ryugon — Hotel in Minamiuonuma

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...

ryugon really nails it on all counts. It was recently rebuilt, but you wouldn't be able to tell by walking around the property grounds. The architecture exudes old-world Japan charm, yet everything inside is modern - there's no skimping on technology (lightning-fast WiFi, power ports everywhere, a proper desk and chair for working, light switches next to the bed, etc.) and functionality. In the common areas, it's a mixture of old Japan and old Japan with an artsy twist (see photos for an idea of what I mean.) It really feels like you're in an Edo-era Samurai's residence.||||We stayed in the top room category (Villa Suite Premium), of which there are three. Our suite (Room G) seemed to be the best located with the best privacy. It faced a beautiful pond with a forest beyond it, and an incredible open-air onsen hot springs bath right on the terrace. It was serene, soothing and incredibly refreshing. If you can swing it, I would highly recommend this room.||||Meals are served in the main restaurant - we usually prefer ryokans that serve meals in the comfort of our own room - but at least they offer private rooms in the restaurant so you can enjoy dinner with some semblance of intimacy. And the food was great. Not only that, but ryugon focuses on local ingredients (with some exceptions, since it's not near the ocean so some of the seafood was brought in from the coast), and overall they do an amazing job with the creativity.. both in terms of flavoring as well as artistic flair. Rice was particularly noteworthy; Uonuma Shiozawa rice is regarded by some as some of the best (if not THE best) rice in all of Japan, and ryugon serves it up by cooking it in individual pot, and it was done to perfection. If you think of rice as a carb-laden staple to be eaten together with condiments, you wouldn't be wrong, but in this particular case, the rice was so incredible that it can be enjoyed all by itself. Consider it the butter croissants of rice and you wouldn't be far off!||||Service by the staff were professional, prompt and graceful. They stay out of the way when not needed, but come to your immediate attention when called upon, and they do it with a big smile. It's very polished, yet never intrusive.||||Especially for those that have done the ryokan circuits in places like Hakone, Nikko and Izu already, ryukon is a great choice that offers something different (and in many ways... better) than some of its more famous onsen ryokan brethren. As an added bonus - while not "cheap" by any means the nightly rate at a top suite at ryugon will likely come in lower than entry-level rooms at more well known luxury...

ryugon really nails it on all counts. It was recently rebuilt, but you wouldn't be able to tell by walking around the property grounds. The architecture exudes old-world Japan charm, yet everything inside is modern - there's no skimping on technology (lightning-fast WiFi, power ports everywhere, a proper desk and chair for working, light switches next to the bed, etc.) and functionality. In the common areas, it's a mixture of old Japan and old Japan with an artsy twist (see photos for an idea of what I mean.) It really feels like you're in an Edo-era Samurai's residence.||||We stayed in the top room category (Villa Suite Premium), of which there are three. Our suite (Room G) seemed to be the best located with the best privacy. It faced a beautiful pond with a forest beyond it, and an incredible open-air onsen hot springs bath right on the terrace. It was serene, soothing and incredibly refreshing. If you can swing it, I would highly recommend this room.||||Meals are served in the main restaurant - we usually prefer ryokans that serve meals in the comfort of our own room - but at least they offer private rooms in the restaurant so you can enjoy dinner with some semblance of intimacy. And the food was great. Not only that, but ryugon focuses on local ingredients (with some exceptions, since it's not near the ocean so some of the seafood was brought in from the coast), and overall they do an amazing job with the creativity.. both in terms of flavoring as well as artistic flair. Rice was particularly noteworthy; Uonuma Shiozawa rice is regarded by some as some of the best (if not THE best) rice in all of Japan, and ryugon serves it up by cooking it in individual pot, and it was done to perfection. If you think of rice as a carb-laden staple to be eaten together with condiments, you wouldn't be wrong, but in this particular case, the rice was so incredible that it can be enjoyed all by itself. Consider it the butter croissants of rice and you wouldn't be far off!||||Service by the staff were professional, prompt and graceful. They stay out of the way when not needed, but come to your immediate attention when called upon, and they do it with a big smile. It's very polished, yet never intrusive.||||Especially for those that have done the ryokan circuits in places like Hakone, Nikko and Izu already, ryukon is a great choice that offers something different (and in many ways... better) than some of its more famous onsen ryokan brethren. As an added bonus - while not "cheap" by any means the nightly rate at a top suite at ryugon will likely come in lower than entry-level rooms at more well known luxury...