Shibu Onsen is a beautiful small hot springs village with a 1300 year history. There are 31 Ryokan (traditional Japanese guest houses) and 9 public onsen (hot springs) each with its own healing properties. It's about 6 hours west of Narita by train and the closest town to the Snow Monkey Park 4 km further up the valley.
One story of the Snow Monkeys - In 1964 a ski resort opened in the mountains pushing the monkeys down towards the farm lands where they became a "pest". One man had the idea of controlling the monkeys by regular feeding and after 5 years the whole troop moved. A young monkey dipped his foot in the hot springs, liked it so he immersed his whole body and the other monkeys soon followed. A separate Onsen was then built just for the monkeys.
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| Path to the Snow Monkeys |
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| Street in Shibu Onsen |
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| Two women on their way to ... |
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| ... bathe at public onsen number three |
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| Welcome tea in our Ryokan |
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| Dressed in the ryokan yukatas and ready for ... |
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| ... a private onsen |
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| First night - hand made soba noodles with mushrooms |
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| Breakfast - eggs cooked in hot spring water |
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| Second night - cold soba noodles, the local speciality |
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| Shibu Onsen Temple snowed in |
