Shibu Onsen Kokuya

We stayed two nights at Kokuya Ryokan Shibu Onsen and were picked up at Yudanaka Station by the hotel shuttle at 3pm. The staff welcomed us in English and explained the amenities, the hotel's onsens, and the public baths around town that guests can use. We had booked a traditional Japanese room with an open-air bath, and it was beautiful. The outdoor bath was amazing. I wasn't sure about sleeping on floor bedding, but it was comfortable apart from the pillow. The staff kindly brought softer pillows when we asked. There are eight private onsens at the hotel, so even without a room bath you can have privacy if you don't want to visit the public baths. The hotel also runs a 9am shuttle to the snow monkey entrance. For the return, you need to take a bus or taxi, though we chose to walk the roughly 2km downhill. I'd highly recommend it for a traditional stay of one or two nights.

We had a great stay and booked a room with its own private onsen for one night. The hotel's other onsens are private too, with a reservation system. Dinner and breakfast were fantastic. They can take you to the Monkey Park and store your luggage near Yudanaka station, so you don't have to carry it or return to the hotel to retrieve it after visiting the park on your way back to the station. There are also staff who speak English.

My husband and I stayed in the traditional Japanese room Yuri, which had a private toilet. It became one of the most memorable parts of our trip to Japan. Kokuya has nine distinctive, peaceful, beautifully designed onsens, and we especially appreciated being able to bathe together without worrying about tattoos. It made the experience feel more relaxing and intimate. The staff were exceptional from the start, welcoming and thoughtful. They showed us around the ryokan and arranged our kaiseki dinner and breakfast smoothly. The meals were exquisite, beautifully presented, and rooted in tradition. The hospitality felt gracious, calm, and genuinely caring. It was a cultural experience that felt grounding and luxurious, and one I'd recommend everyone try at least once.

Being able to reserve any bath for private use was a real perk, whether you're a couple, have tattoos, or are simply shy. The baths were beautiful and well maintained. The food was divine, and the knowledgeable staff spoke decent English. They can arrange shuttles to and from the station for train arrivals, as well as to the Monkey Park. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in this historic place, and felt it was well worth the price.