The picturesque town of Shibu Onsen in Nagano prefecture is the perfect balm for a busy visit to Japan. It’s traditional, quaint, and a glorious place to explore several uniquely Japanese experiences. The first is a stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese Inn with a history dating back centuries. The second is to get to know onsens and the concept of public bathing. And staying in a Shibu Onsen Ryokan means that you get to experience what the locals do, because 8 of the public bathhouses, or onsens in the town are only available to locals and overnight guests. Shibu Onsen’s ryokans also come with their own onsens, some of them are amazing, so it’s the perfect town to stay to experience both public and private onsens. Here’s our guide to the best Shibu Onsen Ryokans for the best experience.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER
When we travel we undertake an inordinate amount of research to pick the best places to stay. And when you’re staying in a ryokan you do want to ensure that you pick the best one for your particular needs. And so these are the ryokans in Shibu Onsen town that we researched, checked out and looked at all the facilities, services, and experiences available. We wanted a ryokan with a private onsen. Kaiseki Ryori – the private dinner service in the room was on the list. And yes we also wanted one with a private toilet, so we covered that too. Here are my picks of the top 5 ryokans in Shibu Onsen.
TOP RYOKAN
This is our top pick. It’s not the most expensive, it’s not the most luxurious. It’s a family-friendly ryokan in Shibu Onsen run by a GREAT family, it has a fabulous outdoor onsen for private use, it has great meal options, and its in a perfect location.
1. Daymaruya Ryokan, Shibu Onsen
When we got down to the final five of our selected ryokans in Shibu Onsen it got really tough to pick which we’d stay at. Daymaruya is a small ryokan with fabulous traditional rooms, and super onsen facilities (the outdoor one is magical and so private! It’s worth staying here for this alone).
Communication with the owners is easy and very quick – from the offer of lifts to and from the train station and giving advice on where to go, and what to eat in town. It’s fabulous. Check the prices and availability here.
- Air-conditioned Rooms
- Traditional tatami mat and futon beds
- TV, fridge, and an electric kettle with green tea bags.
- Private toilet
- Yukata robes.
- Shared gender-segregated onsen bathing facilities
- 2 private outdoor onsens at the Ryokan
When we stayed, we were the only guests and so the owner graciously allowed us to use the segregated gender bathing facilities together. It also meant we had full and unfettered access to the private outdoor onsen the whole time we were there! It was magical! I recommend Daymaruya highly!
The futon beds were extremely comfortable, the room spacious and of course you get Yukata provided and you also get a key to the public onsens in town that are only available to locals and overnight guests. Check availability and book your stay here.
When you’re looking for the right ryokan to stay in Shibu Onsen, you’ll want to check out several of my other pieces of content about the town
- Here’s my guide to the Shibu Onsen public onsens xxxx
- What to know about the etiquette of Ryokans
- The top things to do in Shibu Onsen – besides onsens and ryokans
- Visiting the Snow Monkey Park
- My guide to using Onsens in Japan is here.
PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS
- 🛡️ Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
- 💰 Read about the Currency in Japan and ATM fees.
- 🔌 Check out Japan’s plug, socket & power situation.
- 📶 Internet, maps, and data on the go. eSims for Japan
2. Rekishi-no-Yado Kanaguya Ryokan – Historic Ryokan in Shibu Onsen
Recognised as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2003, this glorious ryokan is probably the number one ryokan in Shibu Onsen. It’s a 4-star property and staying here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will take you back to the 1930s. Your stay at the Kanaguya Ryokan includes a free 30-minute tour of the property before dinner which is well worth it to learn about the ryokan and the area. Don’t miss the Kaiseki Ryori dinner!
It’s a traditional four-storey wooden ryokan that dates back to 1758!! It has stunning architecture and five different private-use onsen facilities. There are 7 rooms here that have private onsen facilities and it’s one of these that you’ll want! Check out what’s available here.
- Traditional tatami mat and futon beds
- Fridge, TV, and an electric kettle in rooms
- Private toilets available
- Yukata robes
- 7 private onsen ryokan rooms
- 22 rooms with shared bathing facilities
There are also shared outdoor and indoor onsen facilities at the ryokan and you’re provided with a yukata and a key for exploring the 9 public onsens in town too. It’s a masterpiece of design and the top place to stay in Shibu Onsen. You can check rates and availability here.
3. The Sakaeya Ryokan, Shibu Onsen
This top-rated ryokan in Shibu Onsen is located right in the center of the onsen town and offers traditional Japanese accommodation. The air-conditioned rooms here have tatami mat floors and Japanese futon bedding. Each room also has a TV, a fridge and private toilets. The onsen bathing facilities are shared. From the welcome, you’ll get with green tea and a snack to the offered luggage storage services, it’s amazingly friendly. The Sakaeya Ryokan provides a traditional Kaiseki Ryori multi-course dinner and a set Japanese breakfast menu too. This ryokan in Shibu Onsen gets exceptional reviews, check them out here.
- Private outdoor onsen rooms available < get these!
- Western Style rooms also available
- Traditional tatami mat and futon beds
- Fridge, TV, and an electric kettle in rooms
- Private toilets in rooms
- Air conditioning in rooms
- Yukata robes
One of the options available at the Sakaeya Ryokan is a western-style room – so you get a divan bed rather than a futon. Perfect if you’re not happy sleeping on the futon bed. I LOVE futon beds in Japan, but understand that they’re not for everyone! Check out the suite with the private onsen here.
4. Kokuya Ryokan, Shibu Onsen
The glorious outdoor onsens at this fabulous Ryokan can be reserved for private use and they’re well worth it. Some rooms have divan beds and others have traditional futon bedding with tatami mats. You’ll want to take a look at the rooms that have a private onsen on the terrace, they’re just a delight.
Rooms here come with a seating area, flat screen TV, minibar, and tea and coffee making facilities too.
- Private outdoor onsens on terraces available
- Western Style beds available
- Traditional tatami mat and futon beds
- Fridge, TV, and an electric kettle in rooms
- Private toilets in rooms
- Air conditioning in rooms
- Yukata robes
- 2 restaurants in the ryokan
The Kokuya Ryokan in Shibu Onsen is a fabulously located place to stay, with great bedding options and two onsite restaurants catering to your every need. It’s a perfect place to stay in Shibu Onsen.
5. Wafu-no-Yado MASUYA Ryokan, Shibu Onsen
This is a beautiful traditional Japanese ryokan in Shibu Onsen. Rooms are smaller than average but very comfortable, and the breakfast and dinner options are really good and tasty. You’ll want to pick one of the rooms with a view because the views are spectacular. Check out the views here.
- Indoor & outdoor Onsens
- Onsens available to be privately booked
- Western Style beds available
- Traditional tatami mat and futon beds
- Fridge, TV, and an electric kettle in rooms
- Private toilets in rooms
- Balcony Rooms Available
- Yukata robes
- 2 restaurants in the ryokan
The team here is incredibly welcoming and friendly, nothing is too much trouble – from a ride to and from the Yudanaka train station to assistance with food choices. Definitely try the Kaiseki Ryori dinner, it is one of the best! See your options here.
JAPAN TRAVEL RESOURCES
TRAIN TICKETS
Easiest way to buy train tickets, use Klook for Shinkansen Train Tickets, check timetables & reserve seats.
Book Train Tickets
HOTELS AND APARTMENTS
See choices here
Sea view rooms? Budget rooms? Need a washing machine? The best choice of hotels & apartments.
TOURS & ATTRACTIONS
Most excursion choices, small group tours, skip-line tickets, free cancellation and top local guides.
Top options here.
CAR RENTAL GUIDE
Read my Guide
Best choice of vehicles, automatics, large or small cars, child seats. Book early for more options.
Final Words on the Top 5 Shibu Onsen Ryokans
This is one of the most magical onsen towns in Japan and we’ve stayed in quite a few now. It’s traditional, it’s well run, and it’s friendly. The fact that the onsens are only available for overnight guests is perfect and means you feel extra special using them. And that the ryokans that I’ve detailed here have their own private onsens is also fabulous. It’s a fabulous place to spend the night, or longer in a ryokan and well worth the trip.
ASocialNomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, and amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
