Yudanaka Onsen is a small mountain town known in Japan for two things: its hot spring and the snow monkey park. There are many hot springs in the Yamanouchi area where Yudanaka is, including the more known Yudanaka Onsen and Shibu Onsen. The Japanese have been enjoying the water from these hot springs for centuries in bath houses. Shibu Onsen has 9 public bath houses (each with its figurine in front) and countless of private ones.
Figurine for the 8th public bath house in Shibu
The monkeys are the emblem of the area. Monkeys are drawn everywhere: on signs, on hotel logos, even on the manholes for the hot spring water pipes.
Hot spring underground manhole.
We were looking for a Japanese style hotel called ryokan for our stay. The best roykan in town is the Kokuya, the hotel is literally on the hot spring source (5 meters away) and offer eggs cooked in the mineral water on its door steps.
Entrance of the Kokuya ryokan
Egg cooked with the hot spring water by the Kokuya ryokan.
It was booked months in advance for New Year’s Eve, so we found another ryokan (also highly recommended) close by called Shimaya. Shimaya roykan has very nice Japanese style rooms (you need to like hard beds if you want to sleep on those futons).
Yudanaka is also close to Nagano ski area. Those hot spring spas are probably amazing after a long day skiing, but this would have to wait for another trip.
Ringing the bell for the New Year