Hot Springs Hotels in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

The hotel itself was nice, but the staff at the ski resort was horrible, the rentals are also not well maintained. The boards are not waxed, which makes it difficult to work with as there are a lot of flat routes which are difficult to avoid (Pony and village road were the flattest slope Ive ever seen in my life, I had to unstrap and walk and the board just wouldn't move). Ski resort staff were unfriendly and the rental staff was the worst, there was a lady there that was cold and rude. The only reason why the rental shop is surviving is probably because the equipments are salomon branded and that there is no other option.  I would visit again but only because the routes are fun, Myoko long run was the best, but I would never want to rent from the shop again. The food was very very good. For breakfast, you could choose from western or Japanese buffet. Western buffet is highly recommended, the omelette was the best ive eaten in my life and there was a diy risotto which was great as well. For dinner, there were 4 options, either buffet, steak, Japanese or shabushabu. All requiring reservations which is tough if you are checking in the evening as some might not be available. Highly recommend the steak, the food was good and the staff were amazing. Japanese was the hardest to get a reservation for but the food was quite underwhelming. The room was clean and ski lockers are also provided but it's tiny and can barely fit 2 boards. But I wish that in the toilet in the common area, you can adjust the tap temperature as the water is freezing cold. Amenities wise, bottled water are provided daily, also, yukata was provided but you can only wear them to the onsen which was extremely troublesome as I had to change multiple times a day.  The hotel provides shuttle bus services to and fro jyoetsumyoko station which was easy to book. The bus drivers were also friendly and helped out with the luggage. In summary, for a 5 stars hotel, it didn't live up to expectations, ski resort and rental staffs were unwilling to help and unfriendly. Also, some of the staffs could not speak Japanese which is puzzling for a hotel in Japan. If not for the amazing snow and slopes I would never come back.

The location was very good, and the staff were generally friendly. But the food was not tasty. I was recommended to buy some Niigata rice, especially Sado rice, because it's delicious, but the rice tasted terrible. Maybe it wasn't cooked properly. It looked good, though. The rice sold at restaurants in town was delicious. But this is what I expected for 50,000 yen per person during the Obon festival...

This is one of the best hotels we've stayed in, we enjoyed all the little details - free flow of coffee and tea with snacks throughout the day, complimentary light pastries for breakfast and happy hour with free plum wine and sake. The onsen, both public and private, is so cosy and relaxing. And the overall design of the hotel, utilizing the previous farmhouse as the foundation, created a quaint yet calm space. Yes it's a little pricey stay but we would def come back again if we're heading to Minamiuonama.

Booked a room in Building 2 for three nights, and got an upgrade to the club floor. The room wasn't huge, but it had four beds, enough for two adults and two children, and the bathroom had a separate shower and toilet. The cable car is right downstairs, making skiing super convenient. There are tons of restaurants; we tried pizza, BBQ, ramen, and an izakaya, among others. The prices were reasonable, and everything tasted great. We'll definitely be back, highly recommend it!

One of the loveliest ryokans we've ever stayed at in Japan, wish we stayed for longer. Every part of the hotel is so beautiful and serves as a lovely photo backdrop. There is a lounge with coffee/tea in the mornings and alcohol and snacks in the evening. There is also a playroom (suitable for infants to 6years old). Service is top notch, everyone is so helpful and friendly. Extremely easy to communicate with them as the staff can speak English well. They gave us a map and told us where we could go for food or to the ski resorts and gave a lot of local advice. They provide all the amenities you need. They even have rain boots that you can borrow and wear in case your shoes are not waterproof. It snowed heavily while we were there and the staff are super attentive - they asked where we were headed to and suggested for comfort, that we wear the hotel's rain boots as they knew my partner's shoe wasn't waterproof/suitable to walk through the snow. Rooms are very clean, big and comfortable (only that the futons are a little thin). The onsens are rather small, but the outdoor onsen is so beautiful. They provide a shuttle service to the train station (upon request) , although it is a relatively short walk - 5mins - and easy to walk if there is no snow. 7 eleven right next to the train station and New Days inside the train station. We loved every single thing about this charming lovely hotel and we will definitely be back if we are in Echigo Yuzawa.

I can't give this a good review! I've stayed at so many ryokans with dinner and breakfast included, but this Futaba really left a lot to be desired! First off, the guy at the front desk checking us in was so quiet, he didn't even give us the most basic information like which floor the hot springs were on; he just handed us an all-English hotel guide. Second, this is the only onsen hotel I've ever stayed in where the bathroom smelled, and even the carpet in the entryway by the toilet had a urine smell... Then, the hot spring was just a regular public bath, and there wasn't even an ice pop after soaking. Finally, when we left, the staff didn't help us bring our luggage from the lobby to the shuttle bus. I had to drag it to the bus myself, and then the staff finally came out to open the door and help us load it in. (We were the only family on the bus at the time) It's just a really hard experience to rate...

Everything about the service was top-notch. The food was all delicious, and there was plenty of it to fill you up, with kaiseki cuisine even including sake, and the option to choose one dish from the menu. After 10 PM, they offer a late-night snack called 'yonaki soba' (night-time ramen). It's quantity-limited, so when I went a little before 10 PM, many people were already waiting. The dining area has limited seating, but takeaway was an option, so I ate it in my room. From ice cream after a bath to Yakult in the morning, I was never hungry and felt full the entire time I was at the inn. It was wonderful. The breakfast was also voluminous, and you could have unlimited rice. There's also a private bath. While it doesn't have a showerhead, it's a perfect space to spend time with a loved one. It was available when I went in the evening. Overall, I was surprised by how few Japanese guests there were; most seemed to be Chinese or other Asian guests. I'd like to stay here again when I go skiing.

NASPA New Otani Perfect family stay with spacious rooms and great snow park for kids! ”We had a wonderful stay at NASPA New Otani. The hotel's location is very convenient, not far from the train station, and the free shuttle bus service is available throughout the day, which made our travels so easy. We stayed in a Japanese Style Room, and it was incredibly spacious at 50 square meters. It was perfect for our family of three (parents and our 3-year-old child). There was plenty of room for our little one to run around and play comfortably without feeling cramped. The private snow park at the hotel is fantastic, especially for young children. Our child had so much fun playing in the snow, and it felt very safe and family-friendly. We are truly impressed with the hospitality and the facilities. We are already planning to come back and stay here again next year! Highly recommended for families.”

The hotel's location is excellent. You can see the Yuzawa Grand Hotel nestled on the mountainside right from the west exit of Echigo-Yuzawa Station. It's about a 5-minute walk, though the large, steep slope at the hotel entrance requires careful walking, especially after a snowfall in Echigo-Yuzawa and when pushing luggage, to avoid slipping. We booked a Japanese/Western-style room, and the hotel gave us a room on the 7th floor of the South Wing, directly facing the station. The views were absolutely superb, especially the distant mountains after a snowfall – truly the 'Snow Country' I'd imagined. The room had two beds, and a futon was set up in the Japanese-style area, making it perfect for families with two children on a ski trip. There are two onsen (hot springs) on the hotel's first floor, and the open-air bath is particularly memorable, especially when you catch a heavy snow while soaking outdoors. An unforgettable experience! The hotel exudes the charm of an established onsen hotel, with attentive and meticulous service. Yukata and towels are changed daily. Although the facilities show their age, they are still perfectly functional, especially the in-room mini-bar/sink area, which was convenient for eating bentos in the room after skiing each day. Oh, we didn't book breakfast or dinner; we got all our meals from the convenience store inside the station and nearby restaurants. The hotel's excellent service was also evident in many small details, such as the free rain boots at the entrance and the weather forecasts for various ski resorts. I particularly recommend the ski rental shop right outside the hotel; they have a great attitude, reasonable prices, and the ski gear and helmets are all very new. In summary, it was a very satisfying stay in every aspect. If I come back to Echigo-Yuzawa during the ski season, I will definitely stay here again!

The lady at the counter was so accommodating. Provided everything we needed and was happy to help in any other way. Spoke a little English but used google translate to help. We couldn't use the dining room for dinner, I think that had to be booked in advance. There was only one or two other places open in town at 7.30pm for dinner. So wasn't many options. The room had stains all over the floor, but otherwise the beds were clean, and comfortable being on the harder springy side, and the bathroom was very clean. The onsen was amazing. The room was a good size, and had extra toilets down the hall if we needed them. The Japanese breakfast that was provided was fantastic. We only stayed one night because we were walking the next day just near there otherwise would have stayed in a bigger town, because of the limited outside facilities. But for the price and it was convenient it was good. Would stay again if I had to, but otherwise would go for a bit nicer place.