2200 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi, Japan | (888) 989-6591
Central location, a 10-minute walk to Monkey Park
Traditional rooms, many with open-air bathrooms and private tubs
Gorgeous onsen fed by six different hot springs
Breakfast and dinner available from on-site dining hall
Free train station pick-ups and drop-offs to nearby Monkey Park
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Expensive compared to comparable area properties
No on-site parking
Shibu-onsen is a 19-room "ryokan," or traditional Japanese roadside inn with an on-site "onsen" (hot springs-fed bathing house). Rooms here are traditional, with tatami-mat floors and futons; about half of them have lovely open-air bathrooms. There are six hot springs feeding the baths at the hotel, and along with a number of indoor and outdoor soaking pools, there's a natural steam sauna for guest use. Breakfast and dinner are served for a fee, and vegetarian options are available. However, it's an expensive place to stay and some past guests feel that rates are unjustifiably high. Budget travelers may want to check out the more affordable Shimaya Ryokan, which also has an onsen (though it's not as nice as Kokuya's).
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Scene
Traditionally decorated ryokan popular with tourists from overseas
Popular with vacationing couples, including many international tourists, Shibu-onsen Kokuya is a traditional "ryokan," or roadside inn, housed in a simple three-story building dating back to the 1950s. As per Japanese tradition, guests remove their shoes upon entry (slippers are provided) and enter into a simple, windowless lobby area with beige carpets, a low seating area, and lots of brochures and signs for area attractions, including the famous Monkey Park nearby. The hallways feature a similar decor scheme, with rice-paper screened doors and a few seating areas with simple beige furniture. There are also simply furnished dining rooms divided-off by screens for privacy, and both floor seating and tables and chairs are available.
Location
A close walk to the famous Monkey Park in an area with plenty of restaurants and shops
There's plenty to do in the immediate area, and the famous Monkey Park, known for its hot springs-bathing primates, is a 10-minute walk away. There's also a sake brewery with English-language tours a short walk from the hotel and there are plenty of shops and restaurants in the area. Shigakogen Ski Resort is a half-hour drive, as is the old town of Obuse, known for its chestnut orchards. The Suzaka Museum is a 40-minute drive away, while Nagano's Zonko-ji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country, takes 50 minutes to reach by car. Tokyo takes about two to two and a half hours to reach by road or train.
Rooms
Traditional rooms with futons and flat-screen TVs, some with private outdoor bathrooms with tubs
There are 19 rooms in total at Kokuya, including nine Traditional Standard Rooms and 10 additional rooms with open-air bathrooms on the balconies. All are traditionally styled with tatami mat floors, futons, and simple decor, and come with TVs, safes, mini-fridges, kettles, and robes. The nicest rooms in the house have their own jetted hot springs tubs made of wood or wood and stones. Bathrooms in the Traditional Rooms are compact, with walk-in showers.
Features
Onsen fed by six different hot springs, breakfast and dinner, and area drop-off service
The hotel's hot springs-fed onsen is its main attraction, and there are six different sources feeding the baths here. Most of the pools use mixes of water, though there is a section with six individual soaking tubs, each fed by a different spring. There are four additional indoor baths, one of which is available for private use, along with three open-air baths (one private), and a thermally powered steam sauna. The onsen is open 24/7, and the staff uses a curtain system to communicate what is and is not off limits for certain guests at certain times. Blue curtains are for men's baths, red curtains are for women's, and green curtains indicate private bathing. The inn switches the men and women's curtains at 9pm every day and the onsen is only available to those staying on-site. Although there's no proper restaurant, breakfast and dinner can be arranged, and dietary restrictions can be catered to with advanced notice. The ryokan also offers a free drop-off service to the Monkey Park (but no pick-ups), and they can also arrange transfers from nearby Yudanaka Station for guests arriving after 3pm (with advanced notice). Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
