Ryugon

Ryugon is a dignified ryokan inn nestled at the foot of Mt. Sakado in Minami-Uonuma Town at the heart of snowy Niigata Prefecture. With around 30 spacious Japanese-style rooms, the estate consists of aristocratic and wealthy farmers’ mansions that have been given new life.

Despite the modern touches, nods to bygone eras still remain like a sunken irori hearth in the lounge and sturdy wooden pillars for withstanding Niigata’s harsh winters. There’s even an Important Cultural Property on the premises. All rooms retain the cozy nostalgic ambience of a traditional Japanese home and offer fantastic views of the inn’s garden or Mt. Sakado and the surrounding countryside with its verdant rice paddies and clear streams.

At heart, Ryugon is a ryokan that stays true to its roots and takes pride in Niigata’s unique culture as Japan’s Snow Country. Dishes highlight premium local specialties such as the soft "Koshihikari" rice that the Minami-Uonuma area is known for, the baths source their water from nearby Mukaimachi Onsen, and the inn regularly organizes cultural experiences such as cooking classes held by local women beside the communal hearth. A stay at this inn is a step back in time — a retreat to a simpler, serene world that’s free from distractions.