This 140 year old traditional guest house is brilliantly located in Yudanaka. Close to a ski shuttle, it is on the main onsen street where we could easily stroll past several stores and restaurants, but is just a few steps outside the Shibu Onsen town line so we could not enter the "public" onsens. That said the Masuya price was a deal for its location/superior service AND it has its own very enjoyable onsen. The Masuya's staff Sato-san, Miu-san, Kobayashi-san, to name a few are outstanding and went out of their way to make our stay experience even more special. IE they recommended we see the town's post New Years bonfire along the river. The 20 foot bonfire could easily be observed from the hotel's spacious deck but, Kobayashi-san, who spoke little english, emphasized we walk down the street, cross the bridge and go to the rivers edge. We are so happy he did as it allowed us to be with the local community and families. After short blessings and optimistic words from community leaders they handed out mikans(oranges) and cups of sake. It was one of those unplanned moments that provided a special memory. The meals at Masuya were unmatched for its unique-ness and quality at both breakfast and dinner. Tika-san and Su-san were fantastic hosts and after 4 nights, there were few repeat dishes from the chefs. The overall hotel service was consistently excellent across all employees, I wish I had taken note of everyone's names. I highly recommend this ryokan for a true experience.
