Matsudai Shibatouge Onsen: Unkai — Hotel in Tokamachi

Stayed here for one night during a winter trip through Nagano and Niigata. If you're coming via public transportation, getting to Matsudai Station is no problem but make sure you inform the the place in advance what time you'll be at the station so they can pick you up (since the place is up the hill from the station and not near).

Check in was smooth and the room was great. Very clean and warm and most things one would expect from a ryokan. Especially liked the in-room basin/toilet facilities. The room we had at L3 near the stairs/lift (I think room 306) unfortunately didn't have much of a view though since the room is set quite in and you mostly see the roof of L2.

We got a mini kaiseki meal with Niigata beef and we really enjoyed everything they brought. Lots of stuff served to us and all very delicious. Same with breakfast.

The onsen of course is the star of the place. There's a big indoor area with the individual washing seats and a hot bath, and a separate room which contains the cold bath + separate doors to the sauna and outdoor area. There's also a direct door leading to the outdoor area. From the outdoor bath, you have a beautiful view over the valley. On the day I went, it was snowing pretty heavily so we didn't have any clear sunset or sunrise but nevertheless the views were great.

The place is also open to day visits so if you want a less crowded bathing experience, check the times and go to the bath after that. I think in the winter, the day visits end at 8pm.

Getting back to the station was the same with a complimentary shuttle back to Matsudai Station.

Would...

Language can always be a big problem in Japan especially if you don’t speak Japanese and travelling alone in a small town in winter. However, the decision of my recent staying at Unkai, Tokamachi was absolutely the right choice. ||||As a foreigner who cannot speak Japanese, making booking by telephone can be a big problem. Having no choice, I tried to make the booking online in English in the hotel’s Japanese-only website. To my surprise, the response was so quick that I seemed to have given an instant confirmation. ||||Upon the day of arrival, the hotel sent Ms Akiyama to greet me at the rail station. Ms Akiyama came to live in Japan for many years from the Philippines and was now working in the hotel’s restaurant. I was happy to be greeted and met by a person who can speak English. Throughout my short stay, I was well received by this attentive lady; I had very warm, home-like feeling in my stay even though it was the snowy, winter time. ||||Perching high in the mountain, the hotel’s panoramic view was magnificent. It was winter time during my stay; the experience of seeing the beautiful snow-clad mountain scene while enjoying the spa was just perfect and unforgettable. What else can you expect from a trip with perfect view, nice people and comfortable feeling? I would highly recommend this hotel to people who would like to enjoy the nature and the Japanese hospitality. I myself already planned to visit the hotel again this summer to see the famous rice terraces...

Language can always be a big problem in Japan especially if you don’t speak Japanese and travelling alone in a small town in winter. However, the decision of my recent staying at Unkai, Tokamachi was absolutely the right choice. ||||As a foreigner who cannot speak Japanese, making booking by telephone can be a big problem. Having no choice, I tried to make the booking online in English in the hotel’s Japanese-only website. To my surprise, the response was so quick that I seemed to have given an instant confirmation. ||||Upon the day of arrival, the hotel sent Ms Akiyama to greet me at the rail station. Ms Akiyama came to live in Japan for many years from the Philippines and was now working in the hotel’s restaurant. I was happy to be greeted and met by a person who can speak English. Throughout my short stay, I was well received by this attentive lady; I had very warm, home-like feeling in my stay even though it was the snowy, winter time. ||||Perching high in the mountain, the hotel’s panoramic view was magnificent. It was winter time during my stay; the experience of seeing the beautiful snow-clad mountain scene while enjoying the spa was just perfect and unforgettable. What else can you expect from a trip with perfect view, nice people and comfortable feeling? I would highly recommend this hotel to people who would like to enjoy the nature and the Japanese hospitality. I myself already planned to visit the hotel again this summer to see the famous rice terraces...