Yuzawa Onsen is a popular hot spring town in Niigata first made famous by a renowned novel, ‘Yukguni’ or ‘Snow Country’. Published in 1968, the acclaimed novel was set in Yuzawa, making the town and its heavy winter snowfall well-known throughout Japan. Today, the town is serviced by the Joetsu Shinkansen via Echigo-Yuzawa Station providing direct access to GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort and shuttle buses to other resorts including Kagura, Naeba and Muikamachi Hakkaisan.

Yuzawa has a number of excellent ‘onsen’ (hot spring) guesthouses ranging from large hotels to much more intimate options, with high-end and mid-range options to choose from. Most hotels and guesthouses are located on the main street of the town or in the side streets running off it. In that area, you will find some excellent accommodation choices including large hotels with both Western and Japanese-style rooms, ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses) and some smaller hotels and lodges. Many if not most have their own ‘onsen’ (hot springs) and offer in-house meal service. The town also has a good number of restaurants and a couple bars making it by far the best area to base yourself when heading to Gala Yuzawa or any other resort in the area.