Nagano marathon Q & A: lodging
Lodging
Where can I stay?
A: Recommendation: Make a reservation when you register for the marathon. It is easy and quick to do.
Most people stay at the Hotel Sunroute Nagano and make room reservations when they register for the marathon. This is a great place to stay. This hotel’s location is excellent; being right across from the train station makes transportation easy to access, and shopping is very close. Many good restaurants are in the area, too. Some restaurants and bars have English menus; others have photos on the menu. The rooms are small by Western standards and the lobby is not glamorous, though. Like most hotels in Japan, the rooms are very clean and quiet, despite the street noise outside.
A more upscale option is the Hotel Kokusai 21. It has more glamour than most hotels in town and some of the most luxurious rooms. It is a 15 to 30 minute walk from the train station, depending on your walking speed & amount of luggage in tow.
My old guidebook lists a youth hostel, a cheaper option but harder to make a reservation with. The nearest campsites are far outside the city. I noticed a Days Inn hotel had just opened in 2004. There are more than 40 other lodging options in the Nagano area. For other lodging options, please contact JTB (Japan Travel Bureau, the agency which handles registration for foreign participants) or the Tourist Information Center in Nagano train station.
In 2009, many rooms in the city were full due to a large festival at Zenkoji temple. Runners were put in several hotels.
Can the front desk staff speak English?
A: From my experience at the Hotel Sunroute and Hotel Kokusai 21, there was usually (if not always) one person at the front desk who spoke English. The staff at other hotels may also be able to speak English. In the 4 years I've worked with the race, the special Marathon Info desk was staffed on Friday and Saturday.
Will my hotel have a gym or swimming pool?
A: Probably not. I know the Hotel Kokusai 21 and Hotel Sunroute do not have such facilities. If you would like a hotel with these facilities, please contact JTB (Japan Travel Bureau, the agency which handles registration for foreign participants) for assistance. The Tourist Information Center can also help you find a hotel with a gym or swimming pool. FYI, these are not common features in Japanese hotels.
(look for the 'Site Map' then 'ENGLISH' link tab; most of the page is in Japanese) then: "Koshientsu/Hokuriku" > "Nagano"
Showers after the Marathon
I want to take a shower after the race. (...or else nobody will want to sit next to me!)
Showers are NOT available at the finish line; the facilities cannot accomodate 5,000+ runners. A gymnasium near bag pickup has changing areas inside. You might be able to get a shower in there, but don't count on it.
Options:
Go back to your hotel & take a shower there. You'll have to stay Sunday night in order to use this option.
Hot spring (onsen)
Aaaah, by far the preferred option.Showers are great after a race, but nothing beats an hourlong soak in a huge bath. There is at least one bath house in the city (bound to be full of runners after the race) and a lot of hot springs in the mountains surrounding Nagano. Ask about hot springs when registering & making hotel reservations, or visit the Tourist Information office in Nagano station - probably the best source of information. (I haven't been to any in Nagano myself & thus can't make personal recommendations.) Anyone know more about onsens in Nagano? Please send me info on them & I'll post it here. Thanks!
- Hot spring advertised in the race brochure: Super Sento Koutoku no yu; Nagano city, Hirota 141
ph.in Japan: 026-254-6711, no web site.
In 2005 a shuttle bus went from the bag pickup area (away from the other busses) to this onsen & was marked with this sign.
- Outdoor Japan Click on "Onsen Guides" for listings in Nagano; most are far from Nagano city, though. An excellent web site for planning the rest of your stay in Nagano & Japan.
