Beautiful lodge a stone's throw away from Tenjin with lovely staff, lounge, dining area and well-stocked bar. The rooms were a generous size and clean. We had room 306 which had a stunning view (through both windows) of the mountains surrounding the lodge. Hot meals available on-site (breakfast and dinner) with pre-booking. Good sized drying room and hot bath on site. Sauna in construction, which would be a lovely addition.

We had a futon room as we booked late (there are rooms with beds) and found this challenging being older - the beds are on the floor and there are no chairs in the room. The meals are buffet style, so not good for fussy eaters - the food is good though and there is plenty (generous servings).

Great breakfasts including - at our request - sampling of local / Japanese breakfast specialties Close, ~ 1 kilometer from Mt. T ski area and gondola ride. Very friendly staff. The proprietor Kieren is Australian. He is really tied into the local culture. Mentioning his name and flashing his business card brought big smiles and compliments, and discounts a local ski resorts, hot springs, and restaurants.Casual informal atmosphere at the lodge, and a very nice bar / taproom in the main downstairs area, with a nice central woodstove. We felt like family. Kieran's assistant Nanna was also super friendly and engaging to talk to.

Not much not to like. The location is a bit isolated, near the end of a mountain road, but the end has a ski area. Nearest villages / services are 5-10 km down the mountain. We fortunately had a car, but there were numerous buses going by.

Had a very comfortable stay in this truly stunning area. Especially thanks to the amazingly friendly and helpful owner of the establishment, who gave great advice and went the extra mile to make my stay very memorable. And very delicious! Very homely vibes as well. Even though it is a very remote place, it is still very good accessible by public transport (10-15 minutes walk from Doai station, which is an attraction on its own). Just make sure to check the timetable of the trains (they run only 5 or 6 times a day or so). But the ambiance, service and the environment made this one of my most memorable stays of my vacation. Honne!

Delicious breakfast. The dinner was also very good. We chose this hotel because of its great location. The people working at the hotel were extremely helpful to us. They gave us recommendations for snowshoeing, where to get lunch in town, and how to get the bus to Takaragawa Onsen. Much appreciated!

We were a little nervous about the heater in the room (kerosene, maybe). We didnt think it was a good idea to let it run while we slept, so we turned it off. Thought we would be very cold, but ended up sleeping well and stayed warm with the futons/bedding provided.

As rated before, the breakfast was very hearty. You really can start your hiking/skiing day with a full tummy. Keiran is an extreamely warm and helpful host, you may ask him the best hints - where to go, what to see - and he's always happy to have a chat with you. A perfect host! If you like hiking, river rafting, outdoors activities, this is an excellent option!

You might hear traffic noise starting early in the morning on the uphill side. The mattresses are quite hard.

it was an incredible experience. The hotel is comfortable made me feel right at home. The location is fantastic, with easy access to tanigawa ropeway and also doai station making it convenient to explore the area. The owner is very kind. He ensured my stay was enjoyable, offering helpful recommendations and being genuinely welcoming.

Kieren and Nana made this a very special and unique part of our Japan adventure. I would recommend staying at Tenjin for anyone looking the experience the peaceful and wild areas of Minakami. Kieran makes a pretty darn good miso for an Aussie and took wonderful care to help set up a rafting excursion at short notice. We had a great unforgettable time!

For those looking for spotless cutting edge amenities, this is not your place. This is an older renovated lodge. If you’re into a unique and funky vibe you’ll be pleased.

Kieren is very nice and flexible in helping us in many ways. There's bath, a piano, a cute dog named Lucky, and meals provided if you need. This is kind of the best location if you're traveling with train and is planning to hike Tanigawadake, also probably the only place to stay in around the very cool mole station - Doai station.

The facilities are a bit old and no air conditioner in the room. But for people who is here for outdoor activities, it's a fairly comfortable place to stay.

A hospitable respite. Friendly welcoming. Loved the onsen. Great innkeepers knowledgeable about all activities in the area. A place that felt like a home away from home. Delicious dinner a blending of cultures. Breakfast for champions. Smiles. Conversation. Just utterly pleasant.

Leaving after 2 nights.

The lodge manager is a super chill dude,despite arriving very late, he managed to cook me up a nice dinner. The lodge can be reachable via Joetsu JR if you get off at 土合駅 Doai station, and if would more than ideal if you can drive. Be wary of that the doai station has a long underground tunnel that would take you 8 minutes even if run down stairs.