Shimobe Hotel

Shimobe Hotel, established in 1929, is located at the entrance of the Shimobe hot springs area. Interestingly, 1929 is the same year when Walt Disney Pictures was established, making the hotel as old as Mickey Mouse!

Why not enjoy a soak in the hot springs imagining Mickey Mouse?

At Shimobe Hotel, you can enjoy two types of hot springs: sulfur springs flowing from the garden and the communal springs of the Shimobe hot spring area. And, of course, there are also open-air bathtubs!

We recommend you starting with the indoor luke-warm sulfur spring bath and then moving on to the hot communal spring bath. Once your body has warmed up, head to the outdoor baths!

A particularly recommended outdoor bath is the pottery bath at “Hotaru no Yu (bath of fireflies).” This ceramic bath, resembling a large teacup, is for one person. Sit in the teacup with both legs and arms hanging over the edge, just like lying in a hammock. It’s incredibly relaxing!

It’s perfect for enjoying a long soak while being captivated by the sounds of birds. You will forget the passage of time as you feel the pleasant breeze on your shoulders, arms, and cheeks. Immerse your body and mind in all the effects of the hot springs.

The baths are available from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM, and the male/female bath areas will be switched between 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM. So, make sure to take a bath at least twice a day and experience both bath areas!

Private bath rooms are also available with a booking.

The Shimobe Hotel’s most noteworthy aspect is unquestionably the high-quality hot springs, but there are more to discover.

Don’t miss the staff members’ performance of a very traditional “taiko” drum show and a mochi pounding event. Mochi, sticky rice cake, is loved by non-Japanese people of all nationalities, but there must be few that have ever seen how to make it. You can eat this mochi for breakfast the next morning!

Experience the charm of domestically produced handheld fireworks showcased in the first-floor lobby – distinct in firepower and beauty from those in convenience stores. Give them a try!

In the spacious 20,000-square-meter garden, you can quietly and peacefully admire beautiful trees and ponds. There are nests of herons up in the trees. Find them and take pictures!

Moreover, you can actively enjoy fishing in the pond. The fish you catch will be grilled on charcoal for your dinner.

The sign displayed at the reception, “Welcome, fellow traveller. Here’s Rest for thy weary feet,” was written by Nitobe Inazo, a famous scholar and the author of “Bushido: The Soul of Japan”, during his stay at this hotel.  

A famous movie star of the 20th century, Ishihara Yujiro, stayed in this hotel for a month. A special room dedicated to him showcases his pictures and posters.

It could be a longstanding tradition since then, as the staff’s hospitality is exceptional. The restaurant offers rare wines from Yamanashi Prefecture, personally selected by the staff. The buffet-style menu includes staff-recommended items, and for breakfast, they serve freshly baked bread from a wagon. While hotel staff manners can sometimes be overly polite, the staff here radiate warmth, consideration, and friendliness. Undoubtedly, it’s a hotel worth revisiting.

A new restaurant, “Shimobe Hotsprings Bolognese,” recently opened in Shimobe Hotel. They specialize in Bolognese, the beloved Italian pasta dish featuring meat sauce. The unique twist here is that the spaghetti is cooked in hot spring water. If you’re in the mood for Italian cuisine during your stay in Minami-Yamanashi area, visit this restaurant and mangiare the pasta topped with ample cheese, resembling Mt. Fuji covered in snow!

Shimobe Hotel

address	1900 Kaminohira, Minobu-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi
TEL	0556-36-0311
Home Page	https://www.shimobe.co.jp/