THE RYOKAN COLLECTION

Between the Irori Lounge and the Garden Terrace is a chic blond wood bar, where guests can perch on a comfortable stool and chat with a friendly bartender who is warmly passionate about the rich local beverage offerings. In Snow Country, delicious sake is a given, since pure snowmelt water and some of the finest rice in the country provide ideal raw materials, but there are also excellent Niigata craft beers and wines. And for those who would like to wade into the world of Japan's other national drink, there's regional shochu, either on its own or used to create original ryugon infusions with produce like yuzu citrus, green tea, and quince.