Japan - Lux ryokan in Shibu, Japan?

I want to go see the snow monkeys and would like to stay someplace special in Shibu, a ryokan/onsen experience for one night at least, and was wondering if anyone could recommend one in this area? Thanks.

I do believe you will best be served if I move your Thread to the Japan Forum.
Obscure2k
Moderator
Luxury Hotels

Thanks.

ryokan collection has 2 nearby

I assume you mean Shibu Onsen in Nagano:

Sakaeya is ranked top in the region by users of Jalan:
http://www.jalan.net/yad301467/


Tripadvisor also has a few reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1117904-c2-Yamanouchi_machi_Shimotakai_gun_Nagano_Prefecture_ Chubu-Hotels.html

See these threads for some info:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/899327-snowy-onsen-escape-tokyo-3.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/950299-where-see-wild-monkeys-japan.html
The following link lists the ryokans at Shibu Onsen. You might also consider Yudanaka or Kanbayashi:
http://myoko-nojiri.com/snow_monkeys/accommodation/index.htm

Thanks so much. I guess I will be choosing an inn that will pick me up from the station and that has a shuttle to the monkey park also.

Thanks so much. I guess I will be choosing an inn that will pick me up from the station and that has a shuttle to the monkey park also.
You might consider Kanbayashi Hotel Senjukaku which is fairly close to Jigokudani.

Thank you and I will check that one out now.

I plan on doing an overnight in Hiroshima with my Japanese friend, then going to see the snow monkeys and Takayama somehow solo, though it sounds a bit complicated with the transport options. Maybe it would be easier to just do a snow monkey day trip from Tokyo then book another separate trip to stay 1-2nts in Takayama and see everything in that vicinity? Isn't this a lot of back-tracking?

If I recall correctly you're stuck taking buses across the mountains if you're trying to get from Takayama to Jigokudani - though I'm not sure whether all the roads are open in the winter. On the other hand, you could try to work it out and go to this awesome onsen/ryokan that my GF and I stayed in for a night on our way from Takayama to Matsumoto last year. Somewhat pricey, but it has a 3 or 4 private rotemburo so it's great for couples, and the food is excellent. We really enjoyed it.

http://www.yarimikan.com/english/index.htm

Thanks, now I think I will save Takayama for another time and am just planning on Hiroshima and the snow monkeys-maybe Matsumoto on a separate day trip from Tokyo.

I would also learn how to use jalan.net (some japanese helps, but googling and persistence can suffice) as you will often get much better deals than through gaijin-friendly portals.
Also, if you go to Matsumoto, I highly recommend a soba lunch at Soba Sanjiro, on the main street between the station and the castle.