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).