Sixteen relocated houses; one passage is wide enough for a palanquin.

ryugon is a 29-room ryokan in Minamiuonuma, Niigata, at the foot of Mount Sakado, built from residences of a local headman and wealthy farmers that were relocated in the Bunka-Bunsei period (1804-1829); the inn describes its main building as designated as a cultural property. Room types range from Classic rooms in a former Nagaoka rice merchant's mansion, with tatami-laid corridors and beds, to Villa Suites with an open-air bath on a garden-facing terrace filled with Muikamachi Onsen water, plus three private villas for exclusive rental. The main hot spring baths are in a single-storey wooden building reconstructed from an old rice store, and there is also a private open-air bath. Dinner is a 'Snow Country Gastronomy' course built around foraged wild plants and mushrooms, fermented foods and snow-stored vegetables, with meat and fish grilled over an irori hearth; meals are not included in the room rate. Extra-guest rates are set for elementary-school children and for infants without bedding.

ryugon

龍言

Rate

From US$147 per person

From US$294 for 2 guests (1 room)

Per person, per night, with dinner and breakfast — derived by halving a two-person total rather than quoted directly, so treat it as an indication rather than a price. Shown in US dollars, converted from the yen the property quotes at the Oct 7, 2026 reference rate; the booking site charges at its own rate.

Dates and guests

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The stay

Private bath: Some rooms only — the room type decides

Practical details

From the property’s or its operator’s official website. Only what the site states is shown.

Getting there: 18-minute walk or about 4-6 minutes by taxi (1.5 km) from Muikamachi Station; from Tokyo take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa, then a local train (about 20 min). A scheduled shuttle bus also runs from in front of Echigo-Yuzawa HATAGO Isen opposite Echigo-Yuzawa Station (reservation required by 18:00 the day before); Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 8, 2026
Nearest station: Muikamachi Station (JR Joetsu Line / Hokuhoku Line); Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 8, 2026
Room capacity: Up to 3-4 guests in most rooms; some larger units up to 8, and The Manor House up to 10; Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 8, 2026
Children: Children welcome; extra-guest rates are set for elementary-school children and for infants without bedding; Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 8, 2026
Dinner: 'Snow Country Gastronomy' course dinner in the main dining room, with ingredients grilled over a central irori hearth; reservation required 3 days in advance (meals are not included in room rates); Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 8, 2026
Breakfast: Semi-buffet breakfast in the dining area with Uonuma Koshihikari rice, local side dishes and Western options; 7:30-10:30 (last entry 10:00), reserve by the day before; Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Oct 8, 2026

Tattoos, special diets, accessibility and solo stays: see “Before you book: what the property officially says” below.

Before you book: what the property officially says

Answers taken from the property’s or its operator’s official website, with the exact wording. We only show what the site states.

Tattoos

Shared baths: Allowed only if covered — Show the property’s wording
入れ墨やタトゥーをお持ちのお客様は大浴場のご利用をご遠慮いただいております。但しタトゥーシールなどで隠してご利用いただくことはできます
The property’s own words · Source: ryugon.co.jp (opens in a new tab) · Checked Sep 29, 2026

Private bathing for tattooed guests: not clearly stated on the official site — ask the property before booking.

Dietary needs

Not clearly stated on the official site — ask the property before booking.

Accessibility

Not clearly stated on the official site — ask the property before booking.

Travelling solo

Not clearly stated on the official site — ask the property before booking.

Against the 179

Size: 29 rooms— Just over the median of 28; the 179 run 1 to 508
Award: The Ryokan Collection— 46 of 179
Type: Ryokan— 59 of 179
Where: Niigata— 2 of 179

The catalogue’s own axis

3 Keys7 stays
2 Keys23 stays
1 Key113 stays
Relais & Châteaux15 stays
The Ryokan Collection46 stays

The Ryokan Collection — 46 of the 179 stays here.

For scale: the smallest stay in this catalogue is Hakone Kairai at 1 room, the largest The Okura Tokyo at 508.

Nearby

Untō-an Temple

≈ 3.1 km away · Temple

Mount Hakkai

≈ 14 km away · Mountain

Golden rice ears ripening below the Echigo mountains in Minamiuonuma

Uonuma Rice Fields

Farmland

Sakado Castle Ruins

Castle

Lake Shakunage

Lake

Uonuma Skyline

Viewpoint

Distances are in a straight line from this property, not travel times. Locations from OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Photos: © Ibaraki101c (CC BY-SA 4.0) · © Raita Futo (CC BY 2.0) · Wsj (Public domain) · © 鈴木健007 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · 河川一等兵 (Public domain) · © Triglav (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About the ratings

RYOKAN

The Ryokan Collection

A small membership of established Japanese ryokan recognised for the traditional inn experience.

Good to know

Are meals included in the rate?

The rate shown is per person and includes dinner and breakfast.

How many rooms does ryugon have?

ryugon has 29 rooms.

How do you get to ryugon?

18-minute walk or about 4-6 minutes by taxi (1.5 km) from Muikamachi Station; from Tokyo take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa, then a local train (about 20 min). A scheduled shuttle bus also runs from in front of Echigo-Yuzawa HATAGO Isen opposite Echigo-Yuzawa Station (reservation required by 18:00 the day before)

What is the nearest station to ryugon?

Muikamachi Station (JR Joetsu Line / Hokuhoku Line)

How many guests can stay in one room at ryugon?

Up to 3-4 guests in most rooms; some larger units up to 8, and The Manor House up to 10

What is the policy on children at ryugon?

Children welcome; extra-guest rates are set for elementary-school children and for infants without bedding

What are the dinner arrangements at ryugon?

'Snow Country Gastronomy' course dinner in the main dining room, with ingredients grilled over a central irori hearth; reservation required 3 days in advance (meals are not included in room rates)

What are the breakfast arrangements at ryugon?

Semi-buffet breakfast in the dining area with Uonuma Koshihikari rice, local side dishes and Western options; 7:30-10:30 (last entry 10:00), reserve by the day before

How do I book ryugon?

Use the booking links near the top of this page. Prices and cancellation terms differ between sellers, so it is worth comparing more than one.