Shibu Onsen Japan
Shibu Onsen Japan is a cute historic onsen village that features traditional ryokan (Japanese inns) that line a narrow main street. The iconic Shibu Onsen sight is people clomping up and down the street dressed in yukata and wooden geta thongs on the way between their ryokan and one of the public hot baths.
Shibu Onsen village can look rather pretty and the traditional Japanese architecture looks particularly striking when it’s covered in a little snow. Parts of it look a bit ramshackle and some buildings are being renovated and cobblestones have been removed, yet it’s still quite special with the high concentration of lovely ryokan, small public onsen, ramen bars, and a handful of quaint shops selling geta (a sandal that’s a cross between a clog and flip-flop) and zori (Japanese thongs made of rice straw).
Staying in Shibu Onsen is great if you want to partake in many of the quintessential and traditional Japanese cultural activities such as sleeping on a futon on tatami flooring, taking a foot bath or onsen, savouring an exquisite kaiseki meal at your ryokan, or visiting one of the little temples. Or Shibu is in very close proximity to the
Japanese monkey onsen, and it’s not uncommon to see the snow monkeys in the village, fossicking around for some additional food.
Where is Shibu Onsen?
The Shibu Onsen village is adjacent to the town of
Yudanaka in Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture. Shibu Onsen is 2km southeast of Yudanaka train station, and close to Kanbayashi Onsen which is the location of the car park to access the
Jigokudani snow monkey park.
Ski Resorts Near Shibu
Shibu Onsen also makes a great base to explore the many ski resorts nearby, particularly if you have a car. Otherwise you can get your accommodation to drop you at Yudanaka station, from where there are buses to Ryuoo and Shiga Kogen.
Shiga Kogen is the closest ski resort, only about 12km away. There are a couple of bus stops in Shibu for buses up to Shiga Kogen, be keep in mind that the buses often take a long time and they are not regular.
Other nearby ski resorts include:
If you want to sample multiple resorts and don’t want to drive, you might be better placed staying in Yudanaka (adjacent to Shibu Onsen) as part of a
multi-day tour.
Getting to Shibu Onsen
If you don’t have a car, it’s easy enough to get to Shibu Onsen via public transport. After catching a bullet train to Nagano (see routes, timetables and fares on Japan Travel Navitime), you can catch a local train to Yudanaka on the Dentetsu line (45 mins). In case you have a Japan Rail Pass, note that the “snow monkey train” is not covered on the pass. Most of the Shibu ryokan provide a Yudanaka train station pick up service. Otherwise it’s a 2km walk or a 5 minute taxi or bus ride. Buses go from Yudanaka to Shibu Onsen about every half hour.
Shibu Onsen Ryokan Accommodation
Most of the Shibu Onsen accommodation is concentrated on the main street and consists of picturesque ryokan that are the focus of the traditional look of the village. The Shibu ryokans range from simple pension-like lodging to high end expensive ryokan.
We stayed at the deluxe
Sakaeya Shibu Ryokan. This Shibu Onsen ryokan is modern whilst retaining its traditional Edo period features. Tatami rooms are generously sized and include an ensuite bathroom. There is also a beautiful on-site onsen with indoor and outdoor baths.
See the
Shibu Onsen accommodation page for more information and the
Shibu Onsen ryokan listings.
Shibu Restaurants and Facilities
If you’ve had enough of eating onsen eggs or eating exquisite meals at your ryokan, there are several Shibu Onsen restaurants. The most westernised is the Koishiya Café and Bar that has a really funky vibe, an English menu, lots of drink offerings, and a mix of food including many mushroom dishes (a local speciality). There is the super cheap and cheerful ramen bar (Ramen Tokumi, English menu), an izakaya, and curry, soba, sushi and yakitori restaurants.
The village has a few cute shops selling Japanese souvenirs. If you need groceries, you’ll need to head down to the Yudanaka station area.