Name: Maruka Ryokan
Address: 3109 Hirao, Yamanouchi, 381-0401, JP

8/10

Excellent

09 Jul 2026

Marie-Pierre

The hosts were really friendly and generous. The place is in a great town if you wish for a quiet and peaceful rest. However, the air conditioning was not working.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

20 May 2026

Allison

Lovely couple running the place, but it was definitely a bit run down and outdated. Great if you are looking to explore the area on a budget! Great hosts. There are no private bathrooms which I think I just missed on the listing, but otherwise the room was lovely.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

21 Nov 2025

Felix

Is very hard for me bc is a family business. But i rent a private bathroom. Went i arrived was a shared bathroom an a bath and was in really bad conditions. The owner so so nice. But they lied to me

10/10

Exceptional

23 Aug 2025

Kiana

What a beautiful stay. So authentic, kind and respectful. The loveliest experience - one that we will cherish.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2025

Lucas

A beautiful and rustic ryokan run by a lovely older couple and their son. The building and it’s location are incredible, just a short walk from Yudanaka Station and Shibu Onsen.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2025

Skylar

I very much enjoyed my stay at this little gem in the beautiful Onsen town of Yudanaka in the mountains. This ryokan is owned by an older Japanese couple. It had a private Onsen on site, so if you are not comfortable with the idea of using a public Onsen, I recommend this ryokan for you. Do keep in mind, this is an old building and is not a flashy or fancy place by any means. My stay here was very comfortable, and it feels very homey and safe here. This place is located very conveniently near the Yudanaka train station (10 min walk) and the Snow Monkey park (10 min bus ride to the top- then a 30 min hike to the park). There are also very many site-seeing spots nearby. Shibu Onsen and the World Peace statue are both musts. If you are considering coming to this cute sleepy unseen town, I recommend staying here.

Leisure Self

4/10

Poor

24 Dec 2024

Lyman

Owners are nice people. Seems family-owned, so very traditional and homely. However, facilities are extremely dated, and there were cobwebs everywhere, which made me highly doubt the cleanliness...

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2024

Martin

Unique Japanese experience

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2024

Arnie

Maruka Rtokan

Relaxed, friendly service. A delicious breakfast. A good traditional experience with wonderful foot bath right outside the front door.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 Jul 2024

CCA

Hosts are gracious and kind. We were picked up at the train station and taken to the monkey park right away. Driver met us to return us to the inn and took us to train station the next day. Inn is very old and needs some maintenance but it is clean and historically beautiful. Very reasonably priced and conveniently located for a walk to dinner. We stayed in July and we had A/C in the room but the open air was nice in the morning and evening.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2024

Pierre

Very friendly owner and unique experience. Definitely recommending

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jan 2024

Jamie

Fabulous stay and fantastic hosts.

This is a fantastic stay. The owners are super friendly and helpful. The breakfast was exceptional. The onsen is great. Everyone should try and stay in a ryokan while in Japan. They were very kind in waiting for me to turn up and check in later (10pm). I would recommend 100%.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2024

Douglas

Amazing feel

Super cool older building. They could advertise the public onsen down the road better. Not much english, but its a very very cool place to stay.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

20 Dec 2023

Serena

Maruka Ryokan is charming and unique place to stay in Yudanaka.

Pros:
The staff are very extremely kind and helpful, and despite our language barriers, they were able to share essential information. Breakfast is a delight - would highly recommend getting. The common hot bath is wonderful especially since the common areas tend to be quite cold. Our room was very spacious, with a traditional tatami mat area for sleeping and very comfortable blankets, a sitting room with a large window overlooking the garden and nearby temple for morning tea and small snacks that the staff replenish daily, and an attached washroom with sink only. Location is great, only 8-9 minutes of walking distance of the train station and major bus lines.

Things to know:
Most rooms share communal toilet and shower areas. Common areas are not well insulated from the cold. Rooms warm up quickly with use of electric heaters. This is not a high end onsen hotel; facilities are fairly modest but clean.

Bottom line: Would recommend staying here for a unique and homey ryokan experience, if you’re looking for peace and quiet, and if you don’t need a lot of amenities!

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

05 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

Let me start by saying that the hosts are super friendly and supportive. They pick you up from the train station and will drop you at the entrance of the famous monkey park.

The place itself was very cold. You can warm your room, but in the hallways you could blow condense fog. When having to use the shared bathroom you really dress up.

There’s only one shower and there’s absolutely no pressure so showering wasn’t great. The shower is in the same space as the hot spring and the window is always open. So it was very cold and no water pressure this was not ideal. But when cold you can get in the hot tub which is really hot.

Overall I think for what they offer it is too expensive. Nice people for sure and the rooms are large, but that’s about it.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

29 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

This was our first stay in a Japanese Ryokan. We had read good reviews and the reviews were exactly on point. This is not somewhere to stay if you want western luxury, but it is somewhere to stay if you want a warm, kind welcome and a real taste of traditional japanese. Our room was spacious and had a little sitting area by the window where we were provided tea and snacks every day. I don't understand Japanese heating given the constant supply of hot water in the mountains, but the only heating provided was a small gas heater. It really did warm to room up well, but it was quite chilly when it wasn't on. So be prepared for that in the winter! As with many ryokans there was no bathroom in the room. There was a toilet (one for women one for men)down the corridor and a communal sink for teeth etc. The bathroom is the onsen. Took us a while to figure it out! The communal Onsen has a sign on the door. If you flip it to 'private' then no one will come in. Inside the onsen there is a shower and little stool where you can sit and wash yourself. All the toiletries are nice and provided. Once you are fully clean you can go in the bath which is by the shower. It's a bit shabby in this room, but it's clean and the water is amazing! We had to add some cool water as it was too hot. The couple who run the Ryokan, are clearly proud of their hotel. They wanted to know where we were from (they didn't speak any English and we don't speak Japanese) so Google translate helped! They were so kind!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2020

John

Different for an American

The experience was very different for this American. Though we live in Okinawa, we have never experienced the bedding, breakfast, bath or hospitality of any place we've stayed. We knew all of this going into it by the way. Bedding is on the ground, but you have some padding under you. The pillow is filled with something (everyone says rice so I'll say rice). It was in the 20s outside when we stayed, yet the blanket and heater kept us comfortable all night. I used part of my blanket to help cushion my pillow. We slept thru the night after a day of travel, and woke up rested. The breakfast was a lot of food and very food. Asian food is not a favorite of mine, but this was great. It kept us satisfied for many hours. The hospitality is second to none. You'd never find such hospitality in a chain hotel. They were very kind and drove us anywhere we needed.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Good corner ryokan near snow monkey park

The guest house was beautiful, run by an old couple who does not speak English. The room was very big and the guest house right beside an onsen and near to the train station. The shuttle service to and from the snow monkey park and the train station made it a hassle-free experience! However, the shower head was weak and the guest house seems a little old.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

A fabulous old ryokan with the best hosts ever. Everything is traditional Japan. If you're looking for modern, this is the wrong place. It is authenic. On site private onsen was a bonus (and there is no other shower). We got picked up and dropped off from the train station and monkey park as part of the service by the super frei dly staff. Highly recomend.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

08 Dec 2019

Marlena

If you’re just going for 1 night to see the snow monkeys, this is a perfect ryokan. It was a very reasonable price, and included transportation to and from the hotel and to and from the snow monkey park, which saved so much fuss and planning! The actual hotel, well, it’s a bit old and a lot rustic. Shared bathrooms, and the onsen could use a scrub ( maybe you just don’t do that? What do I know). Great value, incredibly sweet hosts.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2019

Chris

Authentic stay with wonderful hosts

We came here to experience the Onsen town and the famous monkey park. Our hosts were fantastic and could not have been more helpful. They collected us from the train station and dropped us to and from the monkey park. The friendliness and warmth of the staff of the ryokan made the stay that little bit more special.

The building itself is older but feels very authentic as a result and the presence of a private onsen was great at the end of a long day.

Would reccomend staying here to anyone looking for a stay with genuinely lovely people in a wonderful setting.

Only regret is that we only stayed the one night and didn't avail of the breakfast.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Sep 2019

Michele

Quintessential Japanese Hospitality

The owners are so nice!!! Sometimes you can forget how much difference it makes to be greeted and welcomed into what is essentially a home instead of a hotel. From the moment you arrive you will be met with the biggest smiles and kindest hearts. I travel ALOT! And have met some great people and owners, and still this one surprised me. We came to the area to go to the monkey forest and to top it all off - they will literally offer to drive you there which was so nice of them! This was my first Ryokan. With all the options you have when booking I highly suggest giving this one a try versus another boring hotel you can book anywhere. It exemplifies quintessential Japanese hospitality!

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

28 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

The traditional styling was great. The garden was lovely. The staff were very friendly and went out of their way to help.

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2019

Lee Wood

Lovely Ryokan in the Alps run by a lovely family, with their own Onsens.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

14 May 2019

Verified traveler

Great area. Friendly staff. Good food. Ryokan a little run down.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2019

Scott

Delightful ryokan near Jigokudani

Maruka Ryokan is a charming traditional inn whose owners are incredibly nice and hospitable. Not only did they pick up from the train station and drive us part of the way to the monkey park, they even cleaned our muddy shoes after our hike there. We didn’t ask for any of these services, it’s just the way they treat their guests. The dinner and breakfasts we had here were among the highlights of our trip. It should be noted that the building is 100 years old and shows its age in areas.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2019

steve

Our hosts were so lovely, running us around and taking great care of us. Very traditional experience in an authentic ryokan. Great experience

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and it was an authentic experience. Highly recommend! Wonderful staff who were very welcoming and helpful.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jan 2019

aztecwolf

What a great stay, the staff although limited in english were as nice as any as we had in our stay in Japan, and that is saying a lot. They will pick you up at the train station take you to the hotel and immediately drive you out to the Snow Monkey Park and ask when you want to be picked up. Every conversation was meet with a pleasant smile and they even gave us a little parting gift. Add on the traditional setting of the ryokan and it was 5 stars. We have recommended it to a couple of friends who have stayed at the ryokan and they all have had the same experience.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

The tatami mat room feels homely with a lovely view. Very spacious for three persons with big luggages. It's pretty well insulated during winter and they provided a very well working heater (I've had experience with ryokan with poorly working heater before) so the nights stayed warm to our comfort. Our room was pretty high up, so guests with heavy luggages should be aware that there will be a lot of stairs. The owners are very friendly and helpful, especially the grandmother. She was so nice and greeted us every time we went out and came back in. They also provide small cakes and tea in your room during arrival and we received apples the next day. There were no microwaves provided for you to use on your own but you can ask the owners if they can heat up the food for you.

Also, I had an incident where I left my glasses behind when we checked out. I messaged the owners through Expedia chat room. And they gladly offered to send the glasses to my next hotel in Tokyo with no extra charges. I am so thankful for that.

Would definitely come back for the wonderful hospitality.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Our stay at Maruka Ryokan was amazing. We enjoyed every bit of the experience. The ryokan Owners were so polite, friendly and helpful. They picked us up from the train station so that we didn’t have to lug our luggage through the snow. They were also happy to drive us to and from the snow monkey park so we didn’t have to worry about catching the public bus. The rooms were big and warm. It was great to experience a traditional ryokan. We felt very comfortable. The ryokan itself was quiet and relaxing and had an osen.

Close to shops and restaurants. Very easy and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of a big city.

Thank you.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Great family, very welcoming, pleasure to stay with. Close to shops and station. Truly traditional stay.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Extremely friendly staff very cute Japanese couple so excited to have you at their place :) complimentary shuttle! room was great very cultural and exciting to stay in. Price was right and came home every day to a complimentary snack.
Bed was thin and pillow felt like a bag of rice, again cultural :p free wifi but only in lobby

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2019

Robert

Wonderful traditional Japanese ryokan

We had a wonderful stay at this traditional Japanese ryokan for six days in December. The hosts were great and did everything to make us feel comfortable. Transportation was provided to and from the Yudanaka train station, but it was only a 9-minute walk, so we did not use it until we left on the last day because it was snowing. Breakfast was amazing and we looked forward to it every morning. Since the location was at a natural hot spring, the bathroom included a private onsen which felt great after a day of skiing. We highly recommend this accommodation, and will plan to stay again if we return to the area.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Dec 2018

Robert

Authentic charming ryokan

The proprietors are great! We stayed 6 nights, and they made us feel right at home, providing us with a wonderful breakfast each morning, and help with getting to know the area. They provide transportation to and from the Yudanaka train station, but since it is only a 9 minute walk we only had them drive us to the station on the last morning when it was snowing. This ryokan is located at a hot spring, so it includes a bath which can be used as a private onsen. I highly recommend this place and would stay there again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Recommend 10+++ It is accomodation by japanese traditional. Very nice and staff is the best support.
I hope to back again in the future

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2018

Julia

Location was beautiful. I loved the small village where it was located. The hosts were so kind and cordial. The ryokan itself was traditional and fun and quaint. I loved it!

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2018

Koby

Great place to stay for a couple of days!
Surrounded by nature and springs this is the ultimate way to feel the traditional Japanese way of living.
This family owned ryokan has it's own onsen and is walkable from other public onsens outside, some attractions and of course- the snow monkeys park which is about 4 km.
They will pick you up from the Yudanaka station upon arrival, and will drop you back.
They also offer to drive you to the monkeys park but I preferred to do it by walk through the forest. Amazing experience.
Make sure to be clear whether you want breakfast or not!
Very recommended.

8/10

Excellent

28 Mar 2018

ALEX

Great stay

Great traditional home stay with lovely hosts. Rooms are comfy and spacious. Small onsite onsen as well.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2018

Michael

Make sure you get the breakfast!

Great little family run establishment
Very friendly staff
Very limited English
Make sure you get the breakfast extra, it's enormous and lovingly hand made

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jan 2018

Jenna

I had a wonderful experience here. The family that runs the Ryokan is extremely friendly and eager to help. They picked me up and dropped me off at the station and monkey park. I had the Onsen all to myself which was really nice.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Dec 2017

Edward G

Mariska Ryokan

This is a truely unique Japanese experience, sleeping on futons and the traditional walls to add to the ambience. The Hosts have limited English but made us feel very welcome, we were picked up from the local train station and driven the short distance to the lodgings, once checked in they drove us to the Monkey Park and offered to pick us up when finished. The house has its own hot springs which was perfect after a day of walking and the local area has numerous Onsens and an experience worth visiting. We also took advantage of the free shuttle bus from the train station to go skiing at a near by snow resort which was also an amazing day!

Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Dec 2017

Benny

Comfortable Ryokan

Very comfortable ryokan. Love the seats near the window, where I spent my time sitting there most of the time because of the view and the traditional Japanese vibe it gives off.

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2017

Ersalina

Traditional ryokan experience

The ryokan has a very traditional feel, we felt very welcomed by the hotel managers - the elderly couple and their son. They also provide free rides to/fro Yudanaka Station as well as the Snow Monkey Park. The place could use a little upgrading on its toilet/bathing facilities, but overall it was clean and well-maintained. They also had onsens which we could privately use (albeit it's at the public corridor). Wifi only at public lounge but we had our own data so it wasn't an issue. The lady even gave us snacks for the train ride back to Nagano when we checked out! Great hospitality and would recommend.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2017

merey

Excellent service by owners

My friend and I missed the bullet train transfers in getting to Nagano. I think I messaged the owner at least 5 times to change the timing for the pick up from the nearby train station. The ryokan is owned by an old Japanese couple and managed by their son. One of the best service ever and it s near to the snow monkey park too. It is located right next to a temple and has a beautiful cherry blossums tree at the entrance. We wished we have more time to stay there. Remember to order their breakfast. Though it comes at an additional charge, it s delicious and gives you a great start to your day.

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2026

mari

GWの湯田中にリーズナブルな価格で宿泊できました。
ありがとうございました。

Self

8/10

Excellent

17 Mar 2026

Shihoko

ザ・昭和の旅館といった感じで、全体として会談が多い施設。宿の方が駅まで迎えに来てくださり、その後部屋まで荷物を入れてくださいました。宿ではクレジットカードは使えず、入湯税は現金で支払いしました。宿も温泉ではあるものの、私はせっかくなので湯田中の大湯へ。入館には宿からの持参が必要でした。
お部屋自体は広々としており、アメニティはタオル、歯ブラシ。ドライヤーやポット、お茶セット、温泉饅頭、ティッシュ、テレビ、浴衣がありました。
暖房器具はエアコンではなくガスファンヒーター。20：30頃のチェックインだったため、お布団が引いてありました。
テレビもかなり大きなものがありました。

Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 Oct 2025

Alan Oswaldo

Quisiera recomendarles a todos que se den la oportunidad de hospedarse aquí, el lugar es atendido por dos ancianitos súper amables, aunque el Ryokan se ve que vivió mejores tiempos, se encuentra muy bien cuidado y funcional con aire acondicionado y una vista al jardín desde las habitaciones que hacen la mañana del café o la tarde del té muy placentero. Este lugar es para vivir una experiencia con las comodidades necesarias en el Japón rural, a 10-15min caminando está el otro pueblo cercano así que puedes ahorrar en hospedaje, disfrutas del camino y de paso haces ejercicio.

Partner

2/10

Poor

25 Sep 2025

Kathe

Denne ryokan er totalt nedslidt, og meget beskidt. Værelset have nedslidte møbler, med spindelvæv alle vegne og sengetøjet virkede ikke rent.
Parret der har stedet var rigtig søde, men virker for gamle til at drive stedet.
Vi valgte at checke ud igen, da vi ikke havde lyst til at blive boende.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Aug 2025

paola

Come ritornare indietro nel tempo, futon comodissimi camera grande ad accoglierci i simpatici proprietari e in camera l ,acqua era gia pronta per te verde e biscotti ! Una meraviglia dormire al canto dei grilli !

Leisure Family