Shibu Onsen Sakaeya

Japan , Nagano
Yamanouchi, Shibu Onsen Shimotakai Gun
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47 reviews shown

8/10

Excellent

12 Jan 2026

Shane

N/A

6/10

Pleasant

16 Nov 2025

Christopher

Room was in good condition and staff was courteous. However, if you’re booking on Expedia, there is no transparency in your ability to book dinner at the ryokan which is 65% of the reason why you’d need to stay at a ryokan. You will then go in a wild goose chase to find a seat at any restaurant nearby which will be nearly impossible until after dinner hours. Makes a supposedly relaxing trip very relaxing

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Nov 2025

Andrew

Everything was great! The staff, accommodations, service and staff were exemplary.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

31 Oct 2025

Casey

Watch how you book via Expedia. There is a basic rate - then everything you do adds more to the basic rate. It was clean. The hotel restaurant was fully booked every night! Before we even arrived we couldn’t obtain a reservation.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2025

Errol

Incredible experience at a wonderful location, unbelievable food, and great staff. One of our most memorable experiences, ever!!!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2025

Travis

One of the best experiences of our life. The staff and service really made it wonderful. I will absolutely be coming back.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jan 2025

Eric

Good stay at the hotel

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2025

Kenneth

The area around the property was absolutely beautiful and charming - but maybe because of the time of year we visited (1/06-1/08), very few places were open, despite their signs claiming what their hours of operation were. Even when we found a restaurant that was open at 6pm for dinner, multiple restaurants turned us away because we have a six year old daughter and they didn't accept kids. It was pretty upsetting to my daughter, but the area was absolutely beautiful.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

19 Dec 2024

Mayah

This is my 3rd time in Nagano and this is the best place I’ve stayed! Staff are super friendly and really accommodating. The monkey park is so close and you can take a shuttle from the hotel to the park, if reservations are full they even call you a taxi. 10/10 stay

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Dec 2024

Hiromi

We came here last year and came back with our son this year. The area offers several fun things such as Monkey mountain and street public bathing. Sakaeya's service is very nice. It offers you nice yukata, sandals and basket to walk and hop in many unique baths. The dinner and breakfast are also amazing and we enjoyed out stay very much. Hope to come back again here.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

16 Oct 2024

Patrick

Shibu Onsen Sakaeya is an unforgettable gem nestled in the heart of Japan's charming onsen town. From the moment I arrived, I was embraced by the warmth and hospitality of the staff, who made my stay exceptional. The ryokan's traditional atmosphere, with its beautifully preserved wooden interiors and serene ambiance, immediately put me at ease.

However, what truly set Sakaeya apart was the personal touch of the staff, especially Runa, whose kindness and grace left a lasting impression on me. Her attentive service, warm smile, and genuine desire to make my stay comfortable made me feel like an honored guest. Whether it was offering local insights, ensuring I enjoyed the full onsen experience, or simply sharing kind words, Runa’s presence elevated my time there. She embodied the spirit of Japanese hospitality, making each interaction a memorable one.

The onsen itself was a peaceful retreat, with soothing waters and a relaxing environment that perfectly complemented the traditional ryokan experience. I left Shibu Onsen Sakaeya not only refreshed but deeply moved by the kindness of its people, particularly Runa. If you're seeking a place that marries beauty, tranquility, and heartfelt service, Sakaeya is the perfect destination.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2024

Mark

This was our first ryokan experience and we couldn’t have been more impressed. The staff were fantastic, the kaiseki dinner and breakfast were incredible and our room, with a private Onsen, was stunning. The area around the hotel is so picturesque. We had a great time exploring the streets, in our provided yukata, trying all the public onsen. We will certainly be back to Shibu Onsen

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2024

Priya

This was our first time in a Ryokan! And we loved it!! We enjoyed wearing the Kimonos provided and having a multi course dinner! They were also able to provide vegetarian options for dinner as well. The onsen at the hotel was much larger and nicer than the free ones outside the hotel. There is a toilet in the room but no shower, so you have to use the public bath to shower.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Apr 2024

Catherine

Very nice property. Staff very friendly abd helpful. Very clean. Traditional baths are very nice.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Mar 2024

Tiffany

Lovely ryokan, excellent baths

Excellent ryokan, women's public bath was never more than 2 people but the private bath with sauna is worth booking..book ASAP as spots fill up. Meals are amazing, though the first night menu was preferred by far.

The staff is very kind, but their support is limited so make sure to do your research if you're looking to visit snow monkeys or venture outside of the town. They aren't as up to date local bus schedules, etc.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2024

Hayley

This was our first time staying at a ryokan and it was a fantastic experience. The staff were so welcoming, the rooms clean & tidy and the food deserved at least 1 Michelin star! Would highly recommend.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

01 Feb 2024

Christy

We loved our stay at this Ryokan with an amazing hot spring bath for guest use. It was a traditional Japanese inn with all of the special touches to experience the local Japanese customs. The room was very nice and comfortable, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. This was a great place to stay to visit the snow monkey park nearby and can be reached easily by train and then a short bus ride. We highly recommend this Ryokan for your stay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2023

Henry

Authentic , great snow monkeys

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Service here was amazing. Staff came to greet us at the car and made us feel special throughout our stay. We paid for a room with our own private onsen as we have tattoos and have not managed to visit an onsen after 4 trips to japan. It was well worth the money. Several staff members spoke to us in English. Food was spectacular. We have stayed in dozens of hotels around the world, and this was definitely our favourite of them all.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Nov 2019

Verified traveler

We loved the yukatas, helpful staff, bright umbrellas to use in the rain, amazing breakfast and soothing onsen.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Oct 2018

Dyfrig

Absolutely lovely and a great Japanese experience

We chose this hotel for its location in the middle of the village, within a reasonable walkable distance from the station and to the Monkey park. The staff were absolutely lovely and the traditional Japanese breakfast and evening meal were superb. Our room was a really large traditional Japanese style bedroom with futons on the floor. It also had plenty of storage space. We had a private toilet, but it didn’t have a shower or bath. However, the hotel’s own Onsen was so close it made using it preferable to using a shower. This was our first experience of using an onsen and it made it our preference whenever available elsewhere. It also had a room where you could sit and paint or have coffee. The monkeys at the park were so much fun that we were there for hours.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

Very nice, relaxing stay in quiet hot spring town

The hotel is a traditional Japanese Ryokan with rooms complete with Japanese decor, tea and futon type beds. The whole hotel’s ambiance was very zen and taste fully decorated. There is even relaxing music playing in your room when you check in. The hotel has its’ own hot spring/bath. There is no private shower in the rooms, which may bother some westerners but did not bother us. You also have access to the 9 public baths throughout town when staying here. All in all lovely stay but staff speak very limited English so be ready with your phrase book or try to learn some Japanese before you go.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2018

Thanyawan

Good service. Big room.

Staff is very friendly with good service. Room is quite big. Ametities is goos. Dinner and Breakfast are delicious.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2018

Ken

Excellent Inn

A comfortable inn with friendly staff. Some English spoken. Stayed for two nights and the meals very delicious. Close to Snow Monkeys and a short taxi ride from station. Would stay here next time without hesitation.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2017

Fay

Simply Incredible

My partner and I spent Christmas Eve at this Ryokan, and it was probably the best night of our trip. The dinner was incredible, the baths were pristine and beautiful, the staff incredibly accommodating. Japanese hospitality at its finest. Seriously, book this one.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Amazing Ryokan!

We loved this place. The food was amazing. We asked for vegetarian/vegan food and they accomodated so well... in fact, I would say that was probably top 5 best meals we ever had. They got so creative with the veggies and we were treated to an 11 course banquet. I wish I could re-live those meals. The staff was amazing and so polite - even by Japanese standards. They spoke well enough English but one of the wait staff even wrote a note to us when we left apologizing for not speaking English. That's kind of really amazing that they would apologize to us since we're in their Country hehe. But overall just wonderful experience. The Ryokan was gorgeous and clean and roomy. Nicely situated in the heart of Shibu Onsen (Some of the less expensive places are a bit further away from the very quaint and beautiful area). I would highly recommend hiking up to the monkey park from the hotel. It's about 2.5 miles and pretty steep but wow, what an amazing site. Highlight of our trip. I would definitely re-visit this Ryokan and have that wonderful meal again. I would recommend getting the vegetarian meal even if you're not vegetarian. IT was amazingly good!!!

10/10

Exceptional

11 Nov 2017

Ross

Wow.

When you first pull up to Sakaeya, it doesn't look that impressive - and the lobby looks alright, but nothing amazing.

Then you go upstairs. Wow! The hallways are beautiful, and the porter leads you down to your room (to which they've already taken your luggage for you while you were checking in). Our room was absolutely beautiful - the A/C was already on, background music was playing inside the room, and it was the nicest room of our entire trip for sure (and definitely the fanciest Washlet of all...it even opened its own lid automatically when you opened the bathroom door!) The on-site onsen was also lovely - we made sure to use the outdoor one - and the walking route to the 9 public ones was nice and close too.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Oct 2017

Kathy

Spacious rooms in a lovely hotel

We were welcomed with the traditional tea and hot cloths. We were given lovely yukata (robes) that were worn around the small town to go to the onsen(baths). We had beautifully presented delicious 8 course meals for less than $50 per person. There were top shelf facial products. The onsen was elegant. It's near the Snow Monkey park. It's quite a hike to get up there. We could have arranged transportation for part of it. The monkeys showed up around 10:45 am. It was fantastic! One ran between my husbad's legs. There were so many of them!

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2017

Verified traveler

Wonderful! Made to feel at home. True insight into Japanese lifestyle

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2017

Verified traveler

Great Experience

This Onsen is very traditional. The staff were lovely and helpful, the place spotless and very pleasant.
We loved the hot spring baths, especially the outside one.

8/10

Excellent

11 Aug 2016

SnowReino

Classic Japanese mountain hotel

Amazing experience, we stayed there as part of a quick tour that was tacked onto a work trip so we didn't have time to learn alot of Japanese. And getting there was challenging, however a little effort goes along way. Once we got to the hotel we were shown our room and all the comforts by the front desk, which be prepared it's two futon mattresses and down comforters with liner. Very warm (though we were there when it was 90F during the day). View from the room was splendid, and as we only had one night we had to check out at 11 the front desk held our bags as we took the bus up to monkey park (also gave us help on using the bus and when to show up, we had a JRail pass that covered the bus). Only real complaints were little to communicate (really that's our issue though) and breakfast only takes reservations (which goes back likely to the whole language barrier). Otherwise I totally want to go again but try to learn more than 10 words. (Plus winter time you'll see the monkeys in the hot springs and the hot springs might be slightly more desirable)

6/10

Pleasant

04 Jan 2026

きみこ

料理が美味しい。
給仕する男性スタッフの食器の置き方が少々乱暴でいちいち音がする。残念。

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Dec 2025

Mathieu

Expérience intéressante. On y va surtout pour les deux repas gastronomiques. Le repas du soir avait 7 services. La qualité est excellente. Le bain public à l'intérieur est très bien organisé: casiers, serviettes, savon et shampoing. Le bain extérieur est très beau. Nous avons choisi la chambre traditionnelle pour l'expérience de dormir sur un futon sur les tatamis. C'est amusant mais une nuit c'est assez. La chambre était grande et pratique. Le soir plusieurs touristes se promènent en yukata pour faire la tournée des 9 bains. L'atmosphère du village le soir est amusante. Il y a une navette proposée pour aller de la gare de Yudanaka au Ryokan mais c'est seulement une jolie marche de 30 minutes. Nous avions des sacs à dos pour cette partie du voyage. Je recommande de voyager léger et de faire transporter vos grosses valises par Takkyubin. Il y a une navette gratuite pour le parc des singes des neiges.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2025

トモコ

料理が最高です。
二度目ですがまた予約しました。

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2024

Kazuko

スタッフの方に良くして頂き快適でした
ご飯も美味しく部屋もきれいでした
湯めぐりはとても楽しく気持ちよかったです

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2023

IIN

Onsen trip

Very close to shibu onsen bus stop, very clean. The staff is all very nice. We were served by Suzuki-san, her English is very good, she explain all about the hotel and Shibu onsen nicely.
Room is very spacious. It has indoor and outdoor onsen.
Dinner and breakfast courses were fantastic and delicious.
I will highly recommend to stay here when visiting Shibu Onsen

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2023

YUKA

食事もお部屋も大満足でした！

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2023

roxane

Meilleur hôtel!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Aug 2022

Hidenori

全てが素晴らしい。ゆっくり出来ました。

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Nov 2021

Verified traveler

素晴らしい滞在でした

素晴らしい旅館でした。
家族で宿泊しましたが、
温泉も気持ち良く、お料理も大変美味しく、なによりスタッフの方々のお心遣いに
おかげさまでとても心地よく過ごすことが出来ました。
また、渋温泉に伺う際には利用させていただきたく思っています。
ありがとうございました。

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

春蘭の宿“最高”

部屋、食事、従業員のサービスとも本当に素晴らしかったです。「旅館甲子園」で2年連続トップに選ばれたことが頷けました。食事については、メーニュー内容も素晴らしいのですが、特に味付けが小生の好みにぴったりで、通常おかわりなどしたことがないのですが、「お味噌汁」を３杯もいただきました。

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Feb 2018

gee hang

Nice stay!!

The night spend at 榮和春蘭之宿 was fantastic.
We spent our evening walking through the little community, the street was filled with shops and onsen, view along was amazing!!
The resort itself was also very nice, the room was comfortable and cozy. People were welcoming! Also the breakfast and diner served with traditional japanese style food was perfect!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2018

Jenny

野猿公園に近かったぁら

とにかくまず、若いスタッフさんの頑張りが感じられるホテル。決めの細かい気配りから、ちょっと面白いおもてなしが準備されていてびっくりしました。

お料理もちゃんと食べきれる量で、とても美味しかったです。

8/10

Excellent

04 Nov 2017

エコ

従業員の頑張りを感じる旅館です！カメムシが部屋に飛んできちゃうのは少し対策があると嬉しいです。子どもが絵手紙コーナーを気に入り、いくつか手紙を書いて楽しかったようで、暇つぶしにはちょうど良かったです！

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2017

神谷

宿のスタッフも笑顔で素晴らしくお部屋もお風呂もお食事も満足です。ただお部屋のスリッパが大きくて不便でしたが翌朝気づいて下さり女性用の小さいスリッパに変えてもらえました。
お料理の折り紙が綺麗で主人が鶴を折ったんですが次の朝も置いてあり嬉しい心遣いをしてもらえました。

8/10

Excellent

13 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

外湯を楽しみ、食事とお酒でほっこり

お料理が想定よりもこだわりを感じるものが多く、満喫できました。お部屋からの景色も湯屋街の雰囲気を感じることができました。草津温泉はある意味の観光地としては成立しますが、渋川の方が落ち着いていて私には合っていたと思いました。

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2016

Paulina

Precioso ryokan y staff super amable

Es un hotel típico japonés , la comida deliciosas y además con la llave q te dan puedes ir a todos los onsen del pueblo. Independientemente de eso, todo el personal fue súper amable, unos hablaban más inglés q otros pero fueron muy pacientes con nuestro poco japonés y nos enseñaron nuevas palabras. Fue un fin de semana de castañas, relax y snow monkeys :)

Partner