Mampei Hotel is one of Japan’s most celebrated classic hotels, located in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. Founded in 1894, the hotel has developed alongside Karuizawa’s rise as a summer resort and has welcomed numerous distinguished guests from Japan and abroad.
Today, Mampei Hotel is operated by Mampei Hotel Co., Ltd., part of the Mori Trust Group, and is also known as Karuizawa Mampei Hotel. With more than 130 years of history, it continues to combine the atmosphere of a historic hotel with the comforts expected by modern travelers.
The origins of Mampei Hotel can be traced back to approximately 1764, during the middle of the Edo period, when Man’uemon Sato established an inn called Kameya.
During the Meiji period, Karuizawa began attracting foreign missionaries as a summer retreat. In 1894, Kameya was transformed into Kameya Hotel, incorporating Western culture and hospitality practices to better accommodate international visitors. This year is regarded as the founding year of today’s Mampei Hotel.
In 1902, the hotel moved to its present location in the Sakurazawa area and was renamed Mampei Hotel. Its château-style Western architecture attracted attention, marking the beginning of its development as a full-scale hotel.
During the Meiji and Taisho periods, many prominent Japanese writers stayed at the hotel. Over the years, its guest list came to include figures such as Admiral Heihachiro Togo, novelist Shotaro Ikenami, and writer Yukio Mishima, as well as internationally famous guests including John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
John Lennon is particularly associated with the hotel. During his stays, he is said to have ordered a royal milk tea at the hotel’s Café Terrace, sharing his preferred recipe. The drink continues to be served today as one of the hotel’s signature experiences.
During World War II, Karuizawa was designated as an area for the forced evacuation of foreign residents in 1943. The hotel was used by the embassies of countries including the Soviet Union and Turkey.
After the war, Mampei Hotel was requisitioned by the U.S. Eighth Army and used as accommodation for military officers. The requisition ended in 1952, after which the hotel resumed its regular operations.
Since the 2000s, Mampei Hotel has received recognition for its historical and cultural importance, including designation as a Heritage of Industrial Modernization and selection for the Heritaging 100, a collection recognizing important cultural and historical sites.
In 2018, the hotel’s historic Alps Building was designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, further recognizing the importance of its architecture and history.
From 2023, Mampei Hotel underwent an extensive renovation lasting approximately a year and a half. The hotel held a soft opening on August 16, 2024, followed by its grand reopening on October 2, 2024.
The renovation included seismic reinforcement of the historic Alps Building and extensive improvements to the hotel’s facilities. It also marked an important milestone: for the first time since its founding, Mampei Hotel became a year-round hotel.
Accommodation is available in several buildings with distinctive atmospheres. These include the historic wooden Alps Building, as well as the Usui Building, Atago Building, and cottages consisting of two four-person cottages and one two-person cottage.
The hotel also offers banquet halls, meeting rooms, a shop, tennis courts, bicycle rentals, and parking for approximately 100 vehicles.
Inside the hotel, the Mampei Hotel Historical Archive introduces the hotel’s long history through a collection of memorabilia and historical objects.
Exhibits include furnishings from the hotel’s early days, a letter of appreciation from the organizers of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a piano once used by John Lennon, and chairs used during a meeting between former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka and U.S. diplomat Henry Kissinger.
These objects offer a fascinating glimpse into the people and events that have shaped Mampei Hotel over more than a century.
The hotel’s Main Dining Room features beautiful stained-glass windows depicting scenes of everyday life from the early Showa period. The atmosphere combines classic elegance with a strong sense of Japanese history.
Other dining options include Manzanro, serving Chinese cuisine, and Kappo Kumagai, specializing in Japanese cuisine. The historic Café Terrace is another popular destination, particularly for those who want to experience the royal milk tea associated with John Lennon.
Behind Mampei Hotel lies a peaceful area known as Happy Valley. The name is said to have been given by missionaries who were deeply impressed by the beauty of the landscape.
Moss-covered stone walls and stone-paved paths create a distinctly tranquil Karuizawa atmosphere. The area is also associated with Japanese literary history, having served as a setting connected with Tatsuo Hori’s novel “Kaze Tachinu”, while the area was once home to villas belonging to figures such as Yasunari Kawabata and John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
More than 130 years after its founding, Mampei Hotel remains one of the defining symbols of Karuizawa. Its long history is intertwined with the development of the resort town itself, from its early days as a destination for foreign visitors to its modern role as a refined mountain resort.
The hotel brings together historic architecture, cultural heritage, classic hospitality, and modern comfort. Whether staying overnight, enjoying a meal, visiting the historic spaces, or simply exploring the surrounding area, visitors can experience a distinctive part of Karuizawa’s history at this remarkable classic hotel.