Shinano Sou

It is close to Echigo-Tanaka Station on the JR Iiyama Line and can be reached in 5 minutes on foot from the station, making it easy to access by train. To be honest, I was a little nervous until I could see the inn because I was going through a residential area. Although the inn is located on the banks of the Shinano River, it is a pity that the view was not as it should be due to the construction of the bank. When I checked in, I realized that this hotel is a member of the Japan Secret Hot Springs Protection Association. I wish I had brought a stamp book. It's nice to be able to move around without wearing slippers as the building has tatami flooring. The rooms have perfect WiFi and air conditioning. There was no wide veranda, so there were no chairs, which was a bit inconvenient, but I wonder what it would be like in another room. The baths seem to change places between men and women depending on the day. There is an open-air bath beyond the indoor bath. The hot water was circulated and disinfected with chlorine, but the pH was over 9 and it was incredibly thick. As I soaked in the hot water, I wondered how thick it would be if it were fed directly from the source. One of the characteristics of this hot water is that as time passes, you start to sweat. There were horseflies, so be careful when using the open air at this time of year. I confronted three horseflies while taking a bath. Many of the meals were made with locally sourced ingredients, which can only be found in Niigata, and the rice and sake were delicious. The sausage made from wild boar went perfectly with beer. It was a nice accommodation that I would stay at again if I had the opportunity. I'm very satisfied.