Kanbayashi Onsen is a small hot spring village located in the foothills of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. With the Jigokudani Monkey Park located in Kanbayashi, within walking distance of all guesthouses, the village is busy during the day but quiet at night. Most visitors to the park come as day visitors, but those who go slower and choose to stay in Kanbayashi Onsen will discover some excellent ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses), each boasting its own indulgent hot springs and ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) meal service.

Located within the wider region of Yamanouchi, guests staying in Kanbayashi Onsen can access nearby Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen on foot or using local buses, while Shiga Kogen – Japan’s largest ski resort – lies only 20 to 30-minutes drive away and is also serviced by local buses. Guesthouses located in Kanbayashi Onsen will typically offer a free shuttle service to and from Yudanaka Station and may provide transfers to other nearby destinations.