里山十帖

We booked about 6 months ahead and secured one of best view rooms in the main building. As a fan of Scandinavian mid century furniture, this establishment was very appealing with focus on design and functionality. The main attraction were the meals, thoughtfully curated with local produces. Simple, pure and absolutely delicious, of predominately vegetables. The star of the meal was boiled rice (what this region is famous for), eaten with preserved pickles. With only one night stay, our wishes were answered with snow falling just after midnight and throughout the rest of our stay. Nothing like soaking in your balcony onsen whilst snowing 😊

We were looking forward to this stay, but unfortunately it was a bit of a letdown. The hard product of the rooms just isn’t stellar, and definitely not worth the price, and we stayed in one of the better looking rooms (room 202 w/ 2 stories). Check in and check out were disorganized as all groups were arriving and departing at once. The real issue, however, occurred at night. Though we had both heaters off, heat was coming from somewhere in the room and it woke us up many times throughout the night. We also tried only having the fan on, with no heat, but that didn’t solve the issue either. Due to the heater malfunction, we had poor rest, which is the opposite experience one would like to have at a ryokan. To make matters worse, when asking staff about the issue, and whether something could be done about it, the lady (middle aged Japanese lady with short hair) checked our room, then said “I’ll check with my boss” and literally never came back. The views of fluffy snow were the redeeming factor at Satoyama Jujo, but I definitely would not return.

Satoyama Jujo is a beautifully secluded ryokan set deep in the countryside of Niigata, offering a calm and immersive stay that feels far removed from daily life. We visited from the 16th to the 19th of December, just before the start of the Yuzawa ski season, and stayed in Room 205, a triple room with a private outdoor hot spring. The ryokan is located around 30 minutes by taxi from Echigo-Yuzawa Shinkansen Station, which has convenient connections to both Tokyo and Niigata. With only ten rooms in total, the atmosphere is exceptionally serene and peaceful, making it ideal for guests seeking privacy and quiet. Our room was thoughtfully laid out, combining elegant designer furniture with traditional Japanese elements. The private outdoor hot spring was a highlight, with consistently warm water and a very relaxing setting. Do note, however, that all rooms are fitted with Japanese-style bedding such as futons rather than Western beds, which may require some adjustment for some guests. A complimentary minibar is provided in the room and stocked with local snacks. Guests are also welcome to bring snacks and drinks from the communal lounge area or purchase additional items from the ryokan’s boutique. Check-in is at 3 pm and check-out at 11 am, though this can be adjusted to 2 pm and 12 pm respectively upon request. The dining experience at Satoyama Jujo is particularly memorable. The cuisine is deeply rooted in the region, focusing on healthy, nourishing dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients. Guests should be aware that unique ingredients may be used during the kaiseki meals; during our stay, this included bear meat and wild boar. Some standout dishes for us were the bear meat shabu shabu, freshwater crab arancini filled with millets and crab roe, and Sado Island yellowtail served as sashimi. The ryokan also offers both non-alcoholic and sake pairings, which is fitting given that Niigata is home to some of Japan’s finest sake. The public baths are located on the second floor and consist of two different styles: one with a rectangular, infinity-edged outdoor hot spring, and the other with a round stone bath. These operate on a rotation schedule between men’s and women’s use. The baths are closed for cleaning from 10 am to 3 pm each day, during which time they are unavailable. The views from the baths are spectacular, especially with the snow-covered mountains, which were breathtaking during our stay. The hot spring water is also known to be beneficial for the skin and for conditions such as rheumatoid issues. The surrounding area is quite rural, but there are rewarding outings nearby. Our favourites included trips to the onsen town of Echigo-Yuzawa, which becomes lively during ski season, and Hakkaisan, a nearby sake brewery. Additional sightseeing options can be arranged with the staff upon request. The staff were consistently warm and attentive, making genuine efforts to communicate in English. There were no major communication issues, and some materials, including dinner menus, were also available in Korean and Mandarin. One thing to keep in mind is that during early winter, insects may appear around the property as they begin to nest. The ryokan thoughtfully provides kits for guests to deal with this if needed. Overall, Satoyama Jujo offers a truly special experience. With its tranquil setting, exceptional regional cuisine, and sincere Japanese hospitality, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime stay and is well worth the journey.

Located in the mountains of Yuzawa, this is a beautiful place to spend time with your loved ones. The room is simple but comfortable, having private bath in your unit is nice to have. The main large bath is nice too with a nice view of the mountains. They offer so many amenities throughout the inn, sake, beer, teas, ice candy, etc. the kitchen tour before the dinner is good and I highly recommend to take up in this. The building is splendid too.

The service at the hotel was unbelievable. Our room smelled so bad of goat that we couldn't believe it was a hotel in Japan. We left the balcony door open to dissipate the smell for almost 20 minutes. When we got back to our room after going to the spa we still smelled heavy. We called the bellman and here comes the highlight of this trip: after confirming the room smelled, the bellman said we could change to another room. But it would require us to pay an extra 2,000 JPY！I couldn't believe my ears, it was the hotel's responsibility but needed us to take the blame for their mistake. So that means the hotel thinks that the smell of the room is the responsibility of the guest who just checked in? Is this the Japanese hotel? Where has your spirit of service gone? I think the management is to blame. We have now changed to a smaller room but to be honest my husband and I are very disappointed, we used to come to Japan every month but what we encountered this time was really a big let down. Let's just say, unbelievable and won't be coming back！