Shibu Onsen KOKUYA

3.0 star property
Comfortable spa ryokan, walk to Shibu

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your current months are June, 2024 and July, 2024.
June 2024
July 2024

Photo gallery for Shibu Onsen KOKUYA

Public bath
Front of property
Deluxe Japanese-Style Room with Open-Air Bath  | Minibar, in-room safe, individually decorated, individually furnished
Deluxe Japanese-Style Room with Open-Air Bath  | In-room dining
Hot springs
Reviews
9.4

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • SpaSpaSpa
  • Breakfast availableBreakfast availableBreakfast available
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning
  • LaundryLaundryLaundry
  • HousekeepingHousekeepingHousekeeping
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi

Explore the area

Map
2200 Hirao, Yamanouchi, Shimotakai-gun, 381-0401
  • Popular LocationShibu1 min walk
  • Popular LocationYudanaka Hot Spring17 min walk
  • Popular LocationJigokudani Monkey Park5 min drive
  • AirportMatsumoto (MMJ-Shinshu - Matsumoto)81 min drive

Most relevant reviews

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Room options

Standard Japanese-style Room with Open-Air Bath

10/10 Exceptional

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Private indoor spa tub
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
TV
Spring water bathtub
Bathrobes
  • Sleeps 3
  • 3 Twin Futons

Deluxe Japanese-Style Room with Open-Air Bath

10/10 Exceptional

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Private indoor spa tub
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
TV
Premium bedding
Toilet with electronic bidet
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Large Twin Beds and 2 Twin Futons

Superior Japanese-Style Room with Open-Air Bath

10/10 Exceptional

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Private indoor spa tub
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
TV
Spring water bathtub
Bathrobes
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons

Standard Japanese-Style Room with Shared Bathroom

10/10 Exceptional

Highlights

Individually furnished
Individually decorated
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
TV
6 bathrooms
Toilet with electronic bidet
Minibar
  • Sleeps 4
  • 4 Twin Futons

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Yamanouchi

Located in Yamanouchi, Shibu Onsen KOKUYA is in the entertainment district. Shibu and Yudanaka Hot Spring are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Jigokudani Monkey Park and Yubatake. Takayakushi Wakoan and Biande Shinshu Nakano are also worth visiting. Take an opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking/biking trails and other activities like skiing.

What's nearby

  • Shibu - 1 min walk
  • Yudanaka Hot Spring - 17 min walk
  • Shiga Kogen Ski Area - 3 min drive
  • Jigokudani Monkey Park - 5 min drive
  • Ryuoo Ski Park - 19 min drive

Getting around

  • Yudanaka Station - 3 min drive
  • Iiyama Station - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪猿座株式会社 まちノベイト - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪The Farmhouse - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪そば処 やり屋 - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪HAKKO - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪羅臼庵 - ‬2 min drive

About this property

Shibu Onsen KOKUYA

Ryokan in the entertainment district
Shibu and Yudanaka Hot Spring are located near Shibu Onsen KOKUYA, which provides an indoor mineral hot spring (onsen), shopping on site, and laundry facilities. For some rest and relaxation, visit the outdoor private onsen or sauna, and indulge in a massage. At the 3 on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, dinner, and Japanese cuisine. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks include:
  • Free self parking and valet parking
  • Full breakfast (surcharge), free train station pick-up, and bike rentals
  • Hot springs on site, concierge services, and a gift shop
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and include comforts such as air conditioning, in addition to thoughtful touches like free WiFi and safes.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Toilets with electronic bidets and toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • TVs with cable channels
  • Refrigerators, electric kettles, and heating

Languages

English, Japanese, Spanish, Thai

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free train station pick-up and drop-off shuttle
  • Free covered self parking on site
  • Free covered valet parking on site
  • Limited onsite parking

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM for a fee: JPY 2,200 per person
  • 3 restaurants
  • Couples/private dining
  • Kaiseki meal

Restaurants on site

  • HIroma
  • Tyoseian
  • Yawaragi

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals
  • Bicycle tours
  • Full-service spa
  • Hot springs
  • Karaoke
  • Shopping

Family friendly

  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff

Full-service spa

  • 24-hour public bath
  • Hot/mineral springs
  • Indoor mineral hot springs (onsen)
  • Massage
  • Outdoor mineral hot springs (onsen)
  • Private indoor onsen (mineral springs) in communal space
  • Private outdoor onsen (mineral springs) in communal space
  • Sauna
  • Separate men/women areas in public bath
  • Spa open daily
  • Yukata (Japanese robes)

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Hardwood flooring in public areas
  • Smooth flooring in public areas
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Genkan (entryway)
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Slippers
  • Toilet with electronic bidet
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Minibar
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Electrical adapters
  • Heating (climate-controlled)
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Safe
  • Tatami (woven mat) flooring
  • Tokonoma (alcove)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the train station; guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A bathing tax, collected at the property, may be charged. The bathing tax applies to properties with hot springs and ranges from JPY 150-500 per person, per night based on local regulations. Please note that further exemptions may apply.

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for full breakfast: approximately JPY 2200 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Reservations are required for private bath/onsen; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ); additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file

Property is also known as

Kokuya Hotel Yamanouchi
Shibu Onsen KOKUYA Inn Yamanouchi
Kokuya Yamanouchi
Kokuya
Shibu Onsen KOKUYA Inn
Shibu Onsen KOKUYA Yamanouchi
Shibu Onsen KOKUYA Ryokan
Shibu Onsen KOKUYA Yamanouchi
Shibu Onsen KOKUYA Ryokan Yamanouchi

Frequently asked questions

Is Shibu Onsen KOKUYA pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Shibu Onsen KOKUYA?

As of Jun 8, 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Shibu Onsen KOKUYA on Jun 23, 2024 start from $231.97, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Shibu Onsen KOKUYA?

Self parking and valet parking are free at this property.

What time is check-in at Shibu Onsen KOKUYA?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Shibu Onsen KOKUYA?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Shibu Onsen KOKUYA located?

Situated in the entertainment district, this spa ryokan is within 1 mi (2 km) of Shibu and Yudanaka Hot Spring. Shiga Kogen Ski Area is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away. Yudanaka Station is 23 minutes by foot.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 58 out of 74 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 74 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 74 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 74 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 74 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sara

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a lovely Ryokan, the staff were all so kind and nice. Super friendly! Explained everything so well and offered pick up from a nearby train station and drop off at local monkey park. The baths were all so different and the vibes were really good. Would definitely go again! I'd recommend everyone to go if you want to stay in the area.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

patricia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Super helpful staff and they speak English. The customer service was excellent with thorough explanations of the facilities, the meals and the van service to see the snow monkeys the next day (free van service) Great meals (plenty of great food) and the baths were amazing (onsen). You can book the indoors baths twice in a day (heaven!) and I had a private onsen in my room as well. Even when the weather was super cold and rainy, I was able to enjoy and recover from my long trip. I was not able to get out and walk around the property at night since it was very cold outside. Would definitely love to return!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jacky

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
For my overnight trip to Nagano, my focus had always been to visit Togakushi Shrine for the giant cedar trees and Jigokudani Yaen Koen for the snow monkeys. This meant that I had to find lodging that was within a reasonable drive from both locations as one was west of Nagano and the other east. As I favored more of visiting Jigokudani Yaen Koen when there are lesser crowds, which meant early morning hours when the park just opens (keep in mind it takes 45 minutes to hike up to the park), I decided to go with Shibu Onsen Kukuya, which was comfortably situated in Shibu Onsen a small onsen town that is 10 minutes drive away from the park. My overall experience with this Ryokan style lodging was exceptional as they were easy to get in touch with, responsive with inquiries, English friendly and very accommodating to their guest needs. The food that came with my room reservation (dinner & breakfast) was comparable to fine dining that you would find in luxury hotels and restaurants from larger cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. The private onsens found within the premises as well as within certain rooms offer a very intimate and comfortable experience. As for the staff, they all offered a world class service from the moment they greet you to moment they bid you farewell, I was truly impressed by the attention to detail and professionalism that each staff member shared. Overall, Shibu Onsen Kokuya has exceeded my expectations and has provided me with an enjoyable and memorable experience.

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A traditional Japanese hotel. They served breakfast and dinner. Exceptional. Staff very helpful, punctual, and sweet. The resort even has onsens within the hotel that guests can use. There is about ten of them. We used them instead of using the Puplic Onsen which we also had access to. Only issue was my husband is tall and had to duck in many doorways. Also we are in our 60’s and sleeping on the floor on mats was a bit uncomfortable. But definitely worth it. And going to the Snow Monkey Park was just awesome. Shuttle service was available at 9:15am. It is best to go early. Loved this place for traditional Japan hospitality.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Annie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This ryokan was an absolute dream. The staff goes above and beyond to make it worth the price. My husband and I got to Nagano station and the only train to get to the ryokan was out of service and we had to take a bus to the snow monkey park with all our luggage and the ryokan used their shuttle to pick us up. They also provide free shuttle service to the snow monkey park in the morning (timed) and free bagging storage. The staff also had amazing English and explained everything the ryokan had to offer as well as helping us with how to get to our next location. Aside from the staff being great, the room we stayed in was amazing (we had the traditional futons, you get to wear traditional yukatas during your stay, and you have access to 6 or so onsens on the premise (you can privately use alone or with your partner/friends/family) and all 9 public onsens in the town. Also, we did the half board and everything we ate was delicious!!!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

carol

Traveled with partner
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kyle

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing property in Yamanouchi. Staff was very friendly and the rooms were amazing. The open air bath in the room was serene and relaxing. The private hot springs on the property were all great as well.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Randal

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities

10/10 Excellent

Blake

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff and Manager went out of their way to accomodate our group itinerary, including transportation.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We absolutely loved our stay here. Everyone was so lovely and helpful. It was an amazing experience. We’re planning on coming back.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kirill

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great selection of onsens right inside the ryokan. Nice Japanese food in the half board. Very accommodating staff.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ryan

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property was one of best stays I’ve ever had. The staff were extremely professional and courteous. Food/meals felt authentic and abundant. The onsens offered a more atheistic variety with the added privacy. We cant thank the staff enough for how polite and helpful they truly were!

10/10 Excellent

Sydney

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Boris

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We stayed at Kokuya for one night. It is a larger Ryokan compared to some of the others we stayed at. The advantage of this place is that they have at least 8 baths within the property that are very different in look and feel (both indoors and outdoors) and can be booked just for your party (so a couple can use a certain bath without having to be separated by gender) - this is free for all guests. They also provide a key to the town's public baths. Very centrally located. There are yukatas in the room. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jorch001, Lake forest, CA

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is a nice Ryokan style hotel, hot springs very close to snow monkey park, short train ride to nice sight seeing and cultural sites and great if you want to disconnect from normal day to day life
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020

2/10 Terrible

Danielle

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Terrible Stay
Very unhappy with our stay. We confirmed 3 times by email that we would be arriving early. We were told we couldn’t check in but that we could leave our bags and get key to local onsens. We showed up and no one was there. Lights out and a sign saying they would open at 3 pm. Then when we did checkin the room was dirty and dated. We paid for 5 futons and got two (one each). Floor was so hard.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
such great service! the kaiseki meals are also phenomenal. this was our second time at Kokuya and will be back for sure. Note: the property is kind of a maze of stairs, so if you can't handle stairs, this might not be the place for you.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Wendy

Traveled with group, Business traveler, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful and historical ryokan - this place is incredible. Kokuya has been around for for hundred years and was passed down from generation to generation. You can tell there is a lot of love put into in keeping this traditional inn alive. The multiple hot baths available to guests make it a great and unique place to stay. The service was spot on. The meals were varied and delicious. The only point of feedback would be that some parts of the ryokan need to be updated. The carpet throughout the inn is quite worn and a place this expensive should look like it's worth the expense.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The facilities were awesome. Dinner and breakfast were amazing as well as the staff and private onsen. Everything was very well coordinated including pick up from the train station, dinner and breakfast, and drop off at the Monkey Park. As a departing gift the staff also gave us a small lunch and some sweets to enjoy on our onward travels. A highlight of our vacation in Japan. Highly recommended.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Kathleen

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A ryokan with onsen right by the snow monkey park
"Shibu Onsen" is a quaint little town very close to the snow monkey park in Yamanouchi (Nagano). As onsen lovers, it was the perfect gateway for our family. We stayed at the Kokuya because of the history of the place, the number of onsen available (inside the ryokan, but also in the village) and location. What makes the Kokuya unique is its design - the place is an amazing maze of stairs, guest rooms and baths. The staff is also very kind and caring and made us feel like we were part of the family. They are used to foreigners so English was not a problem. However, our review wouldn't be complete without a little bit of feedback. Having visited several luxury ryokans throughout Japan, we felt that the Kokuya is in need of serious TLC and would benefit from some repairs and a fresh coat of paint (among other things). We also noticed some onsen baths to be slimy, including our own private bath. The quality of food we were served during our stay was not the same; the Friday dinner being much superior to the Thursday one. Guests were allowed to smoke in the hallway, right by the dinning room, which was not pleasant. Overall, we are satisfied with our stay and would recommend for visitors wishing to experience a different type of ryokan experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

General hotel information

Check-In Time
3:00 PM
Check-Out Time
10:00 AM
Star Rating
3.0
Address
2200 Hirao, Yamanouchi, Shimotakai-gun