Why Yudanaka ? SNOW MONKEY + SKI + ONSEN
Yudanaka Onsen Ryokan Association Official Website
Yudanaka is the SNOW MONKEY TOWN : walking distance from these amazing and funny creatures who enjoy everyday their Onsen ! (Natural Hot bath)...
Yudanaka is the SKI HUB : Japanese Powder at its best with shuttles to the different ski resort, including Shiga Kogen , the largest & highest ski area in Japan... with nice "après-ski".
Yudanaka is a Japanese traditional village : ONSEN, Food (Sushi.. and more), Tatami, Ryokan, Yukata... Enjoy all aspect of the Japanese hospitality.
For longer stay : Yudanaka is the most convenient place to stay, everything is there, a lot of choice of accomodation, multiple restaurants, convenient stores (ATM), drug store and supermarket, doctor, dentist, pharmacy, coin laundry, Taxi , Bus and Train station... Everything is there at walking distance...
News
"Snow, snow! A lot of it just landed in Yudanaka !
Places to visit
Snow Monkey Park (Jigokudani Yaen-Koen)
The Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River sourced from Shiga-Kogen of the Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park. This is the only place in the world to watch wild Japanese monkeys bathing in a hot spring.
| Open: | Summer 8:30-17:00, Winter 9:00-16:30 (Open 365 days) |
| Admission: | Adult 800yen |
| Tel: | 81-0269-33-4379 |
| Address: | 6845 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi |
Shiga Kogen
Highest ( from 1300 to 2300meters); Largest ( More than 80 km of runs, 55 lifts) ski area in Japan...but much less crowded than other resorts... Excellent quality and huge quantity of snow : Japan at its best ! 1 Electric ski pass allows the guest to go everywhere...and all the 19 resorts are physically connected, no need to take bus between 2 resorts... Stay on the ski... ski more ! As it is the closest ski area from the world famous Snow Monkey... you might see some of them while skiing ! Due to the high altitude, you can enjoy ski till May !!! You can also enjoy ski & snowboard lessons and guide in english with Shiga International Ski School: Great Fun ! www.shigaskischool.com
Website
Yudanaka Ooyu Bath House
Yudanaka Ooyu is a must-visit traditional public bath house in Yudanaka Onsen. It is the birth place of Yudanaka hot springs which boasts a history of 1,300 years. A stone monument called "Issa Monument", with a poem written by a famous haiku poet Issa Kobayashi in Edo era, stands in front of the bath house.
| Admission: | Free of charge |
| Closed: | Closed on 3rd, 11th, 18th and 26th every month from 9:00 until 17:00 for cleaning. |
Kaede no Yu
Kaede no Yu is a free footbath located right outside Yudanaka Station. It is a perfect place for refreshing your feet upon arrival or while waiting for a train.
| Open: | 7:30-22:00 |
| Tel: | 81-269-33-2133 |
Yukeburi no Ashiyu
Yukeburi no Ashiyu is a free footbath located on the grounds of Baio-ji Temple.
| Open: | 9:00-21:00 (Tue.: 11:00-12:00) |
Baio-ji Temple
Baio-ji Temple was built about 400 years ago, which enshrines the Buddha of Healing. A wooden statue of Issa Kobayashi rests in the main hall. There are many stone monuments throughout the temple-grounds, and one can learn the history of Yudanaka Onsen by studying these monuments.
Yukeburi Jizo
Yukeburi Jizo is a statue of Ksitigarbha. It is about 1 meter high and sits in a hot spring footbath on the grounds of Baio-ji Temple. You will have good luck if you wash the Jizo with your towel!
Pilgrimage to Three Buddhas
People come to visit the Three Buddhas to pray for peace and happiness in their lives. First, visiting the big stone statue of Maitreya Buddha protects one from earthquakes and disasters. Second, visiting the Heiwa Kannon Statue, a 25 meter standing Kannon Statue of World Peace in DaihiDen Temple, makes one live in peace. Third, visiting the "Enmei-Tabacco-Jizo" (Ksitigarbha who prolongs people's lives by protecting them from diseases and helps them give up smoking) brings one good health.
| Address: | Heiwa Kannon Statue, DaihiDen Temple, 2763-3 Hirao, Yamanouchi-machi |
Issa Promenade
This is a promenade that leads from Amefukumi Pine, a natural monument at the back of the hot spring town, through Issa monument to Heiwa Kannon Statue. Walking along the promenade reminds people of the old times when the haiku poet Issa Kobayashi stayed at Yudanaka.
Access
Yudanaka Onsen is a 15 minutes drive from Shinshunakano IC on Joshinetsu Highway, or about 45 minutes by express train from Nagano Station.
By train
From Tokyo area:
From JR Tokyo Station to JR Nagano Station, by Asama Shinkansen (Nagano Shinkansen), 87min.
At Nagano Station, switch to Nagano Dentetsu line, and take the limited express train to Yudanaka Station, 47min.
From Nagoya area:
From JR Nagoya Station to JR Nagano Station, by Wide-view Shinano limited express train, 174min.
At Nagano Station, switch to Nagano Dentetsu line, and take the limited express train to Yudanaka Station, 47min.
From Kyoto, Osaka area:
Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to either JR Nagoya Station or JR Tokyo Station, and follow the directions above.
Some ryokans offer pick-up service from Yudanaka Station.
By car
Yudanaka Onsen is about 15 minutes from Shinshunakano IC on Joshinetsu Highway.
It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Shibukawa-Ikaho IC on Kan-etsudo Highway.
(Please note that that road through Shiga Kogen is closed in winter.)
Places to stay
| Ryokan name | Official website | ... | ... |
| Biyu No Yado | Official English website | ||
| Bozanso | Official English website | ||
| Shimaya | Official English website | ||
| Yudanaka Yumoto | Official English website | ||
| Annex Yurakuan | Official English website | ||
| Kameinoyu | Official Japanese website | ||
| Maruka | Official Japanese website | ||
| Yorozuya | Official English website | ||
| Chojiya | Official Japanese website | ||
| Misono Hotel | |||
| Shimodaya | |||
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