CONCEPT
Life in the Snow Country
Life in the snow country is not defined by hardship alone.
It is also shaped by the resilience, wisdom, and quiet beauty of people who have learned to live in harmony with nature.Here in Tokamachi, people have lived continuously since over 10,000 years ago, as shown by the discovery of flame-style pottery that tells this long history.
Yet today, with the decline in population, this irreplaceable culture and way of life are quietly disappearing.We believe it is vital to preserve the ingenuity and the unique beauty of daily life that generations of snow country residents have built over time.With this in mind, we restored a 150-year-old farmhouse—once left vacant—and gave it new life as “Yuki no Ya,” the House of Snow.
Produce by HOME HOME NIIGATA
More Than Just a Hotel
This is not a typical hotel.
It is a house where people once lived, where laughter once filled the rooms.
After standing empty for many years, we have once again lit its lights.
These lights are more than simple illumination.
They symbolize the revival of human life here and a beacon of hope for the future of the community.
By opening this house as an inn, we seek to preserve the memories of snow country life while creating a place where new stories can be woven by those who visit.
To rekindle the light in a house once fading is to breathe life back into the community itself.
We hope that this light will warm someone’s heart and gently illuminate the next step forward.
Toward a Bright and Evolving Future for the Snow Country
Our vision is a snow country that continues to grow and move toward a brighter future.
Within this inn remain the living room once filled with family laughter, the welcoming doma (earthen floor), the traditional gangi eaves, and spaces bathed in gentle light.
The kitchen and bathroom facilities have been updated with care—not overly modernized, but thoughtfully arranged to support today’s way of living. We hope that the time you spend here will inspire the feeling: “Life in the snow country is warmer than I ever imagined.”
From past to future, quietly yet surely, this place carries the connection forward.
Here begins the story of a snow country that continues to evolve toward a brighter tomorrow.
A Journey That Feels Like Living in the Snow Country
Making sasadango (bamboo leaf dumplings) with local residents, foraging for spring mountain vegetables and preparing heartfelt country-style dishes together.
Walk through terraced rice fields, feel the changing seasons with all your senses, and begin each morning with a handmade meal. Through these experiences, warm exchanges naturally arise with the community, and visitors, too, leave a part of their heart behind in this land.
By sharing these moments, we hope to pass on the unique charm of the snow country to future generations.
Each experience here is a living testament to the spirit of this region.
“Yuki no Ya” is a small but enduring hope, carrying this land forward into the next hundred years.