Yudanaka Tawaraya Ryokan

I thought the ryokan itself was beautiful and the staff was extremely kind and helpful. It is a short walk from the station and they allowed me to drop off my luggage early so I could go out and do things. They have an outdoor onsen that each room can book privately for 30 minutes throughout the night. They also have a delicious food service (breakfast and dinner). I booked with breakfast, and the food was delicious. It was a traditional Japanese breakfast. I wanted to get dinner, as well, but you need to book that 5 days in advance (and I booked last minute). The hotel staff provided me with other local recommendations to be sure I didn't go hungry. The room was clean and warm (which was important because it was snowing outside). When I had to head back to the station, the staff offered to drive me because the wind was so strong. Overall, an incredible experience!

An amazing outdoor onsen, which can be reserved privately for your room in the evening (for half an hour), and there’s also an indoor onsen that is always available without reservation. We ordered a kaiseki dinner – everything was delicious and authentic. In January, the room was a bit chilly if you’re someone who gets cold easily, but each room has a heater. I was comfortable sleeping without the heater under a warm blanket. The ryokan is located near Yudanaka Station and about a 30-minute walk from Shibu Onsen. We took a walk there after dinner; the evening lighting was very beautiful.

The hotel was beautiful, with peach and light green colors. The staff were the friendliest we've met in our travels and were happy to answer our questions in fine detail, always kind and helpful in anything we asked. The indoor onsen was very nice and the outside one was wonderful, with a lovely view and the ability to book a private time so it's just you and whomever you want out there. We also chose to have a breakfast there which didn't disappoint!

It's a Ryokan, don't expect hotel-like grandeur. Staffs could speak basic english and were very helpful. Once they helped you settle in, you can make yourself at home in the entire ryokan. The onsens (indoor and outdoor) are both great. The nearby restaurants were great, because the location is slightly secluded, most of the times you get private service in the restaurants. All basic amenities were provided and very convenient. We explored around the ryokan's, shibu onsen and the snow monkey park. The entire area is very serene and has all the countryside beauty.

The service as this Ryokan was 10/10, and was the most authentic one we stayed in during our 4 weeks in Japan. The staff were so lovely, and spoke great English. They showed us to our room, and gave us essentially a "room tour" whilst we drank complimentary tea. They gave us a map with nearby restaurants and ammenties noted on it. The private outdoor onsen was SO nice! You book a slot upon arrival, which you can access in the evening with 30 min slots. The onsen was large and the perfect contrast with the fresh cool air in the evening. Yukatas were provided for us as an option to wear around the hotel - both my partner and I are bigger than the average Japanese person (Wife is plus size, I am 6ft 2) and we both comfortably fit into the ones picked out for us. The only thing that threw us was that during breakfast, they cleared the beds from our room - had we known people would go in, we'd probably have neatened the room a bit haha! P.S don't skip the sushi restaurant a few doors down from the hotel. The sushi was EXQUISITE and they even have a phonetic Japanese to English page at the front so you can have a go at ordering properly with the chef.