Shimaya

Located only 500m from Yudanaka station was handy - although uphill so some people may like to use a taxi service from the station. Traditional rooms with tatami mats and futons to sleep on. The bedding was quite comfortable however after 3 nights it was nice to move on to a normal bed again. A simple breakfast but well worth the 700 yen. Ichiro provides a lift to the Monkey Safari park for free - you will need to walk back (about 3.5km) but it's all downhill and a nice walk. The onsite onsen is also good, They have traditional male and female (yes naked!), but you can book a private onsen for couples etc. which was convenient.

The host was very warm and welcoming, I loved the traditional style room and the high floor had a great view. Also, they are so accommodating with lifts to both the snow monkey park and the train station. This was really helpful as we were travelling with a little baby. The in-room shower was also good to have.

Our stay at Shimaya was one of the best experiences I've ever had, and I've been coming to Japan for over ten years. Mr Yumoto was extremely friendly and helpful at check-in. If you call in advance, they will come and pick you up from Yudanaka Onsen train station, and they also dropped us back at the station when we left. We had come mainly to see the monkeys at Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, and the hotel very kindly offered to drop us there first thing in the morning after breakfast, free of charge - this meant we were one of the first in the park and got a totally unrestricted view of the monkeys, and didn't have to walk all the way from the bus stop. Mr Yumoto also suggested a lovely walk back through neighbouring Shibu Onsen, and provided us with a detailed map with suggested stops. The room was on the 4th floor - we had suitcases and there is no lift, so bear this in mind - which meant we had gorgeous views of the mountains and the snow, and it was so quiet and peaceful. There was green tea waiting for us in the room, and we could choose our yukata at check-in to wear around the ryokan and to the onsen. The women's onsen was so peaceful - the room was mostly wooden, and the water was nice and hot at about 40/41 degrees, so after being outside in the snow all day it was perfect to warm up in. The breakfast was simple but delicious - you can toast your own bread, and help yourself to eggs, yoghurt, fruit, cereal and hot drinks. There's a self-playing piano in the breakfast room, and every day Mr and Mrs Yumoto came to check on us to see if we needed lifts anywhere or if we knew where to get the bus. Finally, we were so lucky to be able to take part in some local festivities during our stay - the burning of New Year's Decorations or 'Dotonyaki'. We went with the staff to the riverside by car, and got to toast mochi ricecakes and marshmallows over the embers. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! 改めまして、本当にありがとうございました！

Staying at Shimaya was easily the highlight of our trip to Japan. The lovely couple who runs the inn is incredibly sweet and friendly, making us feel right at home. They speak enough English to help you get by and ensure you have everything you need. The private onsen is stunning and more spacious than it appears, while the public onsens are even larger and truly beautiful. The rooms are surprisingly spacious compared to other hotel rooms we’ve stayed in during our trip, and the traditional Japanese beds are super comfortable. We made sure to get a room that had an attached bathroom sunce the hotel has both options. The hotel also provides snow boots in all sizes and offers a convenient ride to the Snow Monkey Park. They even gave us a map with a recommended walking route back through Shibu Onsen, which was breathtakingly beautiful. Their recommendations for activities and dining were spot-on and added so much to our experience. Breakfast was nice and filling, with fresh-cut fruit, bread, coffee, cereal, milk, and more. Keep in mind that the hotel does not have an elevator, so it’s best to travel light with backpacks or carry-ons. One unique feature of staying in Yamanouchi is the access to three public bathhouses in the area, which you can visit with a key provided by the front desk. We highly recommend bringing a small keychain or token from your home country to add to the board they’ve been curating for decades. It’s such a charming and thoughtful tradition. We are already looking forward to returning to Shimaya on our next trip!

Yumotosan and his family are amazing people. We loved the room, location, Onsen, the recommendations. We were taken to the Snow money park in the morning by cat and that helped us neat the crowds. We had to leave in hurry the next morning as a snow storm started and we could not do any other activities and they took us to the Yudanaka station at a very short notice. The a service is very customer oriented and friendly. We would stay again a Ms recommend heartedly. Thank you