Yudanaka Onsen · Shibu Onsenkyo · Yamada Onsen × Highly rated Hotel·Ryokan

Every season, I’m moved by the nature, the cuisine, and the hospitality. This time, even the rainy scenery felt mystical. Even a single dish reflects its history and background and its connection to the region; together with the staff’s gentle warmth and the atmosphere, it feels like something unique to this place—carefully preserved over a long time. Thank you as always; I’ll be back!

I drove six hours just to stay here. It was my first time visiting Nagano, so I was worried about arriving safely, but I managed to make it... In the end, this was a wonderful inn in every way. The room was impeccably clean, and the Momoyama-style bath was truly beautiful. I could soak in the hot spring while admiring the breathtaking architecture. The service was excellent as well—my privacy was respected, yet I felt completely at ease throughout my stay. What impressed me most, however, was dinner. The choice of tableware and the beautiful presentation were outstanding. Each dish was served at its best—hot items arrived hot—and everything tasted delicious. I heard the menu changes monthly, and it made me want to come back every month. Even though it’s far away, I will definitely return. Thank you very much for your wonderful hospitality. It turned into a trip I am truly satisfied with.

At dusk after arriving at the inn, I noticed one of the rear tires on our rental car was flat. There was no spare tire, and when I called the rental car office, they told me to drive slowly to a service station or similar place and have it repaired. When I asked at the front desk, the owner kindly listened and even arranged a repair through an acquaintance. As a result, it was fixed safely before checkout—and at a friendly price. Car trouble that suddenly strikes in an unfamiliar place can be stressful. For a moment I thought our sightseeing plans for the next day were ruined, but thanks to their help we were able to enjoy our trip as planned. I can’t thank the owner enough. Thank you so much. About the inn: it’s an older building, but it’s very clean and well maintained. There are lovely fresh flowers arranged here and there in the rooms and hallways. We used one of the private open-air baths—the larger corner bath—in the morning. The view was wonderful, and I highly recommend bathing in the morning! Most noteworthy is how excellent the meals were. The Shinshu Premium Beef for dinner had sweet marbling and was absolutely delicious—I strongly recommend choosing the “Luxury Meal Plan” so you can enjoy it! The sashimi included Shinshu salmon and char (iwana). Both dinner and breakfast featured many delicious local specialties. Thank you for such wonderful meals. We chose this inn somewhat casually for sightseeing in Obuse, but it became a truly great memory. Thank you very much.

There were so many delightful touches at this inn. The homemade chestnut pudding we received at check-in was delicious, as were the detox water and several types of drip coffee in the lobby lounge. Beautiful handmade washi paper lamps were placed throughout the property, and the bath amenities—including natural aromatherapy hair and skincare products such as OSAJI—were wonderfully soothing. Breakfast was excellent all the way through dessert. Most of all, we truly appreciated the proprietress noticing my husband’s back pain and cane, and kindly offering thoughtful assistance throughout our stay. Thank you very much to the proprietress and all the staff for your warm hospitality.

I stayed here for my birthday. It was a calm, relaxing inn with a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere—perfect for adults to unwind, and I had a truly lovely time. Since I chose one of the more reasonably priced rooms, I did notice that some parts felt a bit dated (for example, the sink is located in the bathroom area), but everything was clean and it was still a comfortable space to relax at ease. All of the staff were very attentive, and during meals even the proprietress came around to greet guests—I really enjoyed chatting with her. The food was delicious, beautifully presented with lovely tableware, and I could feel the heartfelt hospitality in every detail. I used both baths; however, one of them is in a separate building, and going there alone felt a little scary (in a funny way). Also, the indoor bath temperature was quite hot. I prefer warmer water so I could just manage it, but my husband couldn’t handle it at all. They mentioned they adjust it using well water, so perhaps it varies day by day and is difficult to control consistently. The location was ideal as well—it was fun being able to step right out into the hot spring town and enjoy its traditional charm. One small disappointment: on departure I wanted to take photos in front of the inn, but there were no staff members around anywhere to ask (maybe just bad timing). Overall it was an excellent stay, and next time I’d love to book an upgraded room and relax even more.

I requested a last-minute change to the number of guests, and Yorozuya handled it with exceptional kindness and professionalism. The hot springs and the room were wonderful, and the meals in particular were delicious—we were very satisfied. All of the staff were pleasant as well. Thank you very much. We would definitely like to stay again.

I stayed for one night with my sister. The Room was very clean and well maintained, easy to use, and we enjoyed the in-Room bath many times (we even did laundry!). We had our meals at a charming traditional house restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere. Everything was delicious, right up to the final sushi! Thanks to the warm hospitality, we were able to relax and enjoy our stay. We also really enjoyed the snacks and gelato provided in the Room. We were blessed with great weather, making it a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for taking such good care of us—we will definitely be back!

The free-flowing Onsen water pours vigorously from the wall into the indoor bath, and in the open-air bath it cascades like a waterfall from the rocks—something Onsen lovers will truly appreciate. This was my father’s favorite place, and he was very happy. The meals were delicious and just the right amount. On the way to the large public bath, it was fun to see carp gathering where the spring water flows and bathing under it like a waterfall shower. The Room felt refreshingly cool with lush green trees outside. Thank you very much for your hospitality.

I stayed at this Accommodation yesterday! The service was very attentive, and the in-room open-air bath was flawless. Watching the staff grill and prepare sushi right in front of us at dinner and breakfast made the experience even better. Thank you for a wonderful one-night stay!

Dinner was a kaiseki meal, and the seafood chawanmushi was hearty and delicious. The Shinshu salmon sashimi and the apple-fed wagyu served as the hot dish were both fresh and melt-in-your-mouth good. Breakfast was a buffet with a wide variety of options; the salad, grilled salmon, and shijimi clam miso soup were especially tasty. The open-air bath in the large public bath area was clean and very relaxing. The bed was extremely comfortable—excellent. I’m truly grateful for two wonderful days that felt like an escape from everyday life. Thank you very much.

Although it was the peak of summer and very hot, it was wonderfully cool here—perfect for a summer getaway. Above all, the food was absolutely delicious. The local dishes and beer were fantastic!

Thank you very much for everything. Every year, we take a trip around our September wedding anniversary holiday. This year, we decided to visit Shibu Onsen, which my wife had long dreamed of, and booked through the IKYU site. The reasons I rated the Onsen and the Facility/amenities 4 stars are as follows: The Onsen water was simply too hot. I apologize to those who prefer very hot baths, but if you could lower the temperature of the source water flowing into the bath a bit more, it would be easier to relax. The private-bath system itself is good. As for the Facility/amenities, I would really like you to add a small shop. If guests want to have drinks in their room at night, it can feel a bit inconvenient. Other than that, I have no complaints at all. At first, all the stairs in the Ryokan were tough, but we gradually got used to them—and it was fun exploring the maze-like corridors while visiting different indoor baths. (It may be a little challenging for elderly guests...) As for service, this was one of the best Ryokan experiences we’ve ever had. The attendant who told us about local specialties and sights, the young man with glasses who gave us a ride on the tuk-tuk, and everyone from overseas whom we passed in the hallways—all of it was wonderful. We would love to visit again. Thank you very much.

Thank you for taking care of me on this touring trip! I really appreciated being allowed to park my motorcycle under the eaves by the entrance. The staff included many young women from overseas, and everyone served us politely with constant smiles, so I was able to fully enjoy a satisfying Onsen Accommodation—thank you very much. Next time, I’d like to visit with my wife and daughters as a family, and I look forward to seeing you then. If I may make one request: I had a beer in the floor area next to the front desk, but I was disappointed that the glass was at room temperature (it was a hot day, so it felt lukewarm). I would be grateful if you could consider this. Thank you again for such an enjoyable stay at your Onsen Accommodation. This middle-aged rider will definitely be back!

Thank you for taking care of us during the Obon holiday period. The Accommodation is old, but it was kept very clean inside. The private bath was also very spacious and nice. What was disappointing was the way the meals were laid out and how cramped the space was. There was no space to set down a tray, so we couldn’t even use seasonings, and it was inconvenient to place small plates; I’d like to see some improvement. There wasn’t much soy sauce available either, and it seemed we had to wait in a long line just to get soy sauce on our plates. The display layout also made items hard to pick up—for example, udon next to ice cream—so everything felt scattered. It’s a shame because everything else was good.

Blessed with great weather, we arrived at Happu Onsen via Kusatsu. The autumn leaves—something we hadn’t expected much from when planning—were unexpectedly beautiful, and we stopped many times along the way to enjoy the scenery. We arrived a little early, but they kindly allowed us to check in and enter our room. The room “Tougetsu” had been beautifully renovated, and we were completely satisfied. The moment we stepped inside, we could faintly smell sulfur, and we were moved by the stunning autumn colors of Bunadaira visible from the window! Both the room and balcony were meticulously cleaned, making our stay very comfortable. It was a bit disappointing that only one person can fit in the bathtub, but the sulfur spring water—with yunohana drifting through it—was always kept at a perfect temperature. Both dinner and breakfast were excellent! The portions were generous as well. All of the staff were very pleasant, which made us happy. Thank you for the wonderful meals. After dinner, when we went outside to look at the stars, someone at the front desk lent us a flashlight, which was very helpful. Under ideal conditions on a new-moon night, I was able to see the Milky Way for the first time in my life. Our stay at Higashitate became an unforgettable experience. Thank you so much to all of your staff. We will definitely be back again.

I’m not good with the cold, so I was a bit worried about how warm the Room would be, but there was a heater and a kotatsu, and they even provided a hot water bottle for sleeping, so I stayed very comfortably. Also, I didn’t know that access to nine different hot springs was included, but they were all fun and I was completely satisfied. Breakfast was delicious as well, and I truly had a wonderful time. Highly recommended Accommodation. Thank you very much.

Thank you for taking care of me on my solo trip. I was looking for an Accommodation where I could quietly relax and fully enjoy the Onsen and meals, so I chose Jinpyokaku. Even though it was a hot season, there was plenty of greenery, and the Room was clean, quiet, and truly private. It was extremely comfortable. In particular, the in-room semi-open-air bath with free-flowing natural hot spring water available anytime was outstanding. On the charming walkway to the dining area, I felt soothed by the courtyard while listening to the evening cicadas— a nostalgic feeling that’s hard to put into words. Dinner was served in a private room, and every dish brought out the best of each ingredient—I even found myself thinking how delicious vegetables can be. The shabu-shabu was wonderful as expected, and the deep-fried cod coated with buckwheat groats was especially delicious. The portions were more than enough, and I also really enjoyed the local beer. Above all, what impressed me most was the heartfelt hospitality of all the staff. Their manners were impeccable—almost too perfect—and their thoughtful care made me feel truly grateful. I wanted to rest both mind and body, and I thoroughly enjoyed everything. Thank you very much.

I traveled to Nagano City on business, but every hotel in the city was fully booked (the only available rooms were around 40,000–50,000 yen), so I went all the way to Yudanaka Onsen. To be honest, the building itself is old. However, the warm hospitality of the young proprietor more than made up for it and made my stay very pleasant. With a smile, he even shared something that made me think, “What?!” (I can’t write the details here—but if you stay there, you’ll understand and have a good laugh). The room rate was reasonable, but dinner was delicious and generous—enough for two or three people—so it was far too much for me at 65. Still, I didn’t want to waste food, so I took my time and ate slowly over about an hour. Breakfast was also very good. The bath was relaxing as well.

This accommodation is located right next to a famous architectural accommodation in Shibu Onsen, in front of the ninth bath of the Sotoyu Meguri. It is an ideal location for enjoying the Sotoyu Meguri. The hospitality from all staff, including the proprietress, is exceptional, making it a very pleasant place to stay. While the guest rooms are slightly dated, the meals are impeccable in both variety and taste, and of course, the onsen water soothes deep into your body to relieve daily fatigue. For us as a couple, this accommodation exceeded our expectations.

The top recommendation is the private open-air bath on the rooftop. There are two options, A and B; if you can book the evening slot to watch the sunset, choose A. Since the rooftop bath has only one faucet and no shampoo or other amenities, it’s best to wash up first in the large public bath on the first floor, which is fully equipped. Guests are responsible for laying out their own futons, including putting on the sheets. This may not suit those looking for a classic Ryokan experience where your bedding is prepared while you’re at dinner, but room rates are more reasonable as a result. The Shinshu beef sukiyaki dinner was excellent. We bought drinks and snacks at Yamauchi Shoten across from the Ryokan (open until 7:00 PM—please note), but we ended up too full and had to take them back with us the next day. The Ryokan is also perfectly located for visiting multiple public baths, making it easy to take a break at the Accommodation between stops around mealtimes. Shuttle Service times are set to match Nagano Dentetsu limited express trains. If you’d like to explore town after check-out, you can take a bus (e.g., from Shibu-Wago bus stop) to Yudanaka Station, but be aware there may be little time between arriving at the station and your train’s departure.