“The place is a very traditional Japanese ryokan, very friendly staff but not everyone speaks English so you have to be patient and talk slowly. It’s located 200 meters from the Snow Monkey Park entrance. You can choose Japanese or western style dinner and breakfast. The lady that helped us with the meals was super kind and attentive. The tatami beds were very comphy and the private onsen is a must try. ”

“My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Shibu Hotel and wholeheartedly felt this was one of our top hotel/lodging experiences from all the places we visited around the world. We decided to stay at Shibu Hotel instead of near Nagano station because we wanted to visit the snow monkey park (Jigokudani Yaen Koen). Shibu Hotel’s hospitality was top notch, meticulous and thoughtful throughout the two days we stayed. They have staff who speak fluent Mandarin Chinese and English, along with Japanese of course! Yamada-San (hotel owner) was very responsive and thoughtful, and he gave my mom and me recommendations of his favorite scenic spots (Japanese Alps in Nagano). We booked 2 meals per day and their traditional Japanese meals were very delicious and abundant. The chefs are very innovative where no single dish is repeated each meal and freshly & locally sourced! There’s also a free minibar in the lobby, with coffee, Yakult, beer and coke etc. It was super easy to get around with the free shuttle services to the station and the park offered by Shibu Hotel. In particular, Next, the traditional Japanese rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable, with lovely views of the mountain. Regarding onsen, Shibu Hotel not only has private and public onsen (both indoor and outdoor), but also free access to the main street’s public onsen houses. It was a fun experience exploring the difference public baths that had different healing purposes, ie eye illness, skin etc. though those ones are a little smaller. We enjoyed Shibu Hotel’s public onsen the most as they’re most spacious, very well-maintained and convenient with long hours. Last but not least, the snow monkeys were absolutely adorable and a wonder to marvel at in their natural habitat. Being near the monkey park was a plus as we were able to go early at 9am in the morning, beating the crowd. The cafe restaurant by the park entrance was also very delicious and reasonably priced. Highly, highly recommend Shibu Hotel and we thank Yamada-San and every staff member for their generous hospitality! ”

“very very kind”