Echigo Yuzawa Yumoto Tamago no Yu Yukiguni no Yado Takahan

This was a wonderful Accommodation that made my first trip to Niigata truly special.While the building and furnishings showed their age,there were programs where we could enjoy local culture, such as shamisen performances and readings about the snow country,and thoughtful amenities like sake lees face packs, Japanese sake, and coffee,making it an Accommodation where we could fully enjoy Yuzawa.All of the staff, as well as the shamisen instructor, were outstanding. Thank you very much for your hospitality.

I stayed here on a solo trip.It was the rainy season and there was an unfortunate light drizzle, but when I got off the Shinkansen and called from the station, they came to pick me up almost immediately. When I arrived, they even welcomed me with a large umbrella opened for me.The building has a well-worn charm with touches of the Showa era throughout, but it has been renovated appropriately and there were no issues at all.When I entered my Room, I could look down from the window at the Joetsu Shinkansen line and the Kan-Etsu Expressway sweeping down in a large S-curve from the Naeba area,with a fine view stretching out over the mountain range along the Joetsu border. It was truly soothing to take in.The large public bath isn’t huge indoors, but the slightly silky water is wonderful and kept at just the right temperature—you can soak again and again. The men’s open-air bath has a unique view looking down toward Gala Yuzawa Station nearby, and it was a little cooler than the indoor bath (the temperature seems to vary by season).The lounge after bathing offers an excellent selection of free drinks, plus an extensive library collection, making it very comfortable to spend quiet time there.For dinner I chose the “shabu-shabu kaiseki,” and it was extremely filling—there was enough meat that you could easily call it two portions. I ended up so full that I skipped both rice and miso soup.Breakfast is buffet-style with more than enough variety. There seemed to be fewer local specialties than I expected.After checkout they also drove me back to the station; even though I was alone in their wagon vehicle, everyone kindly saw me off, which made me feel truly grateful (and almost apologetic for taking such attentive care).Every member of staff treated me exceptionally well without exception.The only minor drawback is that the men’s bath area—including the open-air bath—faces the parking lot, so during check-in/out times when guests come and go by car it can feel a bit less relaxing,but even considering that, this is an Accommodation I would gladly visit again.