If you ever do visit, I highly recommend Yudanaka Yumoto Ryokan in Yamanouchi. The hospitality, the atmosphere, the beautiful rooms – everything about it felt like a warm embrace. The okami-san was the kindest person, perfectly embodying the spirit of the place. It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to return again and again – a place that showed me peace, that showed me beauty. For as long as I live, I won’t forget my time here. The setting takes me to a past where samurai once sat here, sipping green tea, listening to the water as it trickled through the garden – a soft, serene sound that whispers of peace. Even the smallest stream in the tiniest garden can bring calm to a traveller's heart.

We loved our stay at Yudanaka Yumoto! The hosts were so friendly, spoke good English, and had helpful recommendations. They kindly drove us to the monkey park (otherwise we wouldn't have had time to go) and to the train station early in the morning. The rooms were lovely and spacious, the grounds were pretty, and the onsen was excellent. It's a great location as well close to the train station, the main bus line, the post office, an ATM, restaurants, and more (including a great onigiri shop). We highly recommend staying here and hope to come back!

One of the best hotels I have been to. Located in a cosy village close to the snow monkey park, friendly staff who gave us a ride to the monkey park, spacious rooms with a nice tatami area. If you go, book a dinner. It was just amazing, lots of varieties and everything was delicious! The best meal out of many splendid ones we had during our trip to Japan.

Maybe it's just me, but the onsen was way too hot. None of us could use it, which was a bit of a shame.

The room was excellent, authentic, very clean and comfortable. Cotton kimono were provided for after Onsen, one of the onsen was outdoors in the garden. The gardens were amazing, beautifully curated with mature trees, shrubs and Koi Carp. Our host was very kind and helpful, she gave us a lift from the station with our bags and also gave us a lift to the monkey park. She also very kindly lend us some suitable footwear as the monkey park was icy and a little muddy. This has been my favourite place to visit in japan so far. We also had the breakfast and dinner provided both were exceptional and a beautiful experience.

Transported us back in time. The traditional rooms and robes were the highlight of our trip to date. Staff were so friendly and owner even drove us to the Snow Monkey Park. Also the Onsen inside and outside with the Japanese garden…just breathtaking and calming. They swap the onsens around based on sex which is understandable as the norm is to have no clothing on.

Everything was superb, just new bedlinen/covers needed.

Great Ryokan in Yudanaka that has apparently been there since the Edo period and run by the Yamoto family. Lovely old style Japanese rooms with toilet and communal showers / onsen. Yasuyo-san was kind enough to drive us to the monkey park and back and even took my wife shopping for Ichida-gaki ! On top of that breakfast was cooked each morning specifically for each guest. Nothing was too much trouble. Lovely relaxing stay - would certainly recommend

Very clean albeit older style ryokan. Minimalistic and non intrusive, spacious rooms with a nice view to an inner garden almost zen-like. Staff very helpful and amiable, offered to drive us to the monkey park entrance up the mountain which we gladly accepted. There’s not too much to do in the area but relax and enjoy the clean air and the hot onsen baths. A trip to Nagano is 35 minutes away for a bit of spicing it up.

We only spent one night there to visit Snow Monkey Park - we wished we had stayed longer. Great location, just a 5 min walk from the station. We had clean good sized room, and the outdoor onsen was great with snow falling as we relaxed. Dinner was also at the onsen and we weren’t disappointed by the kaiseki style meal. To top it off one of the owners will drop you off at the entrance to monkey park and pick you up as well. We had a great stay.

The staff were lovely. Drove us to Monkey Park and to train station on leaving. The spaciousness of the accom and outlook onto the garden was wonderful. Air conditioning kept the room nice and warm.

I found it tricky trying to fit in with all the slipper rules and knowing where to put the luggage and towels in the room. Futons were a little uncomfortable. You may need to put down some additional futons that are provided if required.

Very comfortable, basic, clean onsen stay. Onsen was very nice, we had a room which looked out on a lovely pond and garden. No meals were booked so we walked down to some options at the train station. Very close to the snow monkey park which was excellent. The facilities were neither new nor newly refurbished so it had an authenticity as an old school onsen.

Met our expectations.