“Wonderful experience of a traditional old ryoken and genuine onsen bathhouses”
The ryokan matched the traditional, old‑building vibe I expected, and it was exactly what I wanted for an authentic experience. It sits in the heart of the old Shibu Onsen town, next to the last of the nine public onsen baths that form the onsen trail. The rooms were spacious but only had a private toilet and basin. Shared hot‑spring onsen rooms are available, with separate ones for men and women, and a third shared one for those who want to soak together; the baths rotate daily between genders, each with different mineral waters. The reception offers self‑service coffee and tea, and shoes must be left there, though indoor slippers are provided. Traditional Japanese robes were handed out, and a key opened all nine public hot‑spring baths. The manager/owner was sweet, friendly, and very helpful with suggestions, including arranging a taxi for early‑morning travel. He’s also an origami master who makes a unique one for each guest before departure. A minor issue was that some areas could have used a dusting, but overall the facilities were excellent. Since we visited in early October—still low season—restaurants were hit‑and‑miss: those open got busy quickly and often closed early.
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