Sake Hotel Tamakiya

8.9

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.9/10, based on 36 reviews.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥇 1st	Sasakura onsen Ryuunso	9.3/10	56
🥈 2nd	Koshi no yado Takashimaya	9.2/10	72
🥉 3rd	Hotel Futaba	8.9/10	1,523
4th	Osawayama Onsen Osawakan	8.9/10	367
5th	Tabataya	9.1/10	51
6th	Takahan	8.8/10	568
7th	Kutsurogian	9.1/10	37
8th	Cafe Cerisier栖里時絵	8.8/10	95
9th	Sake Hotel Tamakiya Current ryokan	8.9/10	36
10th	Shaga-no-Sato Yumeya	9.1/10	21
11th	Otowaya Ryokan	8.6/10	485
12th	ryugon	8.6/10	183
13th	Takanoya	8.6/10	94
14th	Warabiso	8.9/10	21
15th	Resort Project Myoko Kogen Hot Spring	8.6/10	37
16th	Satoyama Jujo The House	8.5/10	83
17th	Four Seasons Yuzawa Quattro	8.4/10	266
18th	Tomiya Ryokan	9.0/10	9
19th	Star Hotel Akakura	8.4/10	115
20th	Bousenkaku	8.8/10	11
21st	Hôtel Hisago-sō, Tsukioka Onsen	8.3/10	1,662
22nd	Fujiya	8.6/10	13
23rd	Hotel Hoho “A hotel overlooking the Echigo Plain and the Yahiko mountain range” formerly Hotel Oohashi Yakata-no-Yu	8.3/10	165
24th	Ichisui-sō	9.0/10	5
25th	Sports Plaza Shiki Haradaso	8.4/10	28
26th	Fukubikiya, Hōraikan à Yomogihira Onsen	8.3/10	50
27th	Kofukan	8.2/10	571
28th	Bunanoyado Koase	8.2/10	120
29th	Hitō Hanabun	8.4/10	6
30th	Myoko Tsubame onsen Iwatoya	8.1/10	60
31st	Hot spring inn Snow country(yukiguni)	9.2/10	0
32nd	Tanoura Onsen Kaikatei Kawai	7.9/10	40
33rd	Akakura Hotel	7.9/10	44
34th	Suehirokan	7.9/10	116
35th	Ryounkaku Matsunoyama onsen	7.9/10	118
36th	Hôtel Ekihon Building, 2e étage	7.9/10	210
37th	Akakura onsen eho ryokan	7.3/10	13
38th	Setoguchi	7.5/10	29
39th	Naeba Lodge Oka	6.9/10	70
40th	Hotel ST MORITZ	5.5/10	25
41st	Yuasobiyado Akebono	4.2/10	131
42nd	Sumiyoshiya	3.8/10	95
43rd	Hotel Yumoto	3.8/10	535

Check-in from 4:00 PM

Hot Spring Town Quiet Village Countryside Escape Snow Landscape Private Onsen Open-Air Bath

Location

942-1432 Niigata, Tokamachi, Matsunoyama Yumoto 13, Japan

Staff 9,3/10

Facilities 8,8/10

Cleanliness 9,0/10

Comfort 8,9/10

Value for money 8,7/10

Location 8,6/10

Sake Pairing FocusA rare ryokan built around curated sake pairing experiences with dinner.

Therapeutic Hot SpringUses Matsunoyama Onsen, famed as one of Japan's notable medicinal hot springs.

Small, Quiet StayWith only eight rooms, it offers a calm, personal ryokan atmosphere.

Snow Country CuisineMeals highlight regional ingredients and a refined snow-country dining style.

Convenient Station PickupFree scheduled pickup from Matsudai Station makes arrival easier without a car.

Near BijinbayashiWell placed for visiting the beautiful Bijinbayashi beech forest nearby.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsDining is the strongest stay driver here: arrive early for baths and sake, stay one night for dinner and breakfast, or add a second night to visit Bijinbayashi, Kyororo, and nearby satoyama scenery without rushing transfer timing.

Trip-planning verdict: Best as a destination ryokan for 1-2 nights in Matsunoyama Onsen, especially for food, sake, baths, and a slow rural stop rather than fast regional sightseeing.

Know before booking

Remote logisticsBest with a car or planned taxi and bus timing from Matsudai; not a frictionless luggage base.

Limited town actionMatsunoyama Onsen is quiet, small, and relaxing, but not suited to late-night dining or busy shopping.

Do not overstayBeyond two nights, most travelers may run short on easy nearby sights unless they are intentionally doing a slow rural break.

Dining Room (on-site)

on-site

Guest dining for French dinner and Japanese breakfast.

Suzuki (nearby)

nearbynear the ryokan

Local Japanese restaurant for seafood and mountain produce.

Yanagiya (nearby)

nearbynear the ryokan

Handmade ramen spot in the onsen town.

Distances are approximate and calculated from the ryokan coordinates. Travel times may vary depending on route, traffic and schedules.

Useful access points Stations, stops, airports and practical travel advice.

Best way to arrive For most travelers, arrive by train at Matsudai Station and continue by local bus or taxi to Matsunoyama Onsen. If coming from Tokyo by Shinkansen, transferring at Echigo-Yuzawa and then continuing toward Matsudai is usually the most straightforward public-transport approach.

Matsudai Stationstation
7.6 km3701-2 Matsudai, Tokamachi, Niigata 942-1526, Japantoo far to walk comfortablyabout 15–20 min by taxiabout 20–30 min by local bus
Best overall rail access point for the ryokan. Good choice for travelers arriving via the Hokuhoku Line or transferring after Echigo-Yuzawa.
Tokamachi Stationstation
16 km3 Chome Tanakacho Nishi, Tokamachi, Niigata 948-0088, Japanabout 35–50 min by carabout 50–80 min with bus connections, depending on timing
Secondary rail gateway with broader regional connections. Useful if your route naturally reaches Tokamachi first, but less convenient than Matsudai for this ryokan.
Echigo-Yuzawa Stationstation
24 kmYuzawa, Minamiuonuma District, Niigata 949-6101, Japanabout 60–90 min by car in normal conditionsoften about 1.5–2.5 hours with train and bus transfers
Main Shinkansen gateway from Tokyo and a practical transfer hub for reaching the area without a car. Best for long-distance arrivals before changing to local rail and bus.
Matsunoyama Onsen Satoyama Visitor Centerbus
20 m49-1 Matsunoyama Yumoto, Tokamachi, Niigata 942-1432, Japanabout 1 minabout 3–5 min by taxibest checked locally; some seasonal direct bus services use this area
Useful local arrival point in the onsen town, especially when seasonal direct buses operate. Handy orientation point very close to the ryokan.
Matsunoyama Onsen Bus Stopbus
30 mMatsunoyama Yumoto area, Tokamachi, Niigata 942-1432, Japanabout 1–5 min depending on luggage and exact stop positionabout 3–5 min by taxiterminal stop for local onsen-area bus services
Most useful final bus stop for reaching the ryokan on foot. Very convenient if you prefer to avoid a taxi for the last segment.
Niigata Airportairport
109 kmNiigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japanoften around 2–2.5 hours by cartypically requires rail or bus transfers and is best checked locally
Useful mainly for domestic or limited international arrivals into Niigata Prefecture. More practical if you are combining air travel with a rail journey onward.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Outstanding sake-and-dining focusThis ryokan is built around serious food and sake, with a refined full-course dinner and thoughtful pairing experience rather than standard ryokan fare. It suits travelers who want the stay to feel like a gourmet destination, not just a place to sleep.
Private onsen rooms are a real drawMost rooms have their own open-air bath fed directly by the hot spring source, which makes soaking far more relaxed and intimate. That is a major advantage if you want onsen time without sharing every bath with other guests.
Small-scale and peacefulWith only a handful of rooms, the atmosphere is quieter and more personal than at larger resort-style properties. This makes it especially attractive for couples or travelers seeking a calm, slow-paced stay.
Memorable Matsunoyama hot spring experienceThe inn sits in Matsunoyama Onsen, known for strong mineral-rich waters and a classic therapeutic onsen feel. In colder months, the snowy outdoor bathing experience is likely to be a highlight of the trip.
Stylish renovation with local characterThe interiors mix traditional ryokan warmth with a more contemporary, design-conscious feel, so the stay feels polished without becoming generic. Some rooms also add distinctive artistic touches that make them feel more special than a standard tatami room.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Access is not especially easyThis is not a convenient stop for travelers who want to walk from a station or move around spontaneously. Reaching it typically requires planning around a shuttle, car transfer, or rural transport.
Not the best fit for families with young kidsThe property is geared toward a quiet adult-oriented food-and-sake experience rather than a family ryokan stay. Travelers with small children may find the concept and meal setup limiting.
Some rooms are much less special than othersThe biggest appeal is in the rooms with private open-air baths, but not every room includes one. If you book a simpler room, the experience may feel noticeably less distinctive for the price.
Limited convenience nearbyThis is a rural onsen stay, so it is better for settling in than for stepping out to shops or quick late-night errands. Travelers who like urban convenience may find the area too quiet or impractical.
Food concept may be too specific for some travelersIts identity leans heavily toward French-influenced fine dining and sake pairing, which is great for enthusiasts but not for everyone. If you prefer a classic kaiseki-focused ryokan or a more casual meal style, it may feel too niche.

Current position: 9th out of 43 ryokans in Niigata.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
4th	Osawayama Onsen Osawakan	8.9/10	367
5th	Tabataya	9.1/10	51
6th	Takahan	8.8/10	568
7th	Kutsurogian	9.1/10	37
8th	Cafe Cerisier栖里時絵	8.8/10	95
9th	Sake Hotel Tamakiya Current ryokan	8.9/10	36
10th	Shaga-no-Sato Yumeya	9.1/10	21
11th	Otowaya Ryokan	8.6/10	485
12th	ryugon	8.6/10	183
13th	Takanoya	8.6/10	94
14th	Warabiso	8.9/10	21