Maki Station × Accommodation With Miso CuisineHighly rated Hotel·Ryokan for Onsen and bath

You’ll head toward the mountains on a narrow road that might make you wonder if there’s really a Ryokan up ahead. When we finally arrived, it felt like a hidden Accommodation—so exciting! The building was spotless and well maintained, and the staff were friendly, making it truly relaxing. The Onsen had a sulfur scent, and the meals—centered around fish—were delicious down to the pickles. I couldn’t stop going back for more rice! We made our next Reservation as soon as we arrived—it was that wonderful!

It was a wonderful Accommodation. We were very satisfied with both the bath and the meals, and the staff were very kind. We had a relaxing stay. The Room was spacious, and we were able to unwind comfortably.

This was the final Accommodation of my first trip to Niigata, a 3-night, 4-day journey. Our Room was the 2nd-floor Western-style twin [Marronnier]. The bathroom, with a separate toilet, was very convenient and made our mother-and-daughter trip extremely comfortable. The closet was spacious, and there were plenty of hangers. Just before check-in there are shoe lockers, and you can walk around the building barefoot or in socks. From the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the Room and along the corridors, you can enjoy views of wine grapes vineyards and the mountain range stretching from Mt. Yahiko. I visited looking forward to Vinespa’s aroma hot stone sauna, but I was told it is no longer available after renovations—such a shame. Still, the open-air baths placed throughout the garden offered wonderful scenery, and I thoroughly enjoyed soaking both after dinner and before breakfast. Restaurant Cave d’Occi is beyond a European-style garden that is carefully maintained by gardeners. The April menu—beautifully presented and truly delicious—featured local ingredients (hairy crab, celeriac root celery), spear squid), wild boar meat), flounder), roast beef smoked with branches from wine grapes vines), etc.) without feeling overdone). At the winery shop, I had my favorite Zweigeltrebe and unoaked Chardonnay shipped home). The next morning’s Japanese breakfast surprised me—in a great way: zaru tofu with olive oil was delicious!! At checkout time) pizza toast) grape juice) at the library café tasted so good it made leaving hard). It’s an Accommodation that made me genuinely envy those who live nearby).

You can really feel the dignity of a long-established Ryokan. It had the distinguished atmosphere of an Accommodation that hosts the Kisei title match. After arrival, my companion was delighted with the welcome beer (or soft drink). We used the complimentary beer voucher during our stay after bathing and enjoyed a delicious post-bath beer. Dinner was served in our Room, so we could relax and take our time. I had breakfast in the dining area, though it seems in-room breakfast is also available. I say that because a staff member mistakenly came to deliver breakfast to our Room (an error). Both dinner and breakfast were enjoyable, making great use of local ingredients. Breakfast in particular was simple but delicious. At checkout, the staff apologized for the breakfast mix-up, and the proprietress also offered her apologies. That kind of thoughtfulness felt like true Japanese Ryokan hospitality.