Built in 1958, this wooden school building has survived many seasons of heavy snowfall for over 50 years and is a source of memories for many in the local community. Five classrooms have been renovated into guest rooms and each of them accommodates 16 beds. Two classrooms have been combined into one space for guests to share meals and conversations. Feel the seasons of Matsunoyama, on the outdoor terrace in the summer and around the stove in the winter. The gymnasium, library, and sports field (covered entirely with snow during the winter) are all available for seminars, lectures, and sport events. Nearby you can experience Matsunoyama Onsen, one of the only three medicinal hot springs in Japan.

About the area

Sansho House is located in the area of Matsunoyama in Niigata prefecture, famous for its heavy snowfalls, with an average depth of winter snow exceeding three meters. The traditional pattern of life in this mountainous area has resulted in a distinctive landscape of terraced rice fields, celebrated as one of the 100 must-see rural landscapes in Japan. Hauntingly beautiful beech forests, such as the Bijin-bayashi, are home to many rare birds including the Ruddy Kingfisher and the Dollarbird. Matsunoyama Onsen, with its famed soothing waters filled with natural mineral salts, is one of only three medicinal hot springs in Japan.

Meals

Guests can enjoy home-made meals cooked by local women who are experts in preparing hearty foods for their families. Enjoy traditional Satoyama treats such as rice harvested from the terraced rice fields in the very area you are staying in, and home-made pickles amongst others.