Shibu Onsen Tsukimino Yu Yamaichiya

This is a traditional onsen ryokan that is in the midst of the Shibu Onsen. From here, you can walk to the different onsens (hot springs) that surround the hotel, including the Monkey onsen that is just a mile away. They will give you a traditional yukata (kimono) to wear and wooden sandals (geta) to walk around to the different onsens outside the hotel. There are also hot baths in the hotel. The toilet in our room was broken, which we were told about pretty late in the day. Luckily we hadn't used it. The rooms are spartan and have none of the amenities you would expect in a western hotel. The floors are tatami (rice mat) and you sleep on futons (blankets); pretty no frills stuff. It's not fancy but you won't be spending most of the time in your room; you'll be at the onsens or walking around the town. The food was delicious, especially the dinner. There were all kinds of traditional Japanese food, including stews, skewered fish, roasted corn, sashimi, steak, beer, and wine. The owner was nice; he apologized for the broken toilet and gave us a box of candy as a way of apologising as we were leaving. All in all, it was a decent place but the onsens are the real draw.