Suminoyu Ryokan — Attraction in Yamanouchi

We're an Australian couple in our late 20s visiting the area for the first time. Our trip began with skiing at Shigakogen and we wanted to end it with a relaxing onsen stay including a side trip to see the Snow Monkeys. We were happy with our choice; it was easy to find, within walking distance to the monkeys, and comfortable. ||||Location: Approaching from Shigakogen, we took a local bus from Hasuike bus stop which took about 15-20 minutes and got off at Wagoubashi bus stop (between the Snow Monkey and Yudanaka station stops; the stop isn't shown on the bus timetables we received from our ski accommodation, however the local bus does indeed stop here and we let the driver know where we were headed before we boarded, just in case). We also had a local map of the Shibu Onsen area from our ski accommodation before we left, and easily navigated from our stop to Suminoyu. It took about 5 minutes and the roads were easily navigated with luggage in tow. Suminoyu also offers a free shuttle from Yudanaka station. The town is small and within walking distance to various restaurants, the famed 9 surrounding onsens and gift shops. We utilised the hotel's free shuttle to the Monkey Park (only offered one-way, which was generous enough) and to Yudanaka station when we checked out). Using Google maps, we navigated back to Suminoyu from the beginning of the Monkey Park trail without any issues, taking about 20 mins (note that from the beginning of the trail to the actual monkeys, takes about another 30mins). We did not end up trying any of the 9 public onsens (key provided by the front desk) during our stay, however we're content using just the one at Suminoyu. ||||Accommodation: Rooms were laid out in the traditional ryokan style with a sitting area during the day converted to a sleeping area with futons at night. It was modern and felt private unlike some older traditional properties we've visited where the paper walls were very thin. Our room had a locked door, with a small entry, mini-fridge, a full bathroom including toilet, and the main room separated by a sliding door. Inside that room, the seating area was heated (heated blanket), there were yukatas (extra long offered to my partner upon arrival), room heating, toiletries, a safety deposit box and tea making facilities with a small welcome cake for each guest.The free WiFi in the room also worked well. It was a nicely set out room with good ambience. ||||Facilities: The shared womens and mens bathrooms including onsens (inside and outside) we're located on level 6. I can only speak for the ladies'; it was neat and clean. The outside onsen was beautiful with snow falling at the time, however I found the water not as hot as the one inside and although I would have liked to stay out longer, it just got too cold for me. Breakfast and dinner was served on level 2; dinner was plentiful and beautifully set out, while breakfast was similarly attractive, we found the flavours too salty for our tastes. ||||Service: Staff were friendly and polite. I can guess as to the "rude" lady others have mentioned in their posts, however I found her OK. She's not as warm as the others, however is still polite and helpful and perhaps, only viewed harshly because of the high standards Japanese service sets. We were greeted warmly on arrival by a gentleman who insisted upon carrying our luggage upstairs to our room (and also upon check-out) and had good restaurant recommendations for us. The dining staff were particularly attentive and we found all encounters with staff throughout our stay, polite. ||||Bottom Line: We had a good stay here and would recommend it to others coming to the Shibu Onsen area; the rooms were comfortable, WiFi worked well, food was good and the free shuttles...

This Ryokan was the highlight of Japan, not to mention Nagano itself. The service here is phenomenal. The staff is so friendly and welcoming, the rooms are warm and comfortable and the dinner was a fantastic experience that truly showcased the cuisine and natural ingredients of Nagano.

Room: there are 12 rooms in this ryokan which makes it super special. Nightly turn down - it was so nice to come back to our room after day of touring and a hot spring circuit. The beds were warmed and a nightly snack left for us. We were supplied with traditional Kimonos and Geta (wooden sandals) to wear throughout our stay and our room door had a room sign with our name in Japanese Calligraphy.

Location: the location is tucked into the perfect pocket of Nagano along the easily accessible Shibu onsen circuit. It’s so quaint to walk along the cobblestone street in your traditional attire and to experience each public bath. It is a 600m long hot spring town. The cobblestone streets are lined with 30 inns, nine public baths, souvenir shops, shops, and restaurants. The Ryokan provides a very cool souvenir map that you can stamp along each visit to the public baths. Once you complete the circuit it is the ultimate health experience as each public bath helps with different ailments.

Food: the dinner is a MUST try. My partner and I were blown away by the sheer amount of food! It was such a beautiful experience and so many gorgeous traditional and fresh flavours. We couldn’t make it for breakfast as our train was really early the next day and the staff were kind enough to pack us a...

If you're expecting a basic guesthouse, think again. This turned out to be the best hospitality we experienced on a month's tour of Japan. The team treats each guest individually and makes an extraordinary effort to make sure you get the most of your holiday time in Shibu.

The free transfer service is necessary because it is a 40+ minute uphill trek from the station on sometimes icy paths, plus they were gracious enough to collect us earlier than expected on short notice. They are also happy to drop you at the Snow Monkey Park according to a loose schedule. If the distance doesn't bother you, the location is excellent otherwise - directly on the famous ones street and equidistant between the snow monkeys and the station.

The set dinner was a pleasure, served by a warm and thoughtful team. Breakfast is served as a set which will be waiting for you at the arranged time. Coffee was not served.

The rooftop onsen is small and well used. If you can find a quiet time, it's a great way to end the day. The public onsens for which Shibu is famous are extremely hot - I only saw locals using them - so the hotel's slightly more temperate option in the winter air was much...