Shibu-onsen and Monkey Park

Located north of Nagano Prefecture, Shibu Onsen is part of Yudanaka hot springs complex, situated on the other side of the mountain where stands Kusatsu Onsen. 

Established 1300 years ago, it was already at that time, very popular and visited by many  pilgrims who headed for Zenko-ji temple. Shibu Onsen has been visited by many great men during the Edo period as the famous painter, Hokusai Katsushika.

Nowadays, this kind of isolated places mostly falls into disuse, but Yudanaka remains popular.
There is a wide range of accommodations type like hotels, or ryokan (traditional Japanese hostel), and Shibu onsen always reflects the ancient and the typical atmosphere of old japan, with its paved roads and wooden buildings standing into a perfect harmony.

Shibu Onsen has rich spring water resources. Indeed, it broads 37 water sources for 35 hotels and ryokans. It is one of the most important and rich hot springs in entire Japan. Indeed, it says that if you dig a hole somewhere in Shibu onsen, water should emerge instantly. You could enjoy a rest in one of the high quality onsen called “kake nagashi” where the water emerges directly from the spring. As the other hot springs in Japan, you could enjoy onsen situated inside or outside of the hotels. It stands 9 different public baths that you could try. It is called in japanese “9(Kyu) tou meguri.” All the 9 onsens are free, and with no employees so the onsen are equipped with automatic locking doors. If you stay in an accommodation in Shibu Onsen, you could borrow the key at the hotel front desk. You and only  the Shibu onsen inhabitants possess the key.

In conclusion, the 9 baths are a privilege that you would not miss ! (the onsen number 9 is the biggest and also open to public for 500 yens).
You could find also many other onsen located few miles around Shibu onsen. In Yudanaka, you could buy a special ticket called “Yumeguri Tegata” (a pass that allow you to enjoy 3 different onsen).
 


Jigokudani wild snow monkey park 


Into the heart of Yudanaka onsen is the wild snow monkey park. It is the only park where you could observe wild monkeys taking their bath.
Consequently, it attracts many visitors, notably from abroad. This picture of these animals taking their bath quietly is well known in the entire world and many tourists aim to visit it.

In Asia, many countries with high concentration of wild monkeys are facing different issues regarding the aggressive behaviour that monkeys have against tourists. In this park, it is strictly forbidden to feed animals and there is a lot of other rules set in order to prevent that kind of issues. Therefore, monkeys are not concerned with visitors and live peacefully in their natural habitat. The park warden carries for  wild monkeys who use to come into the park where they are admired by visitors. (they are wild animals who used to live in the mountain and although a lot of them come in the park, it could be possible not to have the chance of seeing them).
 

  

Many of them love to come in the park during winter but it could be unusual to see them relaxing in hot springs during summer, except maybe during the coolest early mornings.
 

- Kanaguya ~Ryokan listed in the Japan cultural heritage ~

This Ryokan (traditional Japanese accommodation) inspired one of the famous scenes of the Hayao Miyazaki’s animated movie “Spirited Away”. This 4 floors Ryokan built in wood is on the list of the national cultural heritage. It has more than 260 years of history. At this time, the owner travelled with his carpenters in entire Japan. They learned a lot about building methods and got some good experience. When they went back to Shibu, they were able to build this beautiful ryokan. Now you could admire in the entire building, numerous remains and drawings connect to this story. 
The ryokan count 8 baths - 3 large and 5 smaller (private bath).



     

Related Blogs
- The ryokan Kanaguya, travel to the world of "Spirited Away"