Rekishi-No-Yado Kanaguya

We wanted to stay in a traditional ryokan with access to hot spring baths and Kanaguya ticked all the boxes. I found this guesthouse while researching onsen close to the snow monkey park near Yudanaka Station, which we planned to visit. The fact that it is cited as inspiration for the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away was another reason for us to want to stay here. A beautiful traditional wooden guesthouse with eight baths, five of them private, and also access to the nine public baths in Shibu Onsen town (although we found these far too hot to actually bathe in, we enjoyed collecting all the stamps on a special towel!). Our room was Japanese style with sliding doors, tatami mats and futons. There was a bath and WC, but no shower, but it’s expected that guests use the hot spring baths available. All amenities are provided including yukata, obi belt, jacket, bathing supplies, and each bath has washing soap, shampoo and conditioner in dispensers. Staff were very friendly, and so polite, although the majority had limited English we did use google translate at times. The multi course dinners were amazing, served in the exquisite dining room at the top of the house, which was originally a theatre, at traditional low tables and seats. Served in beautiful individual ceramic dishes, with multiple appetisers, followed by main dishes, miso soup, rice, and lastly desert. Although not everything was to our taste, the presentation was amazing and it was a wonderful experience trying so many different flavours. We stayed two nights, and the meals were different each night. The guesthouse has a limited website page in English which directs foreigners to book via a specific third party (tour operator), but when I contacted her via the provided email was told the ryokan was closed for renovations during our preferred dates! Not helpful, as presumably they only wish to sell you a tour! I then did a wider search and found the ryokan available to book on Trip.com. Clearly it was not closed! I would definitely recommend staying at Kanaguya and visiting Shibu Onsen if you wish to experience a traditional ryokan.

Fantastic hotel, the building was unique, the staff was very nice, the dinner & breakfast were delicious and the experience with the various onsen amazing. I would highly recommend

It's was a pleasant small village where everything is within walking distance . Ryokan is definitely WOW factor with very interesting structure and indoor onsens.

中規中矩，日本古老溫泉設計，溫泉池有風味，人不多，很舒服。

很有歷史感，而且旅館還會解説旅館的歷史！還有許多個免費的家庭泡湯，各個景色不一樣！很值得一試、因為是老旅館所以裏面的設施比較簡陋！吃得也比較簡單、但是旅館裏真的是一步一景，如果有機會的話看一看還是不錯的！

衝著酒店去的，下雪天拍外觀是真美，酒店內真如迷宮一樣有九個温泉可以隨便泡，不錯的體驗