Book an Onsen Guesthouse in Nagano
Based in Nagano, we are a registered travel agent, tour and charter operator. As such, we can arrange accommodation in the region’s best onsen guesthouses with the option of also including private transport, a private tour or joining one of our group tours that operate through the year. On this page you will find the following information:
— Tour Packages that Include an Onsen Guesthouse Stay
— Book an Onsen Guesthouse Near the Monkey Park
— Book an Onsen Guesthouse Elsewhere in Nagano
— Arrange a Tour, Transport or Travel Package
— ‘Onsen’ in Japan: Everything You Need to Know
Our ’20 Best Onsen Towns in Nagano & Central Japan’ page is a great place to start when choosing which hot spring destination to visit. For visitors heading to the Jigokudani Monkey Park, you are spoiled for choice as the park itself is located in the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen with the historic towns of Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen located very nearby.
TOUR PACKAGES THAT INCLUDE AN ONSEN GUESTHOUSE STAY
Before you spend the time to explore the options in the areas below, we can save you the trouble by providing you with tour options that pair high-end luxury onsen accommodation with some of the best activities that Nagano has to offer! These packages save you precious time and effort in the planning stages of your vacation, and you can rest assured as you allow us to introduce you to some finely crafted activities that work wonders with your soak in the onsen with the following package tours:
2-Day Snow Monkeys & Nagano Cultural Tour inc. Luxury Onsen Hotel / All Year Round
2 Day Tour
| 2-Day Snow Monkeys & Nagano Cultural Tour inc. Luxury Onsen Hotel | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | (Day 1) 09:35 – 16:30 (Day 2) 09:30 – 16:15 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥70,000 ~ |
This two day tour combines our top rated 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano on Day 1 of the itinerary, starting from Nagano Station and Hotel Kokusai 21 (with options starting from Hakuba available in Winter only), where you will visit the historic Zenko-ji Temple paired with a guided sake tasting event, with a visit to the Snow Monkey Park after a traditional Japanese-style lunch. From the end of the tour, you will check into the Kanbayashi Hotel Senjukaku listed below and enjoy the pinnacle of a hot spring retreat. You can read more about the Senjukaku in the article below.
Day 2 of the tour will begin after your breakfast and checkout from the Senjukaku, after which you will take their free shuttle to Yudanaka Station and ride to Obuse to participate in our 1-Day Historic Obuse & Hokusai: Japan’s ‘Mad Man of Art’ Tour to explore the perennial icon of Katsushika Hokusai that is best known for their woodblock prints of Mt. Fuji being on T-shirts all over the planet. You will visit the areas where this giant of art media spent the final years of his life and painted his last master work of the ceiling painting of the phoenix on the ceiling of Gansho-in Temple.
2-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun Winter Tour inc. Luxury Onsen Hotel / Late Dec – Mid March
2 Day Tour
| 2-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun Winter Tour inc. Luxury Onsen Hotel | |
| Period | December to March |
| Time | Day1: 09:35 – 17:00 Day 2: 09:30 – 14:40 |
| Meeting Place | Hakuba Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥65,000 ~ |
| Child Rate | ¥46,900 ~ |
This two day tour combines our top rated 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake in Nagano on Day 1 of the itinerary, starting from Nagano Station and Hotel Kokusai 21 (with options starting from Hakuba available in Winter only), where you will visit the historic Zenko-ji Temple paired with a guided sake tasting event, with a visit to the Snow Monkey Park after a traditional Japanese-style lunch. From the end of the tour, you will check into the Kanbayashi Hotel Senjukaku listed below and enjoy the pinnacle of a hot spring retreat. You can read more about the Senjukaku in the article below.
Day 2 of the tour will begin after your breakfast and checkout from the Senjukaku, after which you will picked up by our private coach at 09:40 right at the entrance to the Senjukaku to participate in the snow fun activities and have lunch as stated in our 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun In Shiga Kogen. After lunch and the other members of the group get dropped off to visit the monkey park, you will be dropped off at Yudanaka Station and the driver will assist you in buying tickets to revert back to Nagano Station with half-a-day remaining to reach your next destination!
Snow Monkey Tour with Luxury Villa Stay / all year round
2 Day Tour
| 2-Day Snow Monkeys & Nagano Cultural Tour inc. Luxury Villa Stay | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | (Day 1) 09:35 – 16:30 (Day 2) ~11:00 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥95,000 |
For those looking to enjoy a little luxury, this package tour adds an overnight stay at Hotarutei Villas, a luxury private villa based hotel located only minutes walk from the Snow Monkey Park trailhead. Starting the same way as the 1-Day Snow Monkey Park and Zenko-ji Tour, you will be treated to a guided walk at the temple, sake tasting, lunch, and a trip to the Monkey Park. Where this tour differs is that instead of riding the bus back to Nagano that night, you will instead check in to Hotaritei Villas with the help of your guide and enjoy a tasty Japanese dinner before retiring to your own private villa with an attached onsen bath. The next morning, our bus will arrive to pick you up and bring you back to Nagano Station, where the tour is complete and you are free to continue on your way.
Pick Up Locations: Nagano Station, Hakuba (Winter Only)
BOOK AN ONSEN GUESTHOUSE NEAR THE MONKEY PARK
The grouping three hot spring villages / towns that combine to offer accommodation options including high-end, mid-range and budget options hotels and guesthouses. Many have their own hot springs and offer traditional ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) meal service combining for a true Japanese experience nearby the monkeys. Alternatively, many visitors head to the park as a day-trip from nearby Nagano City while in the mountains above the park, Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest ski resort and part of the larger Joshinetsu Kogen National Park – a great all-year-round destination from where it’s also easy to visit the the park. We can arrange accommodation at any hotel or guesthouse in the area:
KANBAYASHI ONSEN AREA
The monkey park is located at the top of the small hot spring village of Kanbayashi Onsen. Within the village, a handful of traditional guesthouses offer some excellent accommodation, each with their own hot springs and all within walking distance of the park. Busy during the day thanks to the monkeys, the village is quiet at night making the option of eating at your guesthouse an attractive option. Both Shibu Onsen and Yudanaka Onsen can be reached in under 5-minutes drive, allowing guests to enjoy an evening meal and drink in those towns which have more going on at night. Only 20 to 25-minutes drive to Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, Kanbayashi Onsen is a good option for visitors wanting to enjoy a traditional hotel or guesthouse and some of the region’s best hot springs. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Kanbayashi Onsen Area’ hotel page. If staying there appeals to you, we recommend choosing:
HOTEL SENJUKAKU, KANBAYASHI
Hotel Senjukaku is one of the best hotel’s in the region within easy walk of the Jigokudani Monkey Park. A favourite hotel with members of the Japanese Royal Family, this elegant hotel is known for its exceptional service, traditional comforts, indulgent ‘onsen’ (hot springs) and outstanding ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) meal service. Guests can choose between Japanese rooms with on-floor ‘futon’ bedding or mixed rooms featuring traditional Japanese design and Western-style bedding. Several rooms also include their own hot spring bath with all guests having access to the hotel’s large indoor, outdoor and private ‘onsen’.
SHIBU ONSEN AREA
Shibu Onsen is a historic hot spring town blessed with numerous water sources feeding the many hotels and guesthouses concentrated within a small area. Most guesthouses have their own hot springs with town also boasting nine ‘public’ onsen that can be used free of charge by anyone staying overnight in Shibu. A quaint town with some good dining options and a couple of bars, Shibu Onsen has retained more of its hisotric character and charm then Yudanaka Onsen and has a lot more going on than Kanbayashi Onsen. For accommodation listings, see our ‘Shibu Onsen Area’ hotel page.
YUDANAKA ONSEN AREA
Spanning-out from Yudanaka Station – the nearest train station to the monkey park – Yudanaka Onsen offers a variety of accommodation ranging from high-end to budget. Local bus services run to the park along with Shiga Kogen Ski Resort from the station. Many hotels and guesthouses have their own ‘onsen’ (natural hot springs) and serve traditional ‘kaiseki’ (multi-course) dinners allowing guests to completely unwind at the end of each day. Yudanaka doesn’t have the charm of Shibu and the town showing its age but if that doesn’t bother you, its a good option for visitors prioritising ease of access via the train station and lots of accommodation options. or accommodation listings, see our ‘Yudanaka Onsen Area’ hotel page. Here are some options:
HOTEL HOUSEI, YUDANAKA
Best known for its large and indulgent hot springs, Hotel Housei offers guests total relaxation in their indoor and outdoor baths. Japanese-style rooms include ‘tatami’ matting, on-floor ‘futon’ bedding, and traditional features including low tables and amenities such as ‘yukata’ (light kimono).
HOTEL TSUBAKINO
Located only a short walk from Yudanaka Station, Hotel Tsubakino is a modern ‘ryokan’ that offers both Japanese and Western-style rooms, each with its own private bathroom including shower. All guests also have access to Tsubakino’s natural ‘onsen’, including rooftop and private baths. Boasting some of the best views of any guesthouse in the area, unwinding in the onsen is the perfect way to relax at the end of a day on the mountain.
HOTEL YUDANAKA
Boasting the largest ‘onsen’ in Yudanaka, Hotel Yudanaka is well-suited to guests looking for reasonably priced accommodation nearby the station. All rooms include on-floor ‘futon’-bedding, ‘tatami’-matting along with the option of dinner and breakfast meal service and guests have access to the hotel’s hot springs – including five different baths – with some rooms also including a private bath and shower.
MARUKA RYOKAN
Located at the top-end of Yudanaka Onsen, Maruka Ryokan offers Japanese-style accommodation within easy reach of the Jigokudani Monkey Park and ski resorts of Shiga Kogen and Kita-Shiga Kogen. As an older guesthouse, Maruka has lots of charm which appeals to guests looking for an authentic yet simple ‘ryokan’ experience while in Nagano.
MASUYA YUDANAKA
Located under 5-minutes drive from Yudanaka Station, Masuya Yudanaka is a traditional guesthouse offering spacious and comfortable rooms, relaxing hot springs and acclaimed meal service. Masuya prides itself on creating a traditional atmosphere and excellent service in order that their guests can relax and unwind.
RYOKAN BIYUNOYADO
Ryokan Biyunoyado is known for its spacious and indulgent ‘onsen’ including indoor, outdoor, rooftop and private baths. With a range of baths to choose from including rooftop and private onsen, Biyunoyado is a great option for visitors wanting to enjoy the relaxation of a traditional hot spring guesthouse with comfort of Western amenities.
RYOKAN HAKURA
With only nine rooms in the guesthouse, Ryokan Hakura has a welcoming and intimate atmosphere with facilities well-suited to disabled guests. The guesthouse offers both Japanese and mixed Western-Japanese style rooms with Western-bedding and private toilet and shower.
YAMAZAKIYA RYOKAN
Located within easy walking distance of Shibu Onsen, Yamazakiya is a homely ‘ryokan’ known for its warm welcome and particularly friendly owners. The small two-storey guesthouse has only eight Japanese-style rooms, each with its own private toilet and bath. While the guesthouse and meals may not be luxurious, the owners pride themselves on creating a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere – a good option for guests looking for cheaper accommodation close to historic Shibu Onsen.
YUDANAKA SEIFUSO RYOKAN
Yudanaka Seifuso Ryokan is a popular, family-run guesthouse offering all the comforts of a traditional Japanese inn. Boasting three ‘onsen’, one of which can be booked for private use, Seifuso is known for its comfort and traditional service including Japanese-style rooms and ‘kaiseki’ dining.
YUDANAKA YUMOTO
Yudanaka Yumoto is a traditional Japanese ‘ryokan’ located approximately 10-minutes walk from Yudanaka Station. Dating back to Japan’s Edo Period, Yumoto is Yudanaka’s oldest guesthouse – known for its welcoming atmosphere, homely comforts and relaxing hot springs.
BOOK AN ONSEN GUESTHOUSE ELSEWHERE IN NAGANO
For visitors looking to stay at an onsen guesthouse elsewhere in Nagano and Central Japan, there’s no shortage of options with the region boasting some of the most famous hot spring towns in the country. Our ’20 Best Onsen Towns in Nagano & Central Japan’ page is a great place to start when choosing which hot spring destination to visit. Located around 50-minutes drive from the monkey park, Nozawa Onsen is one of Japan’s most historic and well-known hot springs. Having drawn visitors to its baths for more than one thousand years, the village is now just as famous for Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort – one of the best ski resorts in Japan. For visitors staying in the area, we recommend:
NOZAWA GRAND HOTEL
Located at the northern end of village, Nozawa Grand Hotel offers guests a comfortable and convenient stay while allowing easy access to the ski fields along with restaurants and entertainment of the village. Guests have a choice of both Japanese and Western-style rooms, an in-house restaurant and indulgent men’s and women’s hot springs with fantastic views across the village and toward the ski runs. One of Nozawa’s most established hotels, Nozawa Grand is a proven favourite with international visitors especially families looking for a little more space and quiet to unpack and unwind.
Got your eye on staying somewhere else? No problem! Click on the INQUIRY button below or contact us, let us know which town or hotel you’re after, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
ARRANGE A TOUR, TRANSPORT OR TRAVEL PACKAGE
Of course, we also offer private tours and transport in and around Nagano, and other regional destinations. Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are well-maintained and in good condition, allowing you to relax and enjoy your ride to wherever you are going.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Central Japan and help you discover even more!
For guests wanting to stay at an onsen guesthouse when visiting one or more of the region’s fantastic ski resorts, we can arrange that with the option of a private tour or charter customised to fit your needs – starting and ending at any regional destination. We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide – whichever works best for you!
Want to package your accommodation with transport, a tour, ski passes or more? Click on the INQUIRY button below or contact us, let us know what you’re after, and we’ll get back to you asap!
WHY CHOOSE US?
Operating through the year, we have the local knowledge and expertise to help you get the most out of your time in Central Japan.
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Japan.
Got a question about arranging a onsen guesthouse? Click on the INQUIRY button below or contact us and let’s get planning together!
‘ONSEN’ IN JAPAN: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Japan boasts more than 25,000 hot springs and over 3000 designated ‘onsen’ areas making it something of a must-do activity when visiting this beautiful country. Our ‘Onsen in Japan’ main page has everything you need to know starting with the important question of what qualifies as an ‘onsen’, how to identify one, onsen etiquette, where to find some great ones and more! One of the most enjoyable aspects of life in Japan, we recommend trying it for yourself – you’ll probably fall in love with it.
