Shibahara Onsen Yanagiya Ryokan

I stayed at Yanagiya, a long-established inn located at the entrance to the area of Okuchichibu, including Mitake Shrine, and enjoyed its highly recommended handmade soba noodles and hot springs. This inn, known as Shibahara no Yu, opened in the early Edo period and is nestled deep in the mountains among the trees, exuding a charming, travel-worthy atmosphere. While the inn is old-fashioned, it's well-maintained and immaculately clean. The lobby features a hearth-like space for conversation, and the landlady also stocks about 10 varieties of fruit wine. The room was quite spacious, with a 10-tatami mat guest room, bath, toilet, earthen floor, and veranda. The amenities included a TV, refrigerator, safe, lockers, and more. I thought it was a nice touch, but when I turned on the air conditioner...it smelled so awful, it was damp, almost nauseating. I contacted the staff, who quickly responded, disinfecting the room and installing a replacement heater. I guess the room isn't used often. There are two baths, an open-air bath and an indoor one. After taking a dip in the open-air bath, I went to the waterfall bath. The hot spring was warm and had a sulfurous spring that left my skin feeling smooth, allowing me to relax. Dinner was served in a separate room. Appetizers included boiled wild vegetables and trout sushi, as well as carp sashimi, so we started off with a taste of the land and river. Freshly prepared dishes like chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) and grilled sweetfish were then served. What surprised me was a whole mountain burdock root, peeled and served with miso, a truly wild and exquisite dish. Bamboo shoot rice was also added midway through, filling us up nicely. Finally, the recommended dish was hand-made soba noodles, served with burdock leaf and carp tempura. The soba noodles were smooth and delicious, and I wanted seconds. The tempura was also fluffy and delicious. Breakfast was served in the lounge with the other guests. It was a typical breakfast set, but with thoughtful touches like grated yam and freshly made tofu. While I was generally satisfied, the mechanical explanation immediately after check-in and the rushed food distribution could use some improvement. I wish they were a little friendlier, but they didn't seem to have the time. But I'll definitely stop by again next time I visit Chichibu!!

We stayed here for a short New Year's getaway. Every staff member was incredibly considerate, and Yanagiya made our trip to Chichibu truly memorable. *Access* The inn is far from the station, but when we inquired in advance, they gladly accommodated our requests as much as possible. Since the shuttle staff is limited, it may not always be possible to meet our desired time. Still, we were very grateful to be able to limit our time outdoors during this cold season. *Meals* The meals were generous and satisfying, both in the morning and evening. The carp dish and soba noodles were especially delicious. While one staff member apologized for the delay in serving us, the food itself never felt slow. They adjusted the time it took for the rice and the pot to cook, so the pace was actually just right. There are no shops or convenience stores near the inn, so unless you have special needs, I recommend ordering rice for breakfast or dinner. I felt the rooms, bathrooms, and other areas were generally well-cleaned. As other reviewers have mentioned, the musty smell was not present at all as our room was in the new wing, making for a very comfortable stay. Compared to luxury inns, there are some things you have to do yourself, such as make your own tea, which may bother some people, but it was just the right size to enjoy a quiet and relaxing stay in a charming inn, and I was very satisfied with my stay. Thank you very much.

After visiting Mitsumine Shrine, we decided on a spontaneous stay and quickly found an inn that was great. It has an old-fashioned feel, but is very quiet. The hot spring is small, but the indoor and outdoor baths are in different locations. It didn't seem like we encountered many people. It felt like we had the place to ourselves, so it felt like a great deal. We were also shown to a different room for meals. It wasn't a room to stay in, but more of a private room. It felt like we were eating in our room, so it felt very private and relaxing. There was a TV, and the sink and toilet were all inside the room. The meal depended on the season, but we enjoyed a kaiseki meal of mountain cuisine, including wild boar hotpot, grilled sweetfish, carp sashimi, and other dishes such as tempura and chawanmushi. The rice was seasonal rice, cooked fresh over a fire on the spot. Delicious! We finished off the meal with freshly made, handmade soba noodles. As other reviews have said, the soba noodles are absolutely delicious! There was also a wide selection of alcoholic beverages homemade by the landlady. Fruit liquor, etc. Breakfast was also excellent. I'll be back!

Traval to Chichibu from Tokyo with my bicycle. Chichibu is generally nice. It is not crowded and I have bought cheap and delicious black tea and souvenir. Saitama is a good place to do bicycle. I personally could suggests Hano and Higashichichibu (but do prepare yourselves). Location: The location of this hotel is pretty far from the road. It is place which is hard for someone to go with a bicycle. Moreover, do prepare yourself before get to the hotel since the is quite faraway. However, it is a silent place with trees and steam nearby. Service: I can park my bike in the garage. The owner provided a very careful service. Room: Quite old but Ok. Notice that you have to go to the ``public bath'' (spring) for a shower.

I used the day-use bath. The calm atmosphere was very relaxing. I enjoyed the indoor bath on the first floor and the open-air cypress bath on the second floor. I'd definitely come back. Price: 1,000 yen (per person) Parking⚪︎, shampoo⚪︎, hair dryer⚪︎ Bathing is available until 2:30 PM.