Satoyama-jujo

Minami-uonuma

Food, architecture, hot springs! Niigata’s best attractions, gathered together in a single inn.

If you stay at a Niigata inn, you expect delicious koshihikari rice for breakfast in the morning and open-air bath with a backdrop of starry sky at night. And if you love the original sturdy wooden buildings of this heavy snowfall area… well, exactly such an inn was reborn in 2014 after renovation of the venerable inn Satoyama-jujo located in Minami-uonuma. The Jiyujin magazine company worked on the inn, which has garnered much acclaim, including selection in the Good Design Award 2014 Top 100.

An old house dating back 150 years, with 12 different concept rooms

Satoyama-jujo consists of four buildings. One of these plays a role as entryway and dates back 150 years. All were built with the thick beam construction common to areas of heavy snowfall, with all visible parts built of Japanese cypress and lacquered. One part of this warm, powerful space has been set aside as a dining room. On the other hand, the guest rooms are modern spaces created by contemporary architects and designers. All rooms are bedrooms, including tatami mat spaces and private bath rooms connected to hot spring water. Here you can enjoy both the comfortable space of designer furniture and old traditional buildings that speak of the history of Niigata.

Niigata hospitality, incorporating plenty of wild mountain edibles

In your meals too, enjoy the intersection of tradition and modernity. A first-class chef uses delicious, fresh, and safe local ingredients to prepare dishes with an organic & detox theme. Wild mountain edibles are the central ingredient. Since ancient times, the Japanese have been familiar with the wild edible plants native to the local mountains. These are prepared as simply as possible using expert cooking methods. You will enjoy their delicate bitterness and flavor, quite unlike Western vegetables. The inn also stocks a wide range of alcoholic drinks to keep everyone happy, from local Niigata sake to natural wines.

Ultimate tranquility, woven of sky and earth

Once you have your fill of food and space, heal your body by bathing in a hot spring. This is the Japanese style of travel. The view from the Amanogawa ("Milky Way") open-air bath at Satoyama-jujo is like a landscape of the original Niigata, before human habitation. It offers superb views of the deep mountain landscape surrounding the famous Mt. Makihatayama, with absolutely no manmade objects in view. Listen and you can only hear the sound of hot spring water and chirping birds. From time to time, the star-filled skies and the Milky Way are visible from the open-air bath. If you have the opportunity to stay here, you will come to understand something of genuine luxury.

For reference

Address

1209-6 Osawa, Minamiuonuma City-shi, Niigata-ken
Telephone

025-783-6777
Price

1 room, 2 guests (with breakfast): 12,000 yen per person (excluding tax)
Others

The entire building is non-smoking. Only 1 group per day with children of middle elementary school age or below (limited rooms).
Website

http://www.satoyama-jujo.com/en/