Mori-Miyanohara Station × Hot spring × Highly rated Hotel·Ryokan

I stayed here to relax at an Onsen Accommodation. The homemade, heartfelt dishes were truly delicious. Dinner was great, but breakfast was especially memorable—the simmered royal fern, Tochio fried tofu and bamboo shoots, and simmered potatoes were outstanding. The potato salad was also excellent; the woman next to me had finished hers and asked for seconds, so I requested an extra serving as well. After bathing, I opened the Room window and enjoyed the pleasant night breeze from the satoyama countryside, soothed by a chorus of frogs. I was very satisfied!

It may sound a bit exaggerated, but it felt like going back to my family home—catching up on how things have been lately and, if the mood struck, stopping by places I was recommended. Meals were unpretentious, and bathing felt just like soaking in our own tub at home. I was able to truly relax.

Mr./Ms. Chitose stayed with us for the third time this year. One of this Accommodation’s highlights is the meals, but above all, it’s the quality of the hot spring water. We look forward to visiting again.

This was my first visit to Nozawa Onsen, and our stay—including at this Accommodation—was truly wonderful. In addition to visiting the public baths, we also enjoyed the bath here; it uses water from the Oyu source and was adjusted to a comfortable temperature, making it very relaxing. We ate dinner out on the first night and at the Accommodation on the second night, and both meals were delicious, making great use of local ingredients. We had breakfast on both days as well; the menu changed each day, and everything was thoughtfully prepared with local produce. The rice and miso soup were especially outstanding—so good that I even wished I’d eaten fewer side dishes just to enjoy more rice. The building has a sense of history, but it is carefully maintained. The staff were consistently courteous and attentive, so we felt comfortable throughout our stay. This is an Accommodation we would love to visit again.

A luxury to soak in the hot water while listening to Japanese bush warblers during the day and a chorus of frogs at night. The spring-inspired meals were also delicious and truly enjoyable. There aren’t any particularly special amenities or services, but everything feels comfortable—from walking barefoot on the tatami floors throughout the property to the subtle aroma in the air—and it’s genuinely relaxing. The building seems old, but it’s kept very clean, with no faults at all. It was so quiet that I could clearly hear the pleasant snoring from the next room—perhaps part of its charm. The Onsen is, of course, wonderful as well.\nI would definitely love to visit again.

I stayed at Naraya Ryokan before moving overseas in November. I won’t be back for a while, but I’m glad I had the chance to stay at such a wonderful ryokan. The room, meals, and hot springs were all excellent.

After winding through narrow alleys, we arrived at the Ryokan. From the Room we were shown to, we could see the Asagama kiln up close. Since we arrived a little early, we headed into the Onsen town with a hand-drawn map made by the proprietress. After visiting three public baths, we stopped by a shop that brews craft beer and enjoyed a drink with edamame. The seasonal breeze felt wonderfully refreshing. These public baths are maintained by local residents, and visitors use them by placing a voluntary contribution in a donation box. Both the changing area and the bath itself are small, but it didn’t bother us at all. It was wonderful to see that these traditional communal baths are still part of everyday life here. The Ryokan is an older building, but it is well cared for and very clean. When I opened the window in my Room and read, I could hear people passing outside and birdsong carried on a pleasant breeze. In contrast to many Ryokan that feel shut off from the outside world, this sense of connection was especially comforting. What left the strongest impression was the food: dishes made mainly with local ingredients were not flashy, but beautifully seasoned—I found myself thinking how refined the chef’s palate must be. Breakfast was similar: simple rather than extravagant, yet deeply satisfying by the end. The couple who run the Ryokan were also very welcoming, making our stay comfortable from start to finish. This visit reminded me of what makes Nozawa Onsen so special as a town: narrow streets and old-fashioned shops remain; communal baths are protected by local residents; and its unique Onsen-town culture continues without being swept away by showy development. Soak in an Onsen, stroll through town, enjoy a beer, return to your Accommodation and read while feeling the atmosphere outside—then savor a delicious meal. It was a trip where such ordinary moments felt truly rich. I’d love to visit Nozawa Onsen again in another season.

I stayed at another Accommodation in the same group not long ago, but this was my first return to Tamakiya in 10 years. Last time, discovering Abe Shuzo through the sake pairing was a real highlight, so I did it again this time. Since it was a special occasion, I decided to pay the extra fee and choose the optional premium sake course. It more than lived up to expectations—I truly enjoyed a wide range of excellent sakes, including some with a playful twist. The sommelier’s stories were fascinating, and I wished I could have listened even longer. I was traveling solo, but the staff were consistently courteous and attentive, no different from how they treated larger groups, which I really appreciated. The food was also outstanding: a course featuring plenty of local Niigata ingredients, with every dish delicious from appetizers to dessert. Next time, I’d love to stay in midwinter when there’s deep snow.

This was our first time staying at a Hotel in Tsunan with our dog. We used to stay in cottages with our children, but after we started keeping a dog, it was hard to visit Tsunan. Thanks to the pet-friendly Room and the new dog run, we were able to fully enjoy comfortable autumn days in Tsunan. The all-inclusive plan was also appealing, and comparing different types of Japanese sake was a lot of fun. Next time, we’d like to visit in winter for skiing and lanterns. Thank you very much.

I made an Accommodation Reservation to visit the permanent exhibitions of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. I chose this place because I thought it would surely be fully booked around the time of next year’s event, and I wanted to stay here before then. On the way there, I used the Shuttle Service bus. Since it’s quite a distance from the station to the Accommodation, using it was definitely the right choice. After arriving, I was able to relax with a welcome drink and sweets while enjoying the view outside, and spent a very peaceful time. The bath is small, but soaking while watching the sky darken and looking out over the forest was wonderful. Dinner featured shabu-shabu as the main dish. The rice was delicious in a way that really reminded me this is Niigata, and there was also a great selection of sake and wine. I enjoyed my meal while taking in the slowly fading scenery. It seemed like all of the other guests staying there looked happy as well. The items provided in my Room were minimal—nothing unnecessary—and I actually appreciated that. (I forgot to bring makeup remover, but they had Sekkisei amenities, which really helped! I use it regularly too, so that made me even happier.) One request: I would have liked a small step stool near the washer & dryer area. Since I’m not very tall, I couldn’t reach far enough into the dryer. Breakfast looked and tasted exactly like what you’d call “a Japanese breakfast,” and I was very satisfied. Thank you very much.

Nozawa Onsen has few accommodations that allow pets. Among them, we had an excellent stay in a spacious log house room, enjoying a relaxing onsen experience. They provided a parking pass for visiting the public baths in town and even allowed us to use the onsen after the trail race the next day. The attentive service was truly appreciated. We look forward to staying here again when we participate in the race next year.

The accommodation has been renovated and is very beautiful. The dining area is also very clean and atmospheric, and the food was absolutely delicious, making it a highly satisfying experience. Above all, the staff were incredibly kind, making it a very comfortable place to stay. I would love to visit again. Thank you in advance!

The Facility is a bit dated, but it is well maintained and thoroughly cleaned, so we were able to stay comfortably. The indoor bath is also fed directly from the hot spring source, and we enjoyed it several times both morning and night. Both dinner and breakfast were beautifully presented and delicately seasoned, featuring mountain ingredients and local specialties, and we left feeling very full. Thank you very much.

I returned to Kawazuya again for the delicious food and the Onsen. Soaking in the dimly lit cave bath, I find myself becoming completely empty-minded... it’s a precious time when I can clear my head for a while. After the bath, enjoying the many delicious dinner dishes with Iwanashi sake was the best. The myoga (Japanese ginger) in fried tofu was especially outstanding. Breakfast was also very tasty, enjoyed while looking at the Akiyama-go scenery from the window, and the lightly sweet tamagoyaki made me want more rice. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality from the owner and his wife.

The property faces Oyu Street in the heart of Nozawa Onsen, with the Accommodation entrance just steps away. It’s also conveniently located about a 10-minute walk from the Nagasaka Gondola. The parking lot is about a 3-minute walk from the building, but for the Nozawa Onsen area it offers plenty of spaces. Depending on where you park, it may not be possible to pull your car out immediately, but if you share your schedule in advance they will accommodate you. Inside, there are two private baths: a free-flowing natural hot-spring Onsen (direct from the source) and an ion bath. The Onsen is just like the public baths in town, and because it’s private, it’s perfect for anyone who wants to soak and relax at their own pace. The ion bath has a generator in the tub that creates bubbling water; it feels refreshing after enjoying the Onsen and is also highly recommended. Both the common areas and guest rooms reflect the owner’s attention to detail, creating a fun space that feels different from a typical hot-spring Ryokan. You can also access the café and shop facing Oyu Street directly from inside, making it easy to stop for tea or do some shopping.

I just stayed here in March, but I came back again! It’s such a relaxing Accommodation, and I’d love to return for another restful getaway. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality.

The inn had a wonderful atmosphere, the staff were attentive and courteous, the meals were delicious, and the free-flowing natural hot spring bath was exceptional—everything exceeded our expectations.

The meals were very generous, and I felt sorry that I couldn’t finish everything. The Onsen was a comfortable, easy-to-enjoy temperature.

Although there is only one type of spring source—our favorite sulfur Onsen—we enjoyed how the water color differed between the indoor bath and the open-air bath. The open-air bath also offered beautiful fresh green maple leaves, and we would love to visit again during the autumn foliage season. The meals were a satisfying amount for enjoying drinks, with seasonal items as well. The asparagus tempura in particular was outstanding. The building is old, but the Room had been renovated and was clean. From the Room, we enjoyed the garden flowers and fresh greenery.

The service was attentive and excellent from check-in to dining. Detailed explanations were provided throughout the accommodation, offering a sense of history everywhere. The quality of the hot spring water was exceptional and rare to find elsewhere. I would love to visit again in a different season.