Lodging
AIBIYA
AIBIYA is traditional modern mixed B&B located in the heart of Yudanaka onsen town.
The building has served as several purposes over the past 70 years since it was first built. Before we took over, it served as a traditional Japanese inn. Where the traces of time and culture dwelling within, we have inherited this historical building to make a perfect base for skiers and snow boarders.
With all the essentials that travelers may need, AIBIYA has wide range of room types from single room to family room. A spacious kitchen and dining space are available for long-term guests who find it difficult to eat out every day or for those with a special dietary needs. As it is located in the center of the town, it is easy to access restaurants, pharmacies, stations, and convenience stores.
It’s the perfect place to recover from a hard day at the slopes and get your body ready for the next perfect ski day
Drying room
Keep your gear safe and toasty. In addition to storage and drying, you can also wax and maintain your ski, snowboard gear. Drying room is next to the entrance so that you can pick and drop it easily.
Area guide
Yudanaka
Yudanaka is a rural hot spring town located in the northern part of Nagano that has been loved by many people since it was discovered by a monk 1350 years ago.
In the old days, it was considered water to heal diseases, for this reason it was called ‘ 養遐齢(Youkarei)’ meaning healing water in ancient Japanese. In fact, the hot springs here are known to be very effective in treating and relieving the symptoms of mental illness such as depression as well as physical illnesses.
1.5 hours from Tokyo and 50 minutes by train from Nagano Station, Yudanaka is conveniently situated and offers a wide variety of activities that can please both extrovert and introvert. Either eating-in or eating-out, all you need to do is just choose whichever suits you better. Mere 15mins drive to local supermarkets where offers a wide range of fresh locally-sourced vegetables and drinks. Once you get all your supplies, you can prepare a feast for yourself at AIBIYA’s fully equipped kitchen.
There are restaurants within easy reach where you can have lovingly-prepared hearty meal and bottled local beer. Yudanaka may not offer you the best nightlife but if you are looking for a place where you can soak up the local atmosphere and culture, this little onsen town is the best choice.
Spice up your tour.
Nagano’s unique food and cultural and historical experience will make your time more fulfilling and enriching
Snow monkey park
(Jigokudani yaenkoen)
The apple orchards near Yudanaka Onsen are damaged by monkeys who have lost their habitat due to forest development and descended from the mountains to the valley of Hell looking for a food. As a result of complaints from residents, permission to kill 50 monkeys was issued, but former Nagano Electric Railwayman Hara Soo thought that if they feed the monkeys upstream (now Korakukan) away from Yudanaka, the monkeys will not ruin the orchards. He went to the park every day and one day after 5 years, finally he succeeded to feed the monkeys. When the park opened in 1964, a curious baby monkey bathed in a human open-air bath at the ryokan, Korakukan nearby. An adult monkey saw it and started to enter the hot spring too. For hygiene reasons, later people made a private open-air bath exclusively for monkeys in Yaen Park.
Started with the idea of coexistence between monkeys and humans, the park is crowded with tourists from all over the world every year.
Shibu onsen
According to the legend, the history of Shibu onsen began when it was discovered by a Japanese monk 1300 years ago. It was the place where Japanese battle commander Takeda Shingen’s injured soldiers were recuperated during Warring states period about 500 years ago. Also, during the Edo period, artists such as Sakuma Shozan, Kobayashi Issa, and Katsushika Hokusai visited this area. Saigetsurou of Kanaguya, a ryokan registered as a cultural heritage of Japan, is said to be the motif of the ‘oil shop’ in the Japanese anime spirited away.
Tamanura honten
Tamamura honten is local sake brewery, since opening in 1805, has been making sake ‘Engi’ for about 20 decades in Kusano, at the foot of Shigakogen.
Although, it’s not a massive amount in quantity-wise on brewing, they aim to be a top notch throughout Japan. Brewing with carefully selected raw materials, home grown rice and hop in a clean area and meltwater from Shigakogen. With their own differentiated brewing method, the beer lineup is diversified, and limited beers are released every season.
Branding that emphasizes Tamamura’s unique value is captivating beer fans not only in Japan but also around the world.
