for my relaxation escapades.
- Desserts in restaurant: Prepare for a sugar coma.
- International cuisine in restaurant: So much to choose from
- Poolside bar: Great for an after-swim cocktails.
- Restaurants: Plural, as in multiple.
- Salad in restaurant: Because you need some veggies
- Soup in restaurant: Comfort in a bowl.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Blessings to all the vegetarians out there.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Never tried it but, hey, it's available.
Breakfast [buffet]: The buffet was a glorious, carb-laden dream. Eggs, bacon, pastries, fruit, the works.
Breakfast service: Delicious
Room service [24-hour]: For midnight cravings.
Snack bar: Convenient.
Bar: Got me through some long days.
Happy hour: YES.
Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bottle of water: All readily available.
Alternative meal arrangement: Nice options to choose from.
My* favorite part of the dining experience, however, was the buffet. Not only was the food delicious, but the view from where I was sitting was magnificent. While I did love the other options, I would recommend the buffet to anyone who wants a truly spectacular experience.*
Cleanliness and Safety: (Because… 2024)
Now, this is reassuring. They’re clearly taking hygiene seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere you turn, Hot water linen and laundry washing, a Hygiene certification, and Professional-grade sanitizing services. They even have Individually-wrapped food options and Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. I felt pretty safe, even if I did have a minor meltdown during a particularly close encounter with a spoon. Rooms sanitized between stays? Excellent. Safe dining setup? Check. Staff trained in safety protocol? Seems like it. All good things.
Services and Conveniences: They Thought of Everything (Probably)
- Business facilities: **Business facilities are available.
- Check-in/out [express] and Check-in/out [private]: Good choices!
- Concierge: Fabulous!
- Convenience store: Good option
- Currency exchange: Useful for many.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Still hoping to see a full review
- Food delivery: A delight.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Always important.
- Gift/souvenir shop: I bought way too much.
- Ironing service and Laundry service: Crucial for the clothes-obsessed.
- Luggage storage: Saved my back.
- Safety deposit boxes: Peace of mind.
- Smoking area: Sigh.
- Terrace: Wonderful.
- Babysitting service and Family/child friendly: They seem to cater to families well.
- Car park [on-site]: Always useful.
- Doorman: Makes you feel fancy.
- Elevator: Useful.
- Invoice provided: Useful for business travelers.
- Meetings: For business.
- Non-smoking rooms: Great for those who do not.
- Pets allowed unavailable: Good.
- Room decorations: Some rooms can be decorated. *
Tokyu Vacations Tateshina: Diaries of a Slightly Disorganized Wanderer (and a Whole Lot of Mountain Air)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your perfectly sculpted, highlight-reel travel guide. This is the real deal: the messy, the glorious, the "did-I-leave-the-iron-on" kind of trip diary from my recent foray into the heart of Japan, specifically Tateshina, courtesy of Tokyu Vacations. Get ready for some serious altitude sickness of the soul, and maybe even a little bit of actual, physical altitude sickness (I blame the ramen. Always the ramen).
Day 1: Arrival and Mild Panic (aka, Setting the Stage for Disaster)
- 14:00 - Narita Airport Arrival (and the existential dread of navigating Japanese train systems): Okay, I thought I'd prepped. Bought the Japan Rail Pass, studied some basic phrases ("Where is the bathroom?" "Can I get a beer?"), practiced my bowing. But the instant I stepped off that plane, the overwhelming beauty of Japanese efficiency slapped me in the face. Everything is so. Damn. Organized. Made me immediately question my life choices. I mean, just finding the train to Shinjuku felt like a quest worthy of a JRPG. I swear, I almost bought a life-size cardboard cutout of the conductor just to have some sense of stability.
- 17:00 - Shinjuku Interlude (Shopping, Regret, and the First Glimmer of Hope): Survived the train. Made it to Shinjuku. Got utterly lost in the neon jungle. Bought a ridiculously oversized Hello Kitty keychain I'm already embarrassed about. Ate some gyoza that were so good, I almost wept. And then, a tiny seed of peace: seeing Mount Fuji in the distance. Suddenly, all the pre-trip anxieties melted away; the promise of breathtaking vistas and relaxation… it was worth it.
- 20:00 - Arrival at Tokyu Vacations Tateshina (and the "Oh. My. God. It's Gorgeous" Moment): The transfer from Chino Station was smooth, or so I'm told, I was half-asleep from the ramen and the emotional rollercoaster of the day. But then… WHOOSH. The resort appeared, nestled amongst the trees, bathed in soft lighting. Air so crisp, your lungs actually feel happy. The reception staff, bless their cotton socks, were incredibly patient with my confused, jet-lagged attempts to check in. My room? A cozy cabin with a view that stole my breath. I legitimately gasped. Okay, maybe a little bit of a hyperventilating, but the air, the view of the mountains, and the promise of a hot bath… This was it. This was the "escape" everyone raved about.
Day 2: Nature Immersion (and the Unexpected Trauma of a Squirrel)
- 08:00 - Sunrise Hike (or, How I Almost Died Climbing a Small Hill): Woke up to the sunrise painting the mountains in shades of pink and gold. Decided to embrace the 'outdoorsy' side of myself. Hiked to a nearby panoramic viewpoint. Turns out, "easy" hiking in the Japanese Alps for a flatlander like myself is a euphemism for "moderate cardiac arrest." But the view! Forget the heart palpitations for a second. It was insane. Worth it. Totally worth it. (Just please, no more hills for the rest of the trip).
- 11:00 - Exploring Tateshina Highlands (and the Revenge of the Squirrel): The itinerary suggested exploring the beautiful hiking trails. Which I did, mostly. I saw… oh my god, I saw SO MANY beautiful wildflowers. I even managed to (mostly) keep up with the more ambitious hikers and even started to feel like a proper mountain person, when BOOM. A squirrel, a fluffy, judgmental squirrel, launched itself from a tree and stole my granola bar. The audacity! The judgment in its tiny, beady eyes! I was traumatized. My confidence as a hiker was completely shaken.
- 14:00 - Lunch at a Local Restaurant (and the Discovery of Heavenly Soba Noodles): Needed comfort. Needed sustenance. Needed to forget about the granola bar heist. Found a tiny, unassuming restaurant serving the most incredible soba noodles. Salty, savory, and washed down with some local sake. The perfect antidote to squirrel-related existential dread. I almost forgot I was in danger of being judged by a rodent.
- 16:00 - Onsen Time (and the Pure, Utter Bliss of Soaking): Okay, this needed its own dedicated section. The onsen (hot spring bath) at Tokyu Vacations… chef's kiss. The water, naturally heated, was pure magic. Steaming, relaxing, utterly serene. I sat there, listening to the birdsong, staring at the mountains, and all the stress melted away. I spent hours there! (Okay, maybe not hours, but it felt like it) I felt like I was a prune, but also, reborn. This, my friends, is the reason to come to Japan. Forget temples and giant robots, the onsen IS the true Japan.
Day 3: Culture, Crafts and a Questionable Karaoke Performance
- 09:00 - Visit to the Yatsugatake Museum (and the Triumph of Curiosity): I am not normally a museum person. But this one was truly interesting, plus, it was indoors! The exhibits on local history, art, and folk crafts were fascinating. I even managed to navigate the (very polite) crowds with some semblance of grace. Learned a lot about the region's pottery and the importance of respecting the local landscape. It was a nice, gentle dose of culture, which I desperately needed after my emotional battle with a squirrel.
- 12:00 - Pottery Workshop (and the Utter Humiliation of My Lack of Artistic Talent): Thought "Hey, pottery! How hard can it be?" Famous. (I am wrong.) Turns out, very, very hard. My "masterpiece" ended up looking like a misshapen lump of clay that vaguely resembled a… well, I'm not even sure what it resembled. The instructor was wonderfully patient, but I'm pretty sure she was also silently judging my complete lack of skill. I'm donating the "art" to the resort. If anyone wants a unique paperweight, come get it.
- 17:00 - Dinner and Karaoke (and the Moment I Truly Embraced My Inner Cringiness): After all the hiking, relaxing and the incident I had to forget about, the resort's restaurant served fantastic food: a mix of traditional and modern Japanese dishes. But the evening? That was when the real "adventure" began. Me and a group of fellow guests, inspired by a few too many Sapporo beers, decided karaoke was a good idea. It wasn't. I belted out a truly atrocious rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody," completely butchering Freddie Mercury's amazing work. But… somehow… it was liberating. We laughed, we sang badly, we made a fool of ourselves. It was utterly embarrassing, and yet… one of the most memorable moments. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say my vocal cords are still recovering and the memory still make me flush red.
Day 4: Departure (and the Promise of a Return)
- 09:00 - Final Breakfast (and the Sad Reality of Leaving Paradise): The breakfast at Tokyu Vacations consistently gave me life. I ate so much, so happily, every day. I said goodbye to fresh orange juice, and the buffet that reminded me that this time in life was not a dream.
- 12:00 - Departure (and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye): Woke up, said goodbye to my mountain view, and prepared to leave. Leaving Tateshina was like leaving a safe haven, a place where I could be myself, even my awful pottery-making, karaoke-singing self. The journey was a reminder that it's the imperfections, the unexpected encounters (and the occasional squirrel attack) that truly make travel unforgettable. I’ll be back. I need to perfect my pottery, and take down that squirrel. And the onsen? Well, that's calling to me already.
So, there you have it. My messy, slightly off-kilter, and utterly honest account of a trip to Tokyu Vacations Tateshina. It wasn't perfect. I got lost. I failed at pottery. I made a fool of myself, or at least, I think I did. But it was real. It was beautiful. It was exactly what I needed. And honestly, that's the most important thing. Sayonara for now, Tateshina. Until our next adventure.
Escape to Saratoga Springs: Luxury Home2 Suites Await!
Unbelievable Tateshina Chino: Your Dream Tokyu Vacation Awaits! - Or Is It? Let's Dive In!
Okay, Unbelievable Tateshina Chino...Sounds Pretty Grand. But Is It Actually WORTH It? Seriously?
Alright, let's be real. "Unbelievable" is a strong word, yeah? And honestly? It's, like, a *feeling*. It's not always a guarantee. My first time? Pure, unadulterated *hype*. Insta-worthy cabins! Majestic mountains! I envisioned myself, like, Heidi, but with a Tokyu credit card. The reality? Well… (deep sigh). It *can* be incredible. The views genuinely *are* jaw-dropping. But it's also...Chino. Expect a little…rusticness. And sometimes, the "unbelievable" factor comes from the sheer *unlikelihood* of finding a good coffee shop open on a Tuesday morning. So, yeah, worth it? Probably! But manage your expectations. Like, don't pack a tiara. Unless you *really* want to.
Here's a quick anecdote to illustrate: We booked that ridiculously luxurious "premium" cabin. Pictures? Fireplace, panoramic views, a goddamn *jacuzzi* on the deck! Reality? The jacuzzi worked, but good luck getting the water *hot*. Spent half the evening shivering, looking at the amazing view, feeling like a blue Smurf. Still, the stars were incredible. So, see? Unbelievable…in both senses.
What's the "Tokyu" bit all about? Are we talking fancy hotels or something weird?
Tokyu is the company behind a lot of the properties there. Think of it like… a regional developer. They own, well, *stuff*. Hotels, chalets, condos, maybe even a yak farm. (Okay, probably not the yak farm. But wouldn't that be *unbelievable*?) They’re *generally* on the nicer side, aimed at attracting a certain clientele. Expect good service, a focus on aesthetics. Don't expect… the cheapest. It's definitely a step up from backpacking in a tent, let's just say that.
My mom, *bless her heart*, once thought "Tokyu" meant everything was going to be, like, run by robots. She kept looking for automated cocktail service and got very disappointed when a *real human* (with a lovely smile, I might add) served her a gin and tonic. So, no robots. Just…nice places.
Okay, sold! What's the vibe of Tateshina & Chino? Is it all ski bunnies and Michelin stars?
It depends! During winter, it's *definitely* ski bunnies. Expect après-ski chic, fur-lined boots, and people who know how to *actually* ski (unlike yours truly). Summer brings hikers, nature lovers, and the "I-love-the-Japanese-Alps-and-also-want-Instagram-pics" crowd. It's generally a pretty relaxed, outdoorsy vibe. Not the aggressively polished, "seen-and-be-seen" scene you get in some resort areas. Think more…stylish hiking boots than stilettos. Mostly. (I *did* see a woman in heels once. I still have questions.)
My advice? Pack Layers. Seriously. The weather can change faster than a teenager's mood. And learn a few basic Japanese phrases. Even a simple "Arigato gozaimasu" (thank you very much) goes a long way. Because sometimes, the *unbelievable* thing is just how helpful and kind the locals are.
The dreaded "getting there" question. How do I actually *get* to this "Unbelievable" place?
Okay, so, the journey *can* be a little…involved. From Tokyo, you're looking at a combination of train (the fastest option, the *Shinkansen* – aka bullet train – is your friend!), and then a local train or bus. The journey itself is part of the experience, honestly. The scenery is beautiful, especially the closer you get. It’s also *critical* you have the Hyperdia app and/or Google Maps for the trains! I got REALLY lost once and ended up in a town where the only English word anyone knew was "ramen." (Which, admittedly, was delicious.)
Here's the essential breakdown:
- From Tokyo Station: Take the Azusa limited express train to Chino Station.
- From Chino Station: Depending on your accommodation, either a local bus or taxi. Tokyu often has shuttle services too; check with your property!
Remember, train travel in Japan is punctual. (Usually. Sometimes there’s an earthquake. But that’s not *usually*.)
So, what is there to actually DO in Tateshina Chino? Beyond, like…standing around and breathing the mountain air?
Oh, honey, SO MUCH. It depends on the season, obvs. Winter is all about skiing/snowboarding, obviously. (I am terrible at skiing, but I can *appreciate* the views from the bunny slope. And the hot chocolate.) Summer is hiking heaven. There are trails for all levels, from gentle strolls to "are-you-sure-you-packed-enough-water?" treks. And the autumn foliage? *Gosh*, it's something else. Seriously, the color is incredible. The photos won't ever do it justice.
Here are some other ideas:
- Lake Megami: Beautiful lake! Scenic. Photogenic. Possibly haunted by a water spirit (I made that up).
- Tateshina Kogen: Hike, or take a ropeway up for even more amazing views. And yes, I recommend the ropeway if you’re not the best hiker.
- Onsen (Hot Springs): Essential! Find a good *onsen* and soak away your cares. Naked. Relaxing. (Just remember the etiquette – no tattoos allowed in some places!)
- Local Food! Seriously, eat all the things! Soba noodles, local vegetables, fresh mountain trout… it’s all amazing. One time, I ate *too much* soba and almost couldn’t move for an hour. Worth it.
Let's talk food. Specifically, will I starve? Or will I find unbelievable culinary experiences?
You will NOT starve! But, again, manage expectations! It's not exactly a Michelin-starred paradise. There are fantastic restaurants, absolutely! But also small, family-run places that serve *amazing* home-style cooking. Soba noodles are everywhere, and you *must* try them. The local produce is incredible. I am *obsessed* with Japanese strawberries. They're a religious experience.
My advice:
- Explore! Don’t be afraid to wander off the beaten path and try the little places. Sleep Stop Guide
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