We loved staying at Ryokan Biyu No Yado. It’s a beautiful hotel that offers plenty of traditional Japanese ryokan experiences along with a few western comforts. We stayed at Ryokan Biyu as part of a tour with Japan Powder Culture Tours, and the hotel was a key part of the cultural components of the trip. The guides took us out powder chasing at Shiga Kogen and nearby ski areas during the day, we enjoyed lovely Japanese meals at Biyu, watched a geisha performance at the hotel, and had twice daily soaks in the onsen.

We stayed in the suite which had luxe western/Japanese combo décor and featured a private onsen on the balcony where we could relax and take in the 180 degree views of the mountains and the valley. The living area was spacious and the beds incredibly comfortable. It was fabulous!

The service levels were very impressive, from the lady who served us breakfast to the helpful staff on reception.

You can enjoy the town of Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen, and get a Japanese experience at the ryokan as well, which is something that too many Japanese ski resort hotels and “villages” have lost. We can definitely recommend the Biyu for a Japan snow holiday.
See our video here

We really enjoyed our stay at Ryokan Biyu No Yado because it provided great cultural experiences such as a taiko drum show, whilst also offering a few western concepts to make it very comfortable.

We stayed at Ryokan Biyu as part of a Nagano Powder Package, and the accommodation really added to the overall experience - a variety of ski resorts to sup on powder, followed by a well deserved soak in the onsen, some après ski drinks at the bar, and then lovely Japanese fare for dinner.

The onsen at Biyu was fantastic. One of the outdoor baths is a little larger than the other, and they swapped it every couple of days as to which one was for the ladies or gents.

For part of our time we stayed in the western suite which had a private outdoor bath. It was phenomenal – the absolute ultimate luxurious experience to relax in the onsen whilst taking in the views! The suite itself was also exquisite; spacious, superbly appointed with Japanese décor along with western comforts such as leather recliner sofa chairs, and a ridiculously comfortable king bed.

We also stayed in a deluxe twin room with tatami area. This was also a great room with plenty of space, and we hosted a couple of “tea parties” around the low Japanese table.

The food was another highlight of our stay at Biyu. Evening meals were very traditional and thankfully after a hard day on the slopes, we sat on low chairs rather than on the floor. Breakfast was a buffet with mostly western items and plenty of variety and fuel for the day. We love experiencing the Japanese culture but there are a few things that grow old rather quickly, such as fish for breakfast! Thankfully Biyu provides a traditional ryokan experience, without being scary.

The owners and the staff are absolutely lovely. Many speak English and are only too happy to answer any queries or provide advice on local activities.

We can highly recommend a stay at this fantastic hotel.
See our video here