Located between Yudanaka Station and the Jigokudani Monkey Park, Shibu Onsen is a historic hot spring town boasting a 1300-year history. Blessed with numerous thermal water sources, the town has long been known as a place of healing and refuge. Japanese have been venturing to Shibu for centuries to soak in its mineral-rich waters, said to remedy a variety of ailments. Now home to many guesthouses – most with their own in-house hot spring – Shibu Onsen is a quaint village nearby the monkey park and Japan’s largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen.

— Where is Shibu Onsen?

— How to Get to Shibu Onsen

— 20 Things to Do Around Shibu Onsen

— The 9 Healing Hot Springs of Shibu Onsen

— Accommodation & Dining Around Shibu Onsen

— Tours and Charters to Shibu Onsen

Visitors to Shibu Onsen enjoy the charm of its narrow streets, small shops and of course, many hot springs. Most famously, Shibu is home to nine ‘public’ onsen spread throughout the town. Each hot spring has its own source of water with unique mineral properties said to treat specific ailments. While called public, all but one is for the use of guests staying in any of Shibu Onsen guesthouses (upon check-in, all guests receive a key that unlocks each hot spring). Completing the tour of all nine onsen – called the ‘kyu-to-meguri’ – is particularly enjoyable in the cold of winter.

WHERE IS SHIBU ONSEN?

Shibu Onsen is located around 35KM to the north-east of Nagano City – 45-minutes by train or just under an hour by car, right next to its closely related compatriot Yudanaka Onsen. They sit around 270KM to the north-west of Tokyo, a 3.5 to 4-hour drive or 3 to 4-hours by train (via Nagano Station). It is worth noting that Yudanaka Onsen and Shibu Onsen are in fact separate hot spring towns located within walking distance of each other. Visitors coming from Nagano by train will arrive at Yudanaka Station, in the center of Yudanaka Onsen, from where you can walk to any area of the town. Shibu Onsen is located only a couple of minutes drive from the center of Yudanaka, between 10 to 15-minutes on-foot. Both Yudanaka and Shibu are historic ‘onsen’ (hot spring) towns with histories dating back more than one thousand years. Of the two, Shibu Onsen has retained more of its traditional character with its quaint lane ways full of old buildings and an antiquated charm. Numerous hotels and guesthouses are dotted through the towns, including many excellent ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses), most of which have their own onsen.

The towns are worth enjoying in their own right however most travelers headed their use Yudanaka and Shibu as a base from where to head to the Jigokudani Monkey Park – under 5-minutes drive – along with Shiga Kogen Ski Resort and the smaller resorts of Kita-Shiga Kogen – all around 30-minutes drive. Travelers also take advantage of the town’s close proximity to Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, the lower reaches of which are also only 30-minutes drive away – a journey covered by local bus services. As Japan’s fourth largest national park, Joshinetesu Kogen is a place of four seasons offering visitors endless reasons to visit throughout the year.

HOW TO GET TO SHIBU ONSEN

The vast majority of visitors to Shibu Onsen will arrive by utilizing the services of Nagaden, one of Nagano’s largest transportation providers. With both bus lines and train lines servicing the area, it is easy to visit even if you do not have your own vehicle. While hiring a private charter is also a great option, especially for those with a lot of luggage, if you plan to make your way on your own take a look at our ‘Hot to Get To Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen‘ page.

20 THINGS TO DO AROUND SHIBU ONSEN

While relaxing in the hot springs may be your first priority (and it should be if it isn’t!), there are of course many other great things to do around the area, making it a good place to use as a base for a few days exploration. Even just within Shibu Onsen itself, you have quite a number of options, and by expanding to the nearby and connected Yudanaka Onsen it is easy to spend a few days exploring and moving at your own pace. To see all of our recommendations and start planning your trip, please visit our ‘20 Things To Do Around Yudanaka/Shibu Onsen and Where To Stay‘ page.

THE 9 HEALING HOT SPRINGS OF SHIBU ONSEN

Visiting the 9 Hot Springs of Shibu Onsen is something you can only do if you are staying the night; your hotel or ryokan will hand you the key, and with that access to these healing waters will be yours. If you have a few days time, visiting all 9 should definitely be on your list of things to do. Each spring has a list of ailments it is claimed to cure, and even if you find that doubtful bathing in all 9 will certainly make you feel better in more ways than one! See our page on the ‘9 Healing Hot Springs of Shibu Onsen‘ for more specifics.

ACCOMMODATION AND DINING AROUND SHIBU ONSEN

There is no shortage of options for a variety of budgets in Shibu Onsen. From humble family run inns to multi-story ryokan with dozens of rooms, something that fits your plan is always just around the corner. It is important to remember that Shibu Onsen, Yudanaka Onsen, and the Snow Monkey Park are all within walking distance of each other and whichever you choose, the other two will be easy to make a visit to. For more information hotels in the above 3 locations, including how to get started on receiving a pricing quote and booking a room, please see here.

If you haven’t booked accommodation with included dinner and are feeling hungry come nighttime, GOEN, located immediately outside of Yudanaka Station, is a great option. Stylish, tasty, and English friendly, you can enjoy Japanese food, Western food, fusion cuisine, or just a few beers with your friends at GOEN without breaking the bank. The outdoor terrace seating is perfect for cool summer nights, and it is one of the only establishments in the area which offers such. For more information, please see here.

Closer to the monkey park, Hotarutei provides some of the most upscale and delicious Japanese cuisine available in the area. With walk-ins now accepted, it is easier than ever to stop in on your way to see the monkeys and enjoy food made from fresh, local ingredients in a tourist friendly environment. The building is a sight in itself, a 170 year house once belonging to a wealthy farmer and showcasing beautiful Japanese woodwork on the inside. For more information, please click here.

TOURS AND CHARTERS TO SHIBU ONSEN

We are proud to offer a number of tours and private charter services granting easy access to the Yudanaka/Shibu Onsen area. Whether you want to take a group tour and make some new friends, book a private tour for a more personalized experience, or just need transport for your group, we are ready to help.

1 Day Tour

1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:35 – 17:35
Meeting Place	Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only)
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000

Our most popular tour (for good reason!), this group tour of Nagano City and the Snow Monkey Park is a great way to experience the best of what both of these great destinations have to offer. With pickup from Nagano Station, and also Hakuba in winter, this tour is also a great way to travel to the Yudanaka/Shibu Onsen area – simply let your guide know that you will be leaving the tour at the Snow Monkey Park area. Including Sake tasting and a visit to the magnificent Zenkoji Temple before an afternoon at the Snow Monkey Park, this is our top recommendation for seeing the area.

Private Tour

[START FROM NAGANO CITY] Private Snow Monkey Tour
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00 to 17:15 ~ 18:30
Meeting Place	Any location in Nagano City
Price	¥122,000 ~ / group

We can also offer a private tour with the same stops as the above group tour, perfect for groups looking for more personalization and freedom. Including an extra stop in at the quaint town of Obuse, once home to famous artist Katsushika Hokusai, you can’t go wrong with this option if you want to see the monkeys of Jigokudani and enjoy a pleasant day with a friendly guide.

If you are not in need of a guide and would like to make your own schedule, we also offer private charter services. With well trained and safe drivers, we are ready to bring you to and from the Yudanaka/Shibu area from any point of your choice, including places as far away as Tokyo. You can even hire a guide to come along and make it your own private, personalized tour! Please contact us HERE for more information on pricing and availability.