Minakami is one of Japan’s best destinations for an outdoor holiday and a highlight of travel to Gunma prefecture.
With so much of the town lying within the borders of Jōshin’etsu-kōgen National Park, you’ll have access to great hiking, cycling, and skiing.
To help you plan a memorable break in Minakami I’ve rounded up five of the best hotels in Minakami, with comfortable hotels and ryokans offering outstanding hospitality and natural scenery that changes with the seasons.
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5 Best Hotels in Minakami
If you love the great outdoors, you’ll love the rivers, mountains, lakes, and dams of Minkami.
The natural beauty is truly outstanding and well worth the visit to Gunma prefecture.
A stay in one of these five beautiful hotels is the perfect balance to the many outdoor activities available, which include bungee jumping at Bungee Japan.
Here are my top picks for an amazing holiday in Minakami.
1. Tatsumikan
| Location | 379-1303 Gunma, Minakami, Kamimaki 2052, Japan |
| Star rating | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Property type | Ryokan |
| Book today | booking.com |
| Are children welcome? | Yes |
| Are pets welcome? | No |
| Nearest airport | Matsumoto Airport (72 miles) |
| Nearby landmark | Mount Tanigawadake (8 miles) |
Tatsumikan is a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) that provides classic hospitality that is in keeping with the mountainous natural beauty of Minakami.
You’ll find this ryokan just a short walk from JR Kamimoku Train Station and it provides great access to hiking in Suwakyo Valley or skiing in Minakami Ski Resort.
There is also a free shuttle for guests traveling from JR Jomo Kogen Train Station
Within Tatsumikan guests can put on a yukata robe and enjoy the comfortable air-conditioned Japanese suites that sleep up to eight guests on comfortable futon beds.
More photos on booking.com
Rooms contain tatami flooring, a fridge, a TV, and a heated kotatsu table in the winter months. The inn has five indoor and outdoor onsen.
A Japanese set-menu breakfast is served daily and the evening meal is a sumptuous multi-course banquet. There is also a gift shop for buying souvenirs.
2. Hotel Familio Minakami
| Location | 379-1418 Gunma, Minakami, Sugawa 623, Japan |
| Star rating | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Property type | Hotel |
| Book today | booking.com |
| Are children welcome? | Yes |
| Are pets welcome? | No |
| Nearest airport | Matsumoto Airport (72 miles) |
| Nearby landmark | Mount Tanigawadake (8 miles) |
Hotel Familio Minakami is a cost-effective choice for a visit to the Minakami resort region.
The hotel offers ten ensuite family rooms and suites that accommodate up to six guests on Western and Japanese-style beds.
Some rooms have a kitchenette for a self-catering stay, and all rooms have a fridge, kettle, and TV.
The panoramic views of the Tanigawa Mountain range are exceptional and are available in most rooms.
More photos on booking.com
There is free Wi-Fi available throughout the building and parking for guests who drive.
The hotel also has an onsen and restaurant specializing in Shabu-Shabu hot pot cuisine. Between April and October, a BBQ is also available for lunch and dinner.
3. Minakami Onsen Aratashi Minakami
| Location | 379-1617 Gunma, Minakami, Yuhara740-3, Japan |
| Star rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Property type | Hotel |
| Book today | booking.com |
| Are children welcome? | Yes |
| Are pets welcome? | No |
| Nearest airport | Niigata Airport (106 miles) |
| Nearby landmark | Minakami Museum of History and Folklore (7.7 miles) |
This four-star hotel in the Minakami suburbs is a cost-effective choice for a visit to the Minakami resort region and great attractions like Alpine Cade and the Minakamisuikikokan Rest Area.
The hotel has 53 luxurious rooms that can accommodate up to three guests, with kettles, satellite TV, complimentary toiletries, and free Wi-Fi.
You can also unwind in the hotel’s onsen and sauna. There are spa facilities and massages available.
More photos on hotels.com
Minakami Onsen Aratashi Minakami’s restaurant serves breakfast daily for a supplemental fee. There is also a terrace for guests and free onsite parking.
A complimentary shuttle service is also available.
4. Bettei Senjyuan
| Location | 379-1619 Gunma, Minakami, Tanigawa 614, Japan |
| Star rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Property type | Ryokan |
| Book today | booking.com |
| Are children welcome? | Yes |
| Are pets welcome? | No |
| Nearest airport | Niigata Airport (106 miles) |
| Nearby landmark | Tanigawadake (4.6 miles) |
This gorgeous boutique hotel in the foothills of Tanigawa-dake Mountain offers exclusive hospitality in a beautiful natural setting.
Bettei Senjyuan Ryokan is part of the global Relais & Chateaux group of luxury independent hotels.
Up to six guests can stay in the hotel’s Western and Japanese rooms and suites that feature tatami flooring and elegant shoji paper screens.
The ryokan has its own seven public and private hot spring baths.
More photos on expedia.com
Communal areas in the inn include a library and a lobby that has free Wi-Fi. Japanese breakfast and the traditional multi-course kaiseki dinner are served in a private dining setting.
The menu features local cuisines and fresh, regional produce. Bettei Senjyuan Ryokan also provides a complimentary shuttle to and from JR Minakami Train Station.
5. Hotel Yunojin
| Location | 379-1728 Gunma, Minakami, Yubiso 208, Japan |
| Star rating | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Property type | Ryokan |
| Book today | booking.com |
| Are children welcome? | Yes |
| Are pets welcome? | No |
| Nearest airport | Matsumoto Airport (72 miles) |
| Nearby landmark | Kawaba Ski Resort (21 miles) |
Hotel Yunojin is a three-star ryokan in the Yubiso Onsen district of Minakami that can accommodate groups of up to six guests in Japanese suites.
Its mountain setting is ideal for enjoying all seasons of the year with activities like skiing, hiking, angling, and watersports.
The air-conditioned and ensuite guest rooms have outstanding views of Mt. Tanigawa and Teruha Gorge.
More photos on booking.com
The ryokan has an in-house onsen, private and shared karaoke salons, table tennis, game arcade, store, and hot spring.
A buffet breakfast is served daily and a buffet banquet is available for evening meals.
Rounding Up
These beautiful hotels and ryokans provide the perfect setting for a restorative stay in Minakami.
It really is one of Japan’s best outdoor resorts, especially for skiing. And of course, you cannot travel to this popular Gunma destination without taking a long and satisfying soak in the mineral-rich waters of Minakami, either at your hotel or at popular public baths like Takaragawa Onsen.
