Onsen · Chubu & Hokuriku

Shibu & Yudanaka Onsen

Yamanouchi, Nagano♨ Yudanaka Onsen: chloride spring and sulfate spring. Shibu Onsen: simple spring and chloride spring (varies by source)

Overview

An onsen area spreading out from Yudanaka Station, the terminus of the Nagano Electric Railway, made up of Yudanaka Onsen and the stone-paved streets of Shibu Onsen. From Tokyo it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Nagano Electric Railway. It is also a base for visiting Jigokudani Yaen-Koen (Snow Monkey Park).

Shibu Onsen has nine public bathhouses (sotoyu), and day visitors can use Bath No. 9, Shibu Oyu (the other eight are for overnight guests only). Kaede no Yu, next to Yudanaka Station, is a day-use facility with an outdoor bath and a foot bath. The public baths of Yudanaka Onsen can be used with the Sotoyu Meguri Tegata bath pass.

Location: Yamanouchi, Nagano
Official website: https://www.info-yamanouchi.net/

Nearby area

Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu OnsenWeather and what to wear in Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen →

Tickets & tours you can book in advancePR

PRKlookSnow Monkey Tour (from Tokyo, with Sukiyaki Lunch)A bus tour departing from and returning to Shinjuku. Visit Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, with a sukiyaki lunch includedView on Klook

Day-Use Baths

Baths you can visit without staying

Public baths, day-use spas and foot baths open to non-staying visitors.

Day-use spa

Yudanaka Ekimae Onsen Kaede no Yu

Price: Junior high school students and up ¥500, elementary school students ¥300 (bathing tax included) (as of October 2026)
Hours: 10:00–21:00 (last entry 20:30)
Closed: First Tuesday of each month (following day if a public holiday)
Note: Next to Yudanaka Station. Has an outdoor bath. Foot bath open 10:00–22:30
Official site: https://www.info-yamanouchi.net/about/kaede/

Public bath

Shibu Oyu (Bath No. 9)

Price: Adults ¥800, children ¥500 (as of October 2026)
Hours: 10:00–17:00
Note: May close temporarily. Buy a bathing ticket at places such as the Shibu Onsen Tourist Information Center and have the door unlocked at the designated unlocking point. No hair washing; cash only
Official site: https://shibuonsen.net/guide/day-use-onsen/

Public bath

Yudanaka Oyu

Price: Sotoyu Meguri Tegata bath pass (3 baths: Yudanaka Oyu, Wata no Yu and Kaede no Yu) adults ¥1,800, children ¥1,000 (as of October 2026)
Hours: 10:00–17:00 (last pass sales 15:30)
Closed: Closed on some days, such as bath cleaning days
Note: The pass is sold at the Yamanouchi Information Center in front of Yudanaka Station. Photo ID is required for each person using it
Official site: https://www.info-yamanouchi.net/event/8079/

Prices and hours are as of the date shown and may change, with occasional closures. Check each facility’s official website before you go.

🖋 If you have tattoos

Policies vary by facility, so check with each facility

Spring

Spring type and features

♨ Yudanaka Onsen: chloride spring and sulfate spring. Shibu Onsen: simple spring and chloride spring (varies by source)

According to Yamanouchi Town, Yudanaka Onsen is said to be good for neuralgia, fatigue recovery, poor circulation and the skin, and Shibu Onsen for neuralgia, fatigue recovery, bruises, sprains, poor circulation and the skin

Etiquette

Bathing etiquette

✓Pour hot water over yourself and wash before getting into the bath
✓Do not put towels in the bath
✓Tie up long hair so it does not touch the water
✓Do not take photos in the bathing area

Sights

Nearby sights

Jigokudani Yaen-Koen (Snow Monkey Park)

About 10 minutes by local bus from Yudanaka Station to the Snow Monkey Park stop, then about 30 minutes on foot

Jigokudani Geyser

A geyser designated as a National Natural Monument

Shibu Onsen town

An onsen town of stone-paved lanes lined with ryokan and nine public bathhouses

Tips

Good to know

!The Shibu Onsen nine-bath tour (Kyuto Meguri) is for overnight guests only
!Shibu Oyu has no shampoo or body soap
!The Nagano Electric Railway offers the Kaede no Yu Coupon, which combines a train ticket and a Kaede no Yu bathing ticket
!The path to Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is unpaved with steps and slopes, and is not wheelchair accessible

Access

Nearest station / bus stop: Yudanaka Station (Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line)About 40 minutes on foot to the Shibu Onsen area
From major cities and airports: Tokyo: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano Station, then transfer to the Nagano Electric Railway (About 2 hours 15 minutes)

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Getting There

Getting there from major cities

Tokyo → Nagano

Fastest: Approx. 1 hr 20 min (example timetable: Kagayaki 501)

🚄 Shinkansen🚌 Highway bus

Travel Passes

Travel passes for getting there

🚄 JR

Japan Rail Pass

Nationwide ・ Three types: 7, 14 or 21 days. The period of use cannot be extended or changed

From ¥50,000

🚄 JR

Hokuriku Arch Pass

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ 7 consecutive days from the first day of use

From ¥35,000

Where to Stay · Agoda

Places to Stay near Shibu & Yudanaka OnsenPR

PRSee more places to stay near Shibu & Yudanaka Onsen on Agoda →

Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.

Attractions

Attractions in Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen

Zoo

Jigokudani Yaen-koen (Snow Monkey Park)

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen

A park in the mountains of Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, where you can observe wild Japanese macaques up close. It's famous for its monkeys bathing in hot springs in winter. The entrance is about a 30-minute walk along a mountain path from the parking lot or bus stop, so wear shoes and clothing suited to the season.

See all attractions →

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Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Gero, Gifu

♨ Day use Adults ¥470, elementary school students ¥180, preschoolers ¥100 (as of October 2026)

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Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Takayama, Gifu

♨ Day use Adults ¥700, children ¥500 (as of October 2026)

Private baths

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Nozawa Onsen

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nozawaonsen, Nagano

♨ Day use Free (a small donation as a contribution to the yunakama) (as of October 2026)

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Yamanaka Onsen

Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Kaga, Ishikawa

♨ Day use Age 12 and up ¥500, ages 6–11 ¥150, ages 3–5 ¥70, under 3 free (as of October 2026)

See all onsen towns →

Prices, hours, tattoo policies and spring types are based on official facility, municipal and tourism association information. They can change, so check the official websites before you go.

Last checked: 2026-10-08

Shibu & Yudanaka Onsen

Overview