Satoyama Jujo
Minami-uonuma-shi, Japan
Less than two hours by bullet train from Tokyo, Niigata is an antidote to up-tempo city living. Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan in Chubu, it’s a region of seafood, rice and sake, where you can bathe in hot springs and fill your lungs with clean mountain air. Nestled deep in this mystical landscape, in the Minami-uonuma region, is boutique ryokan Satoyama Jujo. It’s set in a centuries-old kominka, a traditional wooden-framed rustic dwelling, built to withstand the heaviest snowfall. Interiors, however, bear the hallmarks of more modern Japanese design – elegantly minimalist with an emphasis on natural materials. Indeed, nature leads here. Meals are organic and reflect a deep connection to the land, with staff regularly foraging in the mountains for ingredients. Depending on the time of year, days are spent hiking, trekking, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding, before soaking weary muscles in the hotel’s own natural onsen. There are just 19 rooms, housed in a modern annex, some with hot spring baths on the terrace and misty Mt Makihata views.
Key Information
- Rooms: 19
- Starting Rate: $603
- Dining: Sanaburi
- At the Hotel: Hot springs, event space, trekking, winter sports, mountain biking
- 81257836777
- Visit Satoyama Jujo's Website
Location
1209-6 Osawa, Minami-uonuma-shi, Niigata, 949-6361
