4-Star Hotels in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

It is very close to JR Niigata station. The staff handled check-in with hospitality. The facilities were maintained well with neatness and cleanliness. Although I booked the smallest room, the room still has enough space for opening the luggage fully.

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!

I misplaced my gloves some where at a town I was visiting. The hotel staff were very helpful to help me call these places that I visited to check if they can find my gloves. Despite the language barrier, they were very proactive in their assistance and help. I cannot help but feel the famous Japanese hospitality from their services. They have an in house restaurant that served local dishes that you must try in Niigata, their service were also very polite and welcoming. I felt extremely comfortable with my stay in the hotel because of their attention to service.

The hotel itself is quite nice, and the service at the reception desk was excellent. The staff in person were polite and genuinely tried to help with anything I needed during my stay. However, I was very disappointed with the phone service. When I called the hotel and spoke in English, the call was hung up on me. I tried several times and the same thing happened. It did not seem like the staff member on the phone was willing to assist or find a solution. This left a very negative impression. As this is an “International Hotel,” I expected at least basic English communication or an attempt to assist rather than disconnecting the call. I already informed the hotel about this issue and I sincerely hope they improve their phone service permanently. Additionally, the hotel is located 10 mins by walk from the city center so you will likely need to take a taxi to travel around. Overall, the in person service was good but the phone communication experience needs serious improvement.

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.”

Great ryokan to stay in if you are skiing in the echigo yuzawa area. There is a bus stop right outside the hotel which takes you to most of the ski slopes via the blue line/route shuttle bus. The rooms are big enough (japanese tatami style) and the onsens are wonderful to use after a day out in the mountains. The only issues I had were the laundry washing and drying coin machines. There are only 2 washers and 2 dryers. The cost is much higher than other hotels we have been to, and the dryer was unable to dry our clothes fully. The clothes were roughly 70-80% dry, to which we hung it in our room overnight to air dry. That being said, I would still choose to stay here again as the convenience and location are unmatched.

This hotel is right next to Niigata Station, directly accessible through the Cocolo shopping mall. It's super convenient for dining, shopping, and getting around. I booked a premium twin room, which was excellent value for money. There was plenty of space to open two suitcases, and the amenities were well-stocked. Overall, I'm extremely satisfied.

I stayed in a standard semi-double room with a room-only plan that was on sale due to the live performance at Toki Messe. It was conveniently located within walking distance of Toki Messe. There was a convenience store and post office nearby, and a short walk away there were a few restaurants, so I had no trouble finding food even though I checked in late. I didn't have much opportunity to interact with the staff as I didn't use the restaurant, but the room was very clean and had all the necessary amenities.

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...

The ski-in/ski-out access to the hotel was incredibly convenient, making it a one-stop shop for dining, entertainment, and relaxation. Although the room was small, it was well-equipped, and the view from the window was quite lovely. My only issue was the incredibly loud noise from some equipment that started around 6 AM each morning, waking me up three days in a row. Additionally, the hotel's dining options were all pretty mediocre and not great value for money.