Shibu Onsen KOKUYA

“Outstanding. Friendly relaxing”

Outstanding authentic onsen experience. Very friendly staff with good English. Excellent local knowledge and free pick up from station. Had amazing dinner with local new season rice, abalone, sashimi, pork belly, wagyu beef and local sake . Excellent service. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow a… lisää

Outstanding authentic onsen experience. Very friendly staff with good English. Excellent local knowledge and free pick up from station. Had amazing dinner with local new season rice, abalone, sashimi, pork belly, wagyu beef and local sake . Excellent service. Looking forward to breakfast tomorrow as well. Second year in a row with perfect experience had both times. Will come again in January

vähemmän

“Great Hospitality at Shibu-Onsen Kokuya”

This was a great experience. It was like being enveloped in an stress-free bubble where everything is provided for your comfort from delicious meals to comfy yukatas. It was amazing to have a private onsen. The staff were remarkably kind and spoke English. My only criticism is the facility is a bit… lisää

This was a great experience. It was like being enveloped in an stress-free bubble where everything is provided for your comfort from delicious meals to comfy yukatas. It was amazing to have a private onsen. The staff were remarkably kind and spoke English. My only criticism is the facility is a bit dated and could use a face-lift. If only 5-star hotels meet your stands, Shibu-Onsen Kokuya might disappoint you. But I loved it.

vähemmän

“An experience not to be missed.”

f you haven’t stayed at an onsen - you haven’t ‘done Japan’. We chose Shibu Onsen (the town) as it is close to the Snow Monkey park - and Kokuya because it has several onsen within the hotel and offered a private onsen on the balcony for some rooms. Kokuya, like many local hotels, will pick you up… lisää

f you haven’t stayed at an onsen - you haven’t ‘done Japan’. We chose Shibu Onsen (the town) as it is close to the Snow Monkey park - and Kokuya because it has several onsen within the hotel and offered a private onsen on the balcony for some rooms. Kokuya, like many local hotels, will pick you up from Yamanouchi station and they kept in touch to make sure they knew when we were arriving. Kokuya is a small hotel in the centre of town and on a street that has several ‘public onsen’ that you can use. On arrival, it was shoes off and up to the room where our luggage had already been taken. Rooms are tatami mat style. Not huge so if you have lots of luggage - it’s a squeeze. You sleep on futons which staff will put out for you whilst you are at dinner. Our room had a fridge, small dressing area with basin and a private onsen outside on the balcony (like a small hot tub). No bath btw so it’s an outdoor shower to freshen up in the morning. Most people change into the yukatas provided whenever in the hotel and during our visit, everyone wore yukatas at dinner. Dinner is included each night. It’s a fixed Japanese multi course meal which you take in the dining room (same for breakfast). Although you share the dining room, you get your own private booth with a privacy screen. The other onsen in the hotel (bigger) are ‘shared’ but you do book them and have exclusive use for that time. Worth a try. They’re all different. If you go to see the snow monkeys, the hotel will give you a lift up to the park. You make your own way back - bus, taxi or it’s walkable. On departure, you get a lift back to the station too. Staff were very courteous and the hotel was very welcoming. It’s a real experience in every sense. Don’t miss it!

vähemmän

“Well run operation”

This is a good place for that onsen experience. We had our own onsen in the room and you could book any of the other onsens in the hotel. We stayed one night, food was included (dinner and breakfast). They will pick you up from the local train station if you tell them what time you are arriving. Th… lisää

This is a good place for that onsen experience. We had our own onsen in the room and you could book any of the other onsens in the hotel. We stayed one night, food was included (dinner and breakfast). They will pick you up from the local train station if you tell them what time you are arriving. This can be a problem, in Japan you don't get a telephone number with your eSIM and they don't have a WhatsApp number. We used the messaging service on Booking.com (who we booked the hotel through) to get in touch and it worked. They also provide a lift to the Snow Monkey park in the morning and they have their own luggage storage by the local train station. It's a slick operation, go to park, get local bus back to train station, pick up luggage and go! The room was nice. I wasn't a fan of the traditional rock hard Japanese pillow but that's probably just me. Food was fine, it's all Japanese and you eat in your own partitioned section of the restaurant. I should have looked around a bit more on arrival as I missed seeing the bar next door. You eat quite early and then there is nothing really to do except use the onsens. The bar would have been good!

vähemmän