Oyado Takimoto

The meals were a real highlight, especially breakfast. Everything was tasty and filling, and the fruit was wonderfully sweet. I also loved the tempura date at dinner and the coffee jelly in the morning. It was easy to enjoy the outdoor private bath at our own pace since the ryokan wasn't busy and there was no time limit. The water started out too hot for me and my partner, but adding cold water fixed that. We could see lots of stars overhead. One drawback: there wasn't a shower at the private bath, so we had to wash first at the public bath, where shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were provided. I was glad to try its indoor bath too, and its temperature felt comfortable. I was surprised by the negative reviews. The building seemed older and fairly simple rather than high-end, but I thought the stay was great for the price. I'd recommend it if you're after a good ryokan experience without paying luxury prices.

Being right in the middle of Shibu Onsen made it easy to visit the onsens, and getting to the Snow Monkey Park or ski resorts was straightforward. The couple who run the ryokan were attentive and helped with our little requests. Our room was huge and stayed warm at -10° outside, with extra heaters and cozy futons. The private outdoor onsen was warm even in the cold; you can add cooler water if it feels too hot. Lunch and dinner came as lots of small plates, served one after another and prepared with care. We enjoyed them, and even if you don't like every dish, there's plenty to eat. We had a great stay and were pleasantly surprised, especially since we booked at the last minute and it wasn't very expensive.

Takimoto is a lovely family-run ryokan in Shibu onsen, a quaint traditional onsen town in Nagano.

The food was delicious, and when I asked what the dishes were, they gave me clear answers. The open-air bath was roomy and pleasant, though there wasn't a view. I found the indoor bath too hot and gave up on it. I stayed in a room with a private toilet, not the special room, "Raku no Ma." The room was clean, and I was glad there was a kotatsu (heated table), even though I didn't use it. Its white curtains were torn. For what it cost, I felt it was definitely worth it. I'd like to stay again if I get the chance.