Explore Ghibli World in Shibu Onsen

Shibu Onsen is the famous hot spring town which is located in Gunma Prefecture and there is a skiing spot in the winter season near Shibu Onsen town.

Shibu Onsen joins Kusatsu, Minakami, and Shima Onsen as the most famous hot spring town of Gunma prefecture.

And there is one of famous hotels in this area that served as a model for Spirited Away.

This area is the best place for people who are interested in Japanese traditional town and would like to relax at Japanese hotel.

If you would like to know how to enjoy winter Japan, please explore here!

What is Shibu Onsen

Shibu Onsen is located in Nagano Prefecture and is one of the famous hot spring towns in Nagano and Gunma, along with places like Ikaho Onsen and Nozawa Onsen. Though it’s a bit smaller in scale, Shibu Onsen has a charming, peaceful atmosphere with fewer crowds, making it perfect for a relaxing experience. There’s also a hotel that inspired the setting of Spirited Away, so for Studio Ghibli fans, it’s definitely a must-visit spot!

In winter, the nearby Maruike Ski Resort in Shiga Kogen opens as well. This makes Shibu Onsen a popular spot for enjoying both hot springs and skiing at the same time!

Shibu Onsen is an ancient hot spring with a history dating back about 1,300 years. It consists of nine public baths, each with its own special meaning and health benefits.

The “Hatsu no Yu” is said to be good for digestion
“Sasa no Yu” is believed to be effective for skin conditions like rashes, herpes, and recovery after illness.
“Wata no Yu” is known to help with skin issues like acne
“Take no Yu” is beneficial for gout.
“Matsu no Yu” is said to treat nerve pain, help with post-illness recovery, and even soothe eye conditions.
“Me-arai no Yu” is known for its eye-healing effects and is said to make you more beautiful.
“Nanaguri no Yu” is said to cure illnesses completely after seven baths
“Shinmei-taki no Yu” is believed to help with fertility.
“Oyu” is considered effective for curing all kinds of ailments.

In Japan, each hot spring is believed to have different healing effects on specific parts of the body. By learning about these unique benefits, your experience of visiting hot springs will definitely become even more enjoyable!

How to get to Shibu Onsen

There are mainly two ways to get to Shibu Onsen. Taking a bus is a cheaper option, but it requires transfers and takes a considerable amount of time. Personally, I recommend taking the train instead. Along the way, you can stop at Yudanaka, which is also a popular sightseeing spot, so be sure to visit that as well!

This is the graph of how much each the way and how long you are gonna take.

transportation to the Shibu onsen from Tokyo

If you would like to book the bus right away, please visit this site!(this site is originally Japanese.) Once you access the site, you choose the central and please select Nagano prefecture.

Hours and fee

Shibu Onsen has several public baths, and each bath costs 500 yen to enter. There is also a special ticket, the Yumeguri Tegata, which allows you to visit multiple baths. If you want to try many baths, this ticket is a good option. You can buy these tickets at the Information Center, so please check it out!

Go Skiing in Winter!!

Maruike Ski Resort, located in the central area of Shiga Kogen in Nagano, is perfect for families, with a well-equipped Kids Park and ski lessons available. At the base of the slopes, there’s a Kids Park where children can have fun making snowmen and snowballs. For more experienced skiers, there are steep, challenging mogul courses that are known for being “thrilling to ski,” making this resort popular among both beginners and advanced skiers alike.

The slopes at Maruike Ski Resort are not very large, so advanced skiers may find them a bit limited. However, Shiga Kogen itself is a very large ski area, so be sure to check that out as well! For more detailed information about the ski resort, click here.

Lift Price

Next, let’s go over lift ticket prices. There’s a lift pass that covers all the ski areas within Shiga Kogen, and as of November 7th, it costs 4,800 yen for adults. With access to 13 ski areas, I personally think this is a great deal. It’s perfect for those who want to enjoy both hot springs and skiing!

Recommended Restaurants in Shibu Onsen

Hakko

This restaurant serves delicious dishes made with local ingredients that you can only enjoy in this area. It’s located in Yudanaka Onsen, right next to Shibu Onsen, so be sure to enjoy Yudanaka as well while you’re there!

Haneda Kanseido

This is a long-established shop that has been making manju for nearly 90 years. Manju is a traditional Japanese sweet filled with sweetened red bean paste made from soybeans. You can enjoy delicious manju that truly reflects its 90 years of tradition. Be sure to visit and try them!

The recommended hotel

Shibu Onsen, Historical Inn Kanaguya

This is the one that I mentioned that is a model for Spirited Away and you can feel a real Japanese hotel through this hotel if you stay here.

if you would like to book this hotel, I will recommend using Tr ip.com. Because you can save the mile and the more you can book the hotel or train, the higher your rank will go up. So if you interested in traveling many countries, I strongly recommend this site.