ryugon

The best inn I’ve ever experienced, of any type. Every aspect is perfect, from the Edo-era building to the warm and attentive staff to the surrounding landscape—gorgeous in the autumn. It’s clear that every detail was carefully considered to create a beautiful, comfortable, and deeply relaxing experience.

This is a copy of the email I wrote to ryugon, after our wonderful 2nights stay there:||||We just returned home on Friday, after spending 4 weeks travelling around Tohoku and Niigata. One major highlight, was our 2 nights stay at ryugon, so I want to give you a detailled feedback on it, which I will also post on Tripadvisor. ||||We travelled there by Shinkansen from Kakunodate in Akita prefecture. We left there, when it was snowing like crazy. We arrived in Omiya (Saitama) on the Komachi Shinkansen with beautiful sunny weather. And after entering the tunnel on the Shinkansen to Niigata city, we exited in Echigo-Yuzawa into pure Snow Country. Thank you for providing a shuttle from and to Echigo-Yuzawa. That is very convenient. Before getting into the shuttle, we enjoyed a drink at Hatago Isen and the food bath in front of it. ||||At ryugon, we stayed in 2 rooms, my friend in a classic room and myself in a classic suite. Both rooms were wonderful. The plus of my suite, was the small private onsen. But to be honest, I didn’t really use it, as I found it very difficult to shower before entering the onsen, without getting showering water into the onsen. My friends room had two normal lounger chairs with a view, whilst I had only a very low sofa, which I could not use (due to bad knees, and not liking/being able to get up easily from very low areas). So, I guess, my friends room was better (for our needs). But no worries, we both enjoyed our rooms fully. Our two highlights at ryugon were the onsen, and the food. The outdoor onsen was absolutely wonderful, with soothing water, a beautiful setting and a wonderful ambience. It was the major highlight of our trip, and we enjoyed every minute there. I wish I could bring this closer to my home, to experience it more often! To soak in the hot and very soft mineral water, with the head in the cold air, whilst watching snow falling: absolutely magical. Our second major highlight was the food at ryugon, especially on our second night there, where we had mushrooms in creamy sauce, a wonderfully light fish carpaccio and a delicious wagyu steak (and other delicious dishes). ||||What we also very much enjoyed at ryugon:||- the bar / lounge, where we can get free coffee / tea and patisserie at breakfast, and free sake and plum wine and senseis before dinner. What a great idea, and I think that nobody takes advantage of it. The big sofas with a view are wonderful and so comfortable. I wish to have a sofa like this at home 😊. ||- the fun short cooking class with the “grandma”. We very much enjoyed that, and it was a wonderful way of showing that its possible to communicate, without having a common language. Its by the way a great idea to use the wooden used chopsticks as a fire material. ||- the overall great mix of modern and traditional. The lobby area is so beautiful, with the big red cushion sofa, the Iori heard, the rocking chairs etc.||- the wonderful staff, which is always very friendly, smiling and helpful, no matter if they speak Englisch or not||- the beautiful mix of modern and traditional in the rooms, with tatami mats and low beds, and on the other side, a lovely kettle, a fridge, a desk etc.||||During our 2 nights stay, it was winter, and it was beautiful. We had wonderful sunshine on one morning and went for a walk in the snow cowered surroudings, with the sun shining. We had snow fall, which was especially pleasant in the outdoor onsen. We had walls of snow several meters high. Inside the Ryokan, we always felt warm and cozy. Ryugon was perfect, in every way, and the two nights there were so precious and wonderful.

I stayed at this ryokan, which beautifully combines antique architecture with modern comforts, and it was my first ryokan experience. Ryugon is located in Minami Uonuma, 30-minute ride from Echigo-Yuzawa station (70-minute Shinkansen ride from Tokyo),and it provides a free shuttle service from and to Echigo-Yuzawa station. Since it was the peak of the heavy snow season, everything around the ryokan was covered in thick, two-meter high, snow, creating an incredibly stunning view. My room was the Villa Suite Premium with one queen bed and one extra bedding. It had a private open-air onsen bath, which was not only convenient but also offered a cozy and romantic atmosphere, with the snowy scenery. The room’s heating system combined an automatic air conditioner(for both heating and cooling) with floor heating, so I never felt cold, unlike what was mentioned in some reviews. The dining experience, part of the “Snow Country Gastronomy Wagyu Beef” package, was particularly memorable. The dishes featured a well-balanced selection of vegetables, seafood, and beef, with a recipe that minimized seasoning, condiments and spices, allowing me feel the pure flavors of the ingredients. In the evening, the ryokan offered complimentary plum wine and sake in the lounge-like space, with rice cookies, which were a delightful perk for guests.

The hotel is atmosphere with a nice blend of the old and new. It is located not too far from Uonuma no Sato and have a complimentary shuttle service to and fro Hatago Isen opposite Echigo Yuzawa Station. The room is big and there is nice heated table area. The bathroom is nice but as with traditional lodgings such as this, it can be pretty cold especially at the bathroom area in winter.Dinner was served in a bento format at our room. I was a little disappointed that it is a not a proper sit-down meal at the main dining area instead. The bento includes two generously sized onigiri, appetizers, and four main items including a meat patty, grilled fish and braised wagyu.The onsen bath is also quite nice and loved the bath with the snowy landscaped garden.Service is generally good and there are snacks and drinks available at the lounge for guests. In the evening, there is also sake and umeshu available for guests.

We enjoyed our stay here. The team are kind and professional. The building has a stunning Edo period architecture. There is a beautiful garden with a pond. We enjoyed the contrast of green, blue and firey orange and red autumn colours. The food was fantastic, I enjoyed the fresh local vegetables and mushrooms. This hotel is an excellent all rounder, with a beautiful blend of modern and traditional decor.

Hotel Review: Exceptional Experience I recently had the pleasure of staying at ryugon and it truly lived up to its 5-star reputation. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with exceptional service that set the tone for the entire stay. The staff were friendly, professional, and went above and beyond to ensure every need was met. Location: Nestled in a prime area, ryugon offers convenient access to top attractions, shopping, and dining, making it perfect for both leisure and business travelers. Ambiance & Design: The hotel’s interior is a blend of modern luxury and timeless elegance. The lobby is spacious, with stunning décor and a calm atmosphere. My room was equally impressive, featuring sleek furniture, plush bedding, and state-of-the-art amenities, all contributing to a comfortable and relaxing environment. Service: The level of service is outstanding. The staff were attentive and discreet, always ensuring that I had everything I needed without being intrusive. Whether it was a concierge recommendation or room service, they delivered with efficiency and courtesy. Dining: The on-site restaurants offer a variety of gourmet options, each delivering a memorable culinary experience. The breakfast buffet was a particular highlight, offering a diverse selection of fresh, high-quality dishes. The fine dining restaurant, where I dined one evening, was exceptional, with exquisite food and attentive service. Amenities: The hotel boasts world-class amenities, including a well-equipped lobby , a serene spa, and an inviting pool area. I also appreciated the fast, reliable Wi-Fi and the added touch of personalized welcome gifts in the room. Overall Experience: ryogon exceeded my expectations in every way. It offers a perfect balance of luxury, comfort, and service, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a refined, high-end experience. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the area and look forward to returning in the future.

The personally best hotel that I have ever stayed. Every corner is so photogenic and pleasing your eye. Their hospitality was amazing and so warm. You have an access point to free snacks, tea and coffee at the bar. You can get also free Umeshu and sake there before dinner time. You can take a private bath and public bath. I saw two monkeys on the next roof from the public bath! The long aisle floor is soft tatami, and you hear the healing music. This ryokan is built by connecting several old traditional houses renovated. They left the traditional Japanese part but incorporated some modern taste and style into it. You enjoy both the comfortable stay and a Japanese style view.

In general I like this hot spring hotel which was built on the venue containing 16 houses dated back to the 17th century. The hotel itself, its garden and room all look not bad. However the AC at the boutique shop was broken yesterday and it was super hot to shop there. Not sure if it’s repaired today. An opened brush bag without toothpaste was kept in the bathroom- they expected me to use or what? The service and food can both be better - but do not take it wrong - they are already good - it’s just I have a very high standard in particular when we talk about foods. I like the two free liquor - one sale the other plum wine- provided every evening 17:00-19:30 though. :) The Hotel can organise many experiencing and traveling activities and you need to book online ahead. Free shuttle service between the hotel and ECHIGO YUZAWA STATION is provided and you also need to book in advance - very generous gesture.