A relaxing retreat where you can soak in one of Japan’s three renowned medicinal hot springs.
Located in the mountains of Echigo, Hinano-yado Chitose sits in the Matsunoyama Onsen area, surrounded by terraced rice fields and beech forests. This ryokan offers baths fed by the highly concentrated hot spring waters of Matsunoyama Onsen, known as one of Japan’s three great medicinal hot springs.
Established in 1896, Hinano-yado Chitose takes its name from the word “Hina,” which means “rural” or “away from the city.” It also carries the nuance of being “rare and special.” True to its name, the ryokan cherishes its local roots, with touches of “local authenticity” found throughout the property.
Natural hot spring with continuously flowing water
Pickup and drop-off service available
Okami (female innkeeper)
Private bath available (exclusive-use bath)
In-room bath available
IN 15:00〜18:00 / OUT 10:00
About CHITOSE
Inside, the inn is entirely covered with tatami mats, allowing guests to feel comfort from the soles of their feet. This design is the result of four generations of careful attention from the Chitose family. The idea was to recreate the moment when travelers in the past would remove their straw sandals upon entering, giving them a sense of relaxation the moment they arrive.
Barefoot inside the ryokan
No slippers are needed ( all covered in tatami mats)
Dinner
Dinner at Hinano-Yado Chitose features a course of satoyama cuisine made with seasonal ingredients from the Matsunoyama region. Starters include “Onkochishin”, which incorporates local delicacies like mugwort wheat gluten, fermented tofu, and Toji Pork steamed using the inn’s hot spring steam. Another highlight is the Tanada Nabe, a hot-pot-style soup made with rice from the terraced fields of Uonuma and Matsunoyama.
Dinner
Appetizers that pair perfectly with sake.
The appetizer course “Onko Chishin” (Learning from the past) features local specialties such as yomogi wheat gluten, fermented tofu, and Toji Pork—a regional pork dish prepared using hot spring heat.
Hot Spring
Matsunoyama Onsen is a rare geopressure-type hot spring, formed from seawater that seeped underground over 10,000 years ago and was naturally heated. Despite being a chloride spring, the water has a mild, smooth quality that is gentle on the skin.
At Chitose, guests can enjoy several types of baths: the large outdoor bath “Honyara no Yu”, the open-air bath “Tsukimi no Yu”, and two private baths “Yama no Yu” and “Sato no Yu”. From the open-air baths, you can admire the surrounding mountains and the charming atmosphere of the hot spring town. The water’s gentle warmth penetrates deeply, keeping you cozy long after your bath.
Hot Spring
Large public bath with open-air hot spring
Honyara no Yu offers both an open-air bath with free-flowing natural hot spring water and an indoor bath using a fresh water circulation system. Guests can bathe anytime between 6:00 a.m. and midnight.
Room
Guests can choose from 12 types of rooms, including suites with private open-air hot spring baths, semi-suites, Japanese-Western rooms, traditional Japanese rooms, and detached villas. Here are some representative rooms.
Room
Hot Spring Suite “Yukiakari”
The 102㎡ Hot Spring Suite “Yukiakari” features two bedrooms and a spacious living, dining, and kitchen area in a connecting-room layout.
This service uses a reservation request system. After we check room availability with the accommodation, we will propose the most suitable room and plan for you.Once availability is confirmed, we will send you our proposal via LINE, and your reservation will be finalized upon completion of payment.
Plans
Standard Plan – Dinner & Breakfast Included(Chitose – Hinano Inn-)
Check-in 15:00〜18:00 / Check-out 10:00
Online-Card Payment
Meal Included
Total29,100/person JPY ~
One-Night Stay with Breakfast – No Dinner(Chitose – Hinano Inn-)
Check-in 15:00〜18:00 / Check-out 10:00
Online-Card Payment
Meal Included
Total23,800/person JPY ~
Room Only Plan – No Meals(Chitose – Hinano Inn-)
Check-in 15:00〜18:00 / Check-out 10:00
Online-Card Payment
No Meal
Total22,500/person JPY ~
Access
49-1 Matsunoyama Yumoto, Tokamachi-shi, Niigata 942-1432, Japan
By Rental Car from Airports
Narita Airport: approx. 3 hr 40 min
Niigata Airport: approx. 2 hr 20 min
From Tokyo to Matsunoyama Onsen
Tokyo → JR Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station → about 15 min by car from Matsudai Station
Free Shuttle Service
Approx. 15 min by shuttle from Matsudai Station (advance reservation required)
Pick-up: from Matsudai Station at 14:20 / 16:20
Drop-off: from Chitose entrance at 9:10 / 10:00
Basic Information
Ryokan Name
Matsunoyama Onsen Hinano Inn Chitose
Address
49-1 Matsunoyama Yumoto, Tokamachi-shi, Niigata 942-1432, Japan
Baths
Water quality
Sodium-calcium chloride spring
Free-flowing hot spring
Directly from the source
Opening hours
6:00〜24:00
Facilities & Features
○Hot Spring
○Free-flowing hot spring
○Open-air bath
○Large public bath
○Private bath
○Guest room with open-air bath
×Sauna
×Stone Sauna
△Within walking distance of the station
○Less than a 10-minute walk to a convenience store
○Free parking available
○Free shuttle service available
○Barrier-free
○Western-style rooms available
○Rooms with private toilets available
○Coffee Machine
○Massage chair
Common Amenities
○Hair Dryer
○Shampoo & conditioner
○Body soap
○Toothbrush & Toothpaste
○Towels & bath towels
○Yukata
△Hairbrush
△Face wash
○Facial toner
△Moisturizer
△Shaver
○Cotton swab
○TV
○Tea set
×Washing machine
×Clothes dryer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accommodate food allergies?+
We do our best to accommodate guests with food allergies, dietary restrictions, or dislikes. However, please note that we may not be able to address ingredients contained in seasonings or sauces.
Kindly inform us of your dietary needs when making a reservation.
Do you have facilities for guests with limited mobility or disabilities?+
Yes. There is a ramp at the entrance and an elevator inside the building. The dining area also offers table seating instead of tatami seating.
※Please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements for your comfort.
When are winter tires (snow tires) required?+
Winter tires are essential from early December through late March.
Please note that snowfall may still occur before or after this period. Vehicles equipped with winter tires can drive safely even under highway chain restrictions.
Do guest rooms have private hot spring baths?+
・The three Special Rooms—Yamaboushi, Yamazakura, and Yamatsutsuji—each feature a private open-air bath with natural hot spring water.
・The Semi-Special Room Yume no Ma has a private indoor hinoki (cypress) bath. Although it is not a hot spring bath, it is gentle on the skin and ideal for families with small children.
The Japanese-Style Rooms (12.5 tatami mats) include unit bathrooms, which are not hot springs.