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Shibu Onsen

長野県

4.5

Tourist Information of This Area

general.prefecture.

A nostalgic hot spring with a retro atmosphere.

With a history dating back 1,300 years, this is a nostalgic hot spring with a total of nine communal baths, each with different effects. By visiting each one, you can expect various benefits. Soak in the hot springs and heal your tired body in the nostalgic atmosphere of wooden buildings and cobblestone streets!

Features & How to Enjoy

Classic Onsen

Highlights

Point 1

A Variety of Health Benefits at Shibukawa Onsen

Shibukawa Onsen is a hot spring town where hot springs gush out no matter where you dig, thanks to its abundant source. There are not only one, but several types of hot springs. The water ranges from brownish water with high iron content, to milky white water, greenish water, and even colorless and transparent water. Additionally, each hot spring has its own unique health benefits, so why not try visiting different outdoor baths to find the hot spring that suits your preferences and desired health effects?

Point 2

Enjoy the Nature around Shibu Onsen

The area around Shibu Onsen is filled with beautiful nature. You can enjoy seasonal views at the mountains such as Shiga Kogen and the Northern Alps, as well as at temples and shrines such as Renkei-ji and Zenko-ji. Outdoor activities such as hiking and trekking are also abundant, allowing you to fully enjoy the nature. Additionally, at the Jigokudani Monkey Park, you can see wild Japanese macaques bathing in hot springs. Why not fully enjoy the nature when visiting Shibu Onsen?

Point 3

Enjoy Delicious Soba around Shibu Onsen

One of Nagano Prefecture's specialties is "Shinshu soba". Soba is a local dish in Nagano Prefecture that has been cultivated and eaten since ancient times. It has been grown as a crop suitable for high-altitude areas where it is difficult to cultivate rice and wheat due to the cool climate and small land. The climate with large temperature differences is also said to be suitable for soba cultivation. There are many delicious Shinshu soba restaurants around Shibu Onsen. Why not look for a delicious soba restaurant in the hot spring town while taking a tour of the public baths?

Point 4

Explore Tourist Spots around Shibu Onsen

There are many tourist spots around Shibu Onsen. These include Yudanaka Onsen, Kamikochi, and ski resorts such as Shiga Kogen Ski Resort and Kita Shiga Kogen Ski Resort. It's also recommended to visit art museums such as the Shiga Kogen Roman Art Museum and Takano Tatsumi Memorial Museum. There are many places where you can feel the scenery, culture, and history of each season, so take your time and explore them all.

Point 5

Relax in Shibu Onsen

Located in a quiet area, Shibu Onsen is a place where you can relax. All of the inns and public baths in Shibu Onsen are 100% natural hot springs. The inns and public baths offer facilities such as open-air baths, indoor baths, rock サウナs, and massages. In addition, the surrounding area boasts beautiful natural scenery, making it a great place for walks or reading. Take a break from your busy daily life and spend some leisurely time here.

Access

Recommended Access by Car

Access to Shibu Onsen is convenient by car. It's just a short drive from the Shinshu Nakano IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway. It takes about 3 hours from Nerima IC in the Kanto region. If coming from the Kansai region, please use the Chuo Expressway. It takes about 5 hours and 50 minutes from Osaka and about 3 hours and 50 minutes from Nagoya. If you're traveling by public transportation, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station. From there, take the express train bound for Yudanaka on the Nagano Dentetsu Line. It takes about 50 minutes to reach the final stop, Yudanaka.

Sightseeing

A Ryokan that Resembles "Spirited Away"

The long-established ryokan "Kanaya" in Shibu Onsen has an exterior that looks just like the ryokan that appears in the famous Studio Ghibli film "Spirited Away." There is even a theory that this ryokan served as the model for the film. In fact, the building of Kanaya has been designated as a tangible cultural property by the government, making it one of the few ryokans in Japan where you can stay in a tangible cultural property. Every day from 5:30 pm, Kanaya offers an in-house tour called "Kanaya Cultural Property Tour" for guests staying at the ryokan. This is a ryokan where you can enjoy not only the hot springs but also the building itself, so be sure to visit when you go to Shibu Onsen.

Basic Information

	Address	2200 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi, Shimotakai-gun, Nagano 381-0401, Japan
	TEL	0269-33-2511
	Web Site	http://www.ichizaemon.com/

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