I’ve wanted to visit Niigata for as long as I can remember.
Many people think of snow for this area but I think of all the green. All of the green and all of the rice fields.
*Please note that Satoyama Jujo welcomes guests with children 12 or older. This age requirement also applies for restaurant use.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Satoyama Jujo is most definitely a high end experience and a beautiful luxury getaway for couples or families. You see, Satoyama Jujo is a gorgeous retreat.
Satoyama Jujo is the main hotel* and restaurant building. A gorgeous, 150 year old, wooden lodge with 13 hotel rooms, guest lounges and onsen. Every single room is furnished differently with art and designer pieces through out. This is a 5 star ryokan experience.
*Please note that Satoyama Jujo welcomes guests with children 12 or older. This age requirement also applies for restaurant use.
The in-house restaurant within theSatoyama Jujo uses only organic, local produce and is a feast on the stomach but also the eyes.
Chef Keiko Kuwakino is holds a Michelin Star and is listed among Japan’s top 100 chefs.
Then, away from the main house are a whole range of free standing homes for guests and I was lucky enough to stay in one of them. It was an incredibly beautiful and magical experience. This is one of the most beautiful places I have stayed in my whole life.
How to get to Satoyama Jujo?
Satoyama Jujo is 3 hours drive from Tokyo. I have written about what it is like to drive in Japan here – please note that during colder months you will need to rent a car with chains on tyres and have experience driving on icy/snowy roads.
If you drive, put this address into google maps: 1209-6 Osawa, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata 949-6361
What to read before driving in Japan
The Japan Automobile Federation has a detailed guide on road safety in Japan here.
Here is the link to the National Police Agency’s Traffic Safety Guidelines in Japan.
And here is the National Police Agency’s brochure for international drivers in Japan.
And here are my personal tips for driving in Japan.
From Tokyo, you can also take the bullet train to Echigo-Yuzawa Station (takes 80 mins) and then you can take a taxi for 20 mins to Satoyama Jujo. Or, from Echigo-Yuzawa Station, you can take a local train for 10 mins to Ozawa Station and then a taxi for 10 mins.
Satoyama Jujo is 20 mins drive from Yuzawa or a little under 3 hours drive from Hakuba.
Satoyama Jujo is also 12 km from Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort and 35 km from Naeba Ski Resort.
Satoyama Jujo is 28 mins drive fromKiyotsu Gorge and 35 mins from the House of Light (opening hours are limited so please check ahead of your visit.)
Please note that you will need to check access and safety directions for driving in this area in the winter months.
What is it like to stay at once of the stand alone houses and cottages at Satoyama Jujo?
As well as the main Satoyama Jujo building, Satoyama Jujo boasts a collection of stand alone houses and cottages for guests. I was lucky enough to be invited to stay at one of them recently and I can, without a doubt, say that it was the most beautiful house I have ever seen.
Click here to see the exact property we stayed in at Satoyama Jujo (it’s often titled “Suite with a Mountain View) – it is a stand alone home and on booking.com is referred to as a suite with a garden view (though I, personally, can verify that is very much a luxury stand alone home with a kitchen, several bathrooms (including an outdoor rotenburo bath) a lounge area, two bedrooms and a tatami area (which can also be set up with additional bedding.)
Connected to the house is also a stand alone sauna – right there next to the rice fields.
I didn’t ever want to leave. This property is lush and relaxing. It was really to pretend this was our own little posh Japanese home in the countryside.
This home has a”Sakura Quality ESG Practice” sustainability certificate too.
As you can imagine, the scenery here looks different in the warmer months to the winter snowy months.
at Satoyama Jujo. I’ve written about driving in Japan here.
The tatami room. This was my favourite room in the house.
While staying in the house here, we were able to dine in the main house and make use of the onsen facilities – while also having the option to make use of the rotenburo outdoor bath at our own house. We could also choose to have breakfast delivered to us or walk down the hill a few metres to the main building instead.
This property would be the most gorgeous family getaway (the house sleeps up to 6 people) or also a romantic “let’s get away from the world for a bit” staycay for a couple.
*Please note that Satoyama Jujo welcomes guests with children 12 or older. This age requirement also applies for restaurant use.
Dinner at Satoyama Jujo
The head chef here is Keiko Kuwakino – she is so incredible. Every single dish was so delicious but also a masterpiece to look at. Make sure you give Satoyama Jujo plenty of notice if you have special dietary requirements.
Breakfast at Satoyama Jujo
Breakfast here is a gourmet event in itself. Make sure you check the breakfast hours before planning a day out if you are an early riser as it is hard to get a breakfast option before 8am. The restaurant plays shamisen tracks over breakfast too – it’s so relaxing.
Please let me know when you stay at Satoyama Jujo and love it as much as I do – it is so spectacularly beautiful here.
