On October 2nd, Mori Trust and Mampei Hotel Ltd celebrated the reopening of the historic Mampei Hotel in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, following extensive renovations and reconstruction.
Photo courtesy of R.E. Port News.
Mampei Hotel Historical Significance
Originally founded in 1894, the Mampei Hotel is located approximately 2 km from Karuizawa Station and about a 20-minute drive from the Usui-Karuizawa Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.
The hotel spans a site area of 103,676 square meters and includes the Alps Building, built in 1936 and registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2018.
Video shot prior to renovations.
Known for its half-timbered exterior design and blend of Japanese and Western interior elements, the Alps Building has long attracted notable figures, including prominent politicians and entertainers, notably John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Mampei Hotel Major Renovation Project
To commemorate the hotel’s upcoming 130th anniversary in 2024, a large-scale renovation project was undertaken from January 2023.
The renovation, under the concept "Mampei Hospitality: Bridging 130 Years of Culture, History, and Nature," focused on:
Reinforcing aging structure
Improving earthquake resistance and insulation
Upgrading room functions
Reconstructing facilities
Enhancing accessibility
A soft opening was held on August 16, 2024, showcasing the Main Dining Room, café terrace, and guest rooms in the newly reconstructed Atago Building.
Mampei Hotel Guest Room Updates
Alps room sample courtesy of the Mampei Hotel website, linked at bottom of article.
The Alps Building now offers 12 rooms, ranging from 36 to 57 square meters, with original glass doors and furniture restored to retain the hotel’s traditional ambiance.
Atago room sample courtesy of the Mampei Hotel website, linked at bottom of article.
The Atago Building features 30 rooms, ranging from 45 to 91 square meters, each equipped with natural hot spring baths sourced from Shiozawa Onsen.
Usui room sample courtesy of the Mampei Hotel website, linked at bottom of article.
The renovated Usui Building offers 44 rooms, between 45 and 90 square meters, with terraces added to select rooms in both the Atago and Usui buildings.
Mampei Hotel Enhanced Facilities
Courtesy of the Mampei Hotel website, linked at bottom of article.
The Main Dining Room on the first floor of the Alps Building has been restored, with original materials and lighting fixtures retained, and the ceiling's color scheme recreated. The Dining Terrace has been expanded, and a new courtyard has been introduced.
Photo courtesy of R.E. Port News.
The café terrace, now open to the public, has increased its seating capacity from 73 to 102. Additional facilities include a bar, shop, and banquet hall for weddings and events.
Mampei Hotel General Manager’s Remarks
Ahead of the grand reopening, the hotel hosted a media preview on October 1, 2024.
Mampei Hotel GM Shinji Nishikawa, courtesy of R.E. Port News.
General Manager Shinji Nishikawa commented, “It’s been heartwarming to see many of our repeat guests return for the soft opening, expressing their excitement about our reopening. I’m particularly grateful that nearly all our staff have come back, along with some new faces, as we embark on this exciting new chapter. We look forward to continuing our tradition of hospitality as we move toward the next century.”
Sources:
R.E. Port News (Japanese only)
