While we did not stay here (this time), we spent a lot of time at the Namsan Hotel in Rason during our recent business trip to the country.
Why did we spend so much time here, and why is it so iconic? All of that and more in our Namsan Hotel Guide.
Hotels in Rason
Despite having just 200,000 people, Rason boasts a surprising number of hotels—more than even Pyongyang. These include six versions of the Pipha Hotel (we stayed in number 6), a Sportsmen’s Hotel, one high-end hotel, and the now-closed and infamous Imperial Hotel.
This is a subject for a future article, but despite the large number of hotels, bottlenecks can still occur in Rason tourism, particularly during the summer. The area is also a favorite project for many conducting business in the zone.
The Iconic Namsan Hotel
The Namsan Hotel in Rajin, North Korea, has a history as fascinating as the city itself. Originally built in the 1930s during the Japanese colonial era, the hotel was known as the Yamato Hotel and operated by the South Manchurian Railway Company. Fast forward to the 1990s, and after the country underwent significant changes, the Namsan Hotel reopened, offering basic accommodations for the few foreign visitors arriving in the region.
Today, the Namsan Hotel stands proudly in the heart of Rajin, a key feature of the city’s landscape. Though it has undergone several transformations over the decades, the hotel retains much of its original charm, with rooms once occupied by significant figures such as Kim Il-sung. For those visiting Rason today, the Namsan Hotel offers a rare glimpse into the past, combining both its colonial history and its role in modern-day North Korea.
Despite its age, the Namsan Hotel remains an enduring symbol of Rajin’s past and is a fascinating spot for anyone curious about the evolution of this part of the country.
Hotel Amenities
Much like other hotels in Rason and the wider DPRK, the Namsan Hotel offers the amenities you would expect. As you walk into the hotel, there’s a bookshop to the left, which is a bit lacking at the moment, and a “coffee shop” to the right. While this coffee shop does indeed serve coffee, it also doubles as the de facto bar and hangout spot—and yes, they serve Rason Beer.
There are also function rooms upstairs and about 80 rooms throughout the hotel, which are decent but slightly cold. While I haven’t stayed here in perhaps 10 years, I got to look at the rooms in 2025, and I can confirm they haven’t changed much.
Food here is decent, with the one meal we had being very indicative of the cuisine of Rason and North Korea as a whole.
Rajin Square
Perhaps the highlight of staying at the Namsan Hotel is its central location—much like the Koryo Hotel, it’s right downtown, where you want to be. Rajin Square is not just the hub of Rajin, but also of Sonbong and Rason as a whole.
This means a few things: the street food here is the best, and it’s also the place where you celebrate major holidays, such as the Birthday of Kim Jong-Il, which is no longer termed “The Day of The Shining Star.”
It also triggers some mass dancing from the locals, as you can see in my photos and videos. You’ll also find people selling raffle tickets, horse riding, and more.
Though I wasn’t lucky with the raffle, we were fortunate with our meetings at the hotel, and we are now able to bring tourists to Rason!
Click the link to read about our Rason Tours.
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