2 Best Sights in Yudanaka Onsen and Shibu Onsen, The Japan Alps and the North Chubu Coast

When snow is on the ground, the Japanese white macaques (Asian monkeys) that make their home here are a big draw, as are their bathing habits. To be on the safe side, don't feed or touch them—or look them in the eye. The train goes as far as Yudanaka; from there, take a taxi or bus to Kanbayashi Onsen, from which it is a 30- to 40-minute walk. There is also a direct bus to Kanbayashi Onsen from Nagano Station. Although winter is the best time to see the bathing apes, there are usually some in the onsen in other seasons. Wear good shoes as the path can get muddy, and leave heavy luggage at your hotel or in your car.

As well as hot-spring baths within ryokan, Shibu has nine baths scattered around town, each of which is said to bring a different benefit to bathers, from soothing intestinal issues to treating neuralgia. Legend has it that bathing in all nine results in longevity and protection from evil. Bath number 9 (called O-yu) is open to day-trippers (buy a ticket at the local tourist office), but if you stay at an inn in Shibu, you'll be given a key that unlocks all nine baths, so you can don your in-room yukata gown and hop from bath to bath.