Echigo Nagano Onsen Rankeisou — Hotel in Sanjo

Our stay at Rankeisou was absolutely soothing for our bodies and souls. If you’re looking to stay at a traditional ryokan that’s away from the chaos of a big city, eat delicious and nutritious meals, soak in beautiful outdoor onsens, and experience the kindest hospitality — look no further! You MUST stay here and I guarantee it will be a life-giving and special experience. It certainly was for us. ||||The inn itself is nestled in nature and if you’re lucky to get a room by the riverside, you can hear the gentle flowing river. The grounds are well-kept and must be beautiful in all seasons. We came near the end of November, and even with overcast skies and fallen leaves, the ryokan was so picturesque. Indoors, you can see all the thoughtful touches such as fresh flowers, signs in calligraphy on traditional paper, and an amazing record collection + speakers. There are public onsens and also private onsens available by reservation once you arrive. ||||We stayed two nights with the breakfast and dinner options and - wow - I can’t even begin to describe how delicious everything was. I do not eat raw fish but they were able to accommodate by replacing the sashimi with other options such as steamed shrimp and crab. Mountain vegetables galore, wagyu, river fish, grilled fish, soups with insane umami - all subtle but exquisite taste. Some of my favorites were things like pickled radish steeped in sweet vinegar with yuzu or the tempura chestnut — and these weren’t even the main dishes. Very satisfying and filling meals! ||||But what makes Rankeisou stand out from all the places we have stayed, is the kindest hospitality from Yukari san, who spoke fluent English and was my first point of contact since making the reservation directly on the website. Yukari san went out of her way to help us out, and while I will spare you all the details, I will say this: she felt more like family than a stranger and I sincerely hope you all will get to meet her. She is amazing! ||||All of the staff here have been kind to us despite us not speaking Japanese and I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am so thankful that we were able to experience the magic of Rankeisou. Our favorite ryokan! ||||Some practical tips: 1. I highly recommend renting a car so you can explore the area at your leisure. You could visit the snow peak headquarters, the Suwada open factory, etc (the tsubame-sanjo area is know for their metalwork and various crafts! Perfect place to get one of a kind souvenirs) 2. If you’re going to take public transportation from Tokyo, get the JR east pass as you will get it’s worth by just making a round trip to Tsubamesanjo station. 3. The free ryokan shuttle service will take about 45 minutes to get from the station to the inn so when you are booking your trains, keep that in mind. Shuttle pick up time from the station is 2:45 pm. The morning shuttle leaves from the inn and 10 am. Plan...

Our stay at Rankeisou was absolutely soothing for our souls and bodies. If you’re looking to stay at a traditional ryokan that’s away from the chaos of a big city, eat delicious and nutritious meals, soak in beautiful outdoor onsens, and experience the kindest hospitality — look no further! You MUST stay here and I guarantee it will be a life-giving and special experience. It certainly was for us.

The inn itself is nestled in nature and if you’re lucky to get a room by the riverside, you can hear the gentle flowing river. The grounds are well-kept and must be beautiful in all seasons. We came near the end of November, and even with overcast skies and fallen leaves, the ryokan was so picturesque. Indoors, you can see all the thoughtful touches such as fresh flowers, signs in calligraphy on traditional paper, and an amazing record collection + speakers. There are public onsens and also private onsens available by reservation once you arrive.

We stayed two nights with the breakfast and dinner options and wow I can’t even begin to describe how delicious everything was. I do not eat raw fish but they were able to accommodate by replacing the sashimi with other options such as steamed shrimp and crab. Mountain vegetables galore, wagyu, river fish, grilled fish, soups with insane umami - all subtle but exquisite taste. Some of my favorites were things like pickled radish steeped in sweet vinegar with yuzu or the tempura chestnut — and these weren’t even the main dishes. Very satisfying and filling meals!

But what makes Rankeisou stand out from all the places we have stayed, is the kindest hospitality from Yukari san, who spoke fluent English and was my first point of contact since making the reservation directly on the website. Yukari san went out of her way to help us out, and while I will spare you all the details, I will say this: she felt more like family than a stranger and I sincerely hope you all will get to meet her. She is amazing!

All of the staff here have been kind to us despite us not speaking Japanese and I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am so thankful that we were able to experience the magic of Rankeisou. Our favorite ryokan!

Some practical tips: 1. I highly recommend renting a car so you can explore the area at your leisure. You could visit the snow peak headquarters, the Suwada open factory, etc (the tsubame-sanjo area is know for their metalwork and various crafts! Perfect place to get one of a kind souvenirs) 2. If you’re going to take public transportation from Tokyo, get the JR east pass as you will get it’s worth by just making a round trip to Tsubamesanjo station. 3. The free ryokan shuttle service will take about 45 minutes to get from the station to the inn so when you are booking your trains, keep that in mind. Shuttle pick up time from the station is 2:45 pm. The morning shuttle leaves from the inn and 10 am. Plan...

A visit to a Ryokan should be an experience in itself and Rankeisou delivers with a perfection unique to Japan. The building and grounds are magical. The details are too many to take in before you are lead to your room to relax and drink tea around a little table surrounded on three sides by huge windows overlooking the stream below. When you're ready visit the two private reservable baths (both with outside and inside baths) or just wander the corridors and explore the beautiful territory. The private baths stay open all night and can be visited without reservation until mid morning- perfect if you want a 7am solitary soak. Early morning is also a great time to visit the public baths directly on the rivers edge as they are pretty much empty then. And you can even use the the private baths while drinking some Sake from a little floating tray.|Food here is innovative, healthy and delicious. Each dish is beautifully presented and delivered. Individual plates are small and unique but overall the meals are huge - so pace yourself to try everything if you're not a big eater. |If between all that you find time to wander out; the surrounding area is worth a visit. While the Ryokan can be reached by train and shuttle, renting a car gives you the freedom to explore (driving in Japan is extremely safe and with google maps: easy)||The area is known for various artisanal products including woodworking and metal working. The various factories serve as good excuses to just head out and explore while trying the special local ramen on the way. The items available have seen their design perfected over many generations and are made at the hands of craftspeople who have dedicated most of their lives to perfecting their skills. Prepare to spend - they are hard to resist and make rarely unique gifts.||We enjoyed our time there so much we nearly turned around and went back for...