Maki Station × Accommodation With Private Hot Spring SourceHighly rated for customer service and hospitality at Hotel·Ryokan

The view from the room’s large, open windows is breathtaking. You can even see the leaves just beginning to turn, and it’s a scene you could watch forever. Dinner was served by the window as well, and we enjoyed it at dusk with the chorus of autumn insects as background music. The dishes featured mainly local ingredients, and everything was delicious—you could really tell each item had been carefully prepared with time and care. The abalone at dinner and the octopus at breakfast were simmered to a perfect tenderness, and the seafood in particular—soft-shelled turtle soup, sweet shrimp, blackthroat seaperch (nodoguro), and more—was outstanding. The sake paired with the meal was an exceptional selection that you likely rarely come across, and it matched perfectly all the way through to the final dish of beef simmered with Japanese peppercorns; we thoroughly enjoyed that pairing as well. The hot spring was also wonderfully comfortable—at just the right temperature that you can stay in for ages. It rained unfortunately the next day, but while waiting for the shuttle bus we heard a chorus of frogs from somewhere (they really do sing in unison!), which was soothing too. We’ll be back again.

Although our trip was rainy, the staff kindly came to the parking lot with an umbrella to welcome us as soon as we arrived at the Accommodation. After that, everyone continued to treat us gently with warm smiles at all times, making it one of our favorite travel memories. The Onsen temperature was just right, and I ended up soaking for about an hour... Dinner was delicious, but breakfast was even better—an amazing variety and great flavors. We felt happy and completely full from the morning! It’s an Accommodation we would definitely love to visit again!

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).

We’ve been staying here during the Obon holiday season since last year! Above all, the meals are delicious! My daughter, who is a picky eater, was so happy and said it was truly delicious—she even ate my portion as well. The property has a long history, but the Room is clean, and we really appreciate the thoughtful touches such as providing water. All of the staff are polite, and their smiles are wonderful. We’d love to stay again next year. Thank you very much!