4-Star Hotels in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

This is the most comfortable hotel I've stayed at in Japan. The breakfast was also very nice, and the staff were incredibly friendly. The location is excellent, making it super convenient to get anywhere. The underground parking is a good bonus too. There was a lovely and very enthusiastic grandma at breakfast. I love everything about this hotel, and if I ever have the chance to visit again, I would definitely choose to stay here. I love Niigata, such a charming place.

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.

Positives: - Very close to the station - Modern hotel and modern room - Plenty of room space - Polite and friendly staff - Large bed Negatives: - Bathroom seems ”forgotten about” - Rest of hotel is spacious and modern. But the bathroom was tiny with very little space and felt out of place with the rest of the hotel. Bath was very narrow and small Overall: Very good location and modern hotel. Bathroom just stopped it from getting perfect score

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.

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...

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!

Direct access to the Sado Kisen ferry terminal from inside the hotel, so no need to go out in the rain. It's about a 15-minute walk to Bandai Bridge. Breakfast is 2800 yen, which isn't cheap, but the curry is pretty good. I got a free room upgrade when I checked in, which was lucky. There's also a direct elevator to the observation deck. The hotel building also houses the Korean and Russian consulates. Both the room and the observation deck offer nice views.