🕓 2024/11/17
#Hotels
Niigata: Overview
Niigata Prefecture is known for its beautiful coastline, abundant nature, and a region where history and culture converge. Located on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu, Niigata offers diverse landscapes including the Echigo Plain, hot spring areas, and scenic islands like Sado. Particularly popular are sightseeing spots where visitors can enjoy natural beauty in every season.
Here we introduce 3 carefully selected luxury hotels that offer a special stay when visiting Niigata Prefecture.
- 3 Selected Luxury Hotels in Niigata Prefecture
- Koshi no Yado Takashimaya
- Kansuiro: A Quiet Forest Inn with Meiji and Taisho-Era Detached Cottages
- ■” Kansuiro: A Quiet Forest Inn with Meiji and Taisho-Era Detached Cottages “: Highlights
- ■” Kansuiro: A Quiet Forest Inn with Meiji and Taisho-Era Detached Cottages “: Access Information
3 Selected Luxury Hotels in Niigata Prefecture
Koshi no Yado Takashimaya
Source: Koshi no Yado Takashimaya Official Website
■” Koshi no Yado Takashimaya “: Highlights
Koshi no Yado Takashimaya is a historic ryokan located in Iwamuro Onsen, Niigata Prefecture, designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property utilizing a village headman’s estate dating from the Edo period. Here are 5 highlights of this establishment.
1. Architecture Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property
Koshi no Yado Takashimaya is a long-established ryokan located in Iwamuro Onsen, Nishikan Ward, Niigata City, and its buildings were designated as nationally registered tangible cultural properties in 2004. The main building and storehouses were constructed in the late Edo period and preserve the characteristics of traditional Japanese architecture to this day.
The storehouses now serve as exhibition spaces for guests, displaying valuable materials that convey the region’s history and culture. Guests can experience the beauty of Japanese architecture and its historical value through these historic buildings.
2. Beautiful Japanese Garden Through the Four Seasons
A Japanese garden offering beauty in every season spreads across the grounds. The garden includes a bamboo grove with over a century of history, providing healing and tranquility to guests. In spring, cherry blossoms and plum trees bloom gloriously; in summer, fresh greenery flourishes; in autumn, fall foliage paints the garden in vivid colors; and in winter, snow scenes create a serene beauty.
The garden also features ponds and streams where swimming koi and the gentle sound of flowing water soothe the soul. Landscape elements placed throughout the garden, such as stone lanterns, stepping stones, and moss-covered stone paths, evoke the traditional beauty of Japanese gardens.
3. Traditional Japanese Cuisine
Known as a “ryotei you can stay at,” Koshi no Yado Takashimaya serves traditional Japanese cuisine generously using fresh local ingredients to ensure guests’ heartfelt satisfaction. The cuisine particularly features combinations of Niigata rice, fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Japan, and seasonal vegetables sourced directly from local farmers.
Furthermore, special attention is paid to the tableware. Dishes are served on beautiful ceramics and lacquerware including local traditional crafts such as “Echigo-yaki,” making the cuisine a visual delight as well. Each dish is prepared with such care that it tells its own story — truly culinary art.
4. Diverse Guest Rooms Including Rooms with Open-Air Baths
The ryokan offers diverse room types to meet guests’ various needs. Particularly distinctive rooms include those with open-air baths and traditional farmhouse-style detached cottages. For example, special rooms such as “Hiiragi” and “Shion” are equipped with cypress open-air baths where guests can relax while gazing at the garden. These rooms are also known as accommodations where shogi (Japanese chess) Kisei tournament players have stayed.
Additionally, the detached cottage “Chikutei,” a relocated 180-year-old traditional farmhouse, is a special space where guests can experience the richness of old-world living. Its barrier-free design with minimal steps accommodates elderly guests and wheelchair users, and it includes an indoor hot spring bath.
5. A Historic Hot Spring Destination
Iwamuro Onsen, where Koshi no Yado Takashimaya is located, is a renowned hot spring with over 300 years of history, tracing its origins to 1713 (Shotoku 3) in the mid-Edo period. Legend has it that a white-haired elder appeared in the dreams of the village headman Takashima Shozaemon, and following this vision, a wounded wild goose was discovered healing its injuries in a spring, leading to the discovery of the hot spring source.
Iwamuro Onsen is the only hot spring district in Niigata City and is famous for its dark-colored waters. It is also the birthplace of Echigo geisha, and as a hot spring area alive with history and culture, it is beloved by many. Koshi no Yado Takashimaya features a large public bath and open-air bath so that guests can fully enjoy these rich hot springs.
■” Koshi no Yado Takashimaya : Access Information
- Official Website: https://takasimaya.co.jp/
- Access: 10 min by car from Iwamuro Station
- Address: 678-Ko Iwamuro Onsen, Nishikan-ku, Niigata City, Niigata 953-0104
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vTiCxtgsUeRg1rj67
Kansuiro: A Quiet Forest Inn with Meiji and Taisho-Era Detached Cottages
Source: Kansuiro Official Website
■” Kansuiro: A Quiet Forest Inn with Meiji and Taisho-Era Detached Cottages “: Highlights
Murasugi Onsen Kansuiro, located in Agano City, Niigata Prefecture, is an accommodation that offers a special space where timeless history and beautiful nature harmonize. Murasugi Onsen itself is a hot spring area dating from the Edo period, and Kansuiro is known as a particularly prestigious long-established ryokan. Here are 5 highlights of this establishment.
1. Historic Architecture and Cultural Properties
Kansuiro is a historic long-established ryokan dating from the end of the Edo period, with its group of buildings designated as nationally registered tangible cultural properties. The main building and detached cottages are wooden structures built during the Meiji and Taisho eras, carefully preserved and maintained while retaining the atmosphere of those times. Traditional Japanese architectural features can be found throughout these buildings, including thick beams, magnificent timber frameworks, plastered walls, and elegant Japanese-style room layouts.
In particular, the naming of the inn as “Kansuiro” by the Taisho-era poet Chiba Taneaki adds further distinction to its history. The name “Kansuiro” embodies the vision of a tranquil environment surrounded by greenery and a philosophy of living in harmony with nature.
2. Beautiful Garden Through the Four Seasons
The grounds of Kansuiro feature an expansive Japanese garden spanning approximately 6,000 tsubo (about 20,000 sq m), where visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature in every season. This garden was meticulously crafted by artisans, with garden stones, stone lanterns, and moss-covered stepping stones arranged in exquisite balance, evoking a sense of tranquility and harmony.
Walking paths are maintained throughout the garden, allowing visitors to stroll at leisure and feel at one with nature. In the evening, the garden is illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere distinct from daytime.
3. All Rooms as Detached Cottages
All guest rooms at Kansuiro are in detached cottage format, providing guests with quietude and privacy. This independent structure allows guests to enjoy their own special time without being disturbed by other guests. Each cottage retains the architectural styles of the Meiji and Taisho eras, featuring an atmosphere of deep elegance. Pillars and beams that exude the warmth of wood, along with traditional Japanese room designs, invite guests into a healing space.
Each room has its own character — differing in size, layout, and amenities — yet all pursue “tranquility” and “healing.” Options range from relaxing Japanese-style rooms to rooms incorporating modern comforts, catering to guests’ diverse needs.
4. Hot Springs with Skin-Beautifying Effects
Kansuiro’s hot spring is a pH 8.9 alkaline simple thermal spring widely known as a “beauty skin bath.” This water quality softens the skin, and bathers report noticeably smoother skin after bathing. The alkaline spring also has the effect of removing dead skin cells, offering a natural peeling effect.
The hot spring facility features a free-flowing open-air bath where bathers can enjoy panoramic views of the clear Hayakawa River and the surrounding lush nature.
5. Cuisine Featuring Local Seasonal Ingredients
Kansuiro serves kaiseki-style cuisine generously using mountain and sea delicacies nurtured by the rich nature of local Niigata. Niigata is a region abundant in seasonal ingredients, and only the most delicious ingredients of each season are carefully selected.
The dining style is also carefully considered. Meals are generally served in-room, allowing guests to enjoy their meals in a relaxed state without concern for other guests. The special charm of this inn lies in savoring cuisine while feeling time flow gently in a quiet private space.
■” Kansuiro: A Quiet Forest Inn with Meiji and Taisho-Era Detached Cottages “: Access Information
- Official Website: https://www.kansuirou.jp/
- Access: Approx. 15 min by car/taxi from Suibara Station on JR Uetsu Line
- Address: Murasugi Onsen, Agano City, Niigata 959-1928, Tel: 0250-66-2131
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sy2kzwMx6eckD9M8A
Shiratama no Yu Kaho Bettei Koshinosato
Source: Shiratama no Yu Kaho Bettei Koshinosato Official Website
■” Shiratama no Yu Kaho Bettei Koshinosato “: Highlights
“Shiratama no Yu Kaho Bettei Koshinosato,” nestled in Tsukioka Onsen, Niigata Prefecture, is a special luxury ryokan for those seeking an indulgent stay. With all rooms configured as suites, guests can fully enjoy “Shiratama no Yu,” one of Japan’s premier sulfur springs, in private open-air baths and guest-exclusive bathing facilities. Here are 5 highlights.
1. All-Suite Luxurious Guest Rooms
All 20 rooms are configured as suites, providing guests with luxurious spaces. Each room is designed with a different concept, exquisitely blending modern design with traditional Japanese elements. Furnishings and furniture are carefully arranged in spacious rooms, characterized by refined interiors.
Rooms with open-air baths are particularly popular among guests, allowing them to enjoy free-flowing hot spring water in a private space. As these baths are exclusively for the room’s guests, one can enjoy a soothing bath without concern for others.
2. Abundant Hot Spring Water from the Private Source “Shiratama no Yu”
“The private source known as “Shiratama no Yu” boasts one of the highest sulfur contents in Japan, with its distinctive emerald green color catching the eye. This sulfur spring is highly regarded for its skin-beautifying effects, and many guests are delighted by how smooth their skin feels after bathing. Sulfur springs also promote blood circulation and fatigue recovery, making them ideal for relieving everyday fatigue.
3. Seasonal Kaiseki Cuisine Featuring Local Ingredients
Kaiseki cuisine generously using fresh local ingredients nurtured by Niigata’s rich nature is served. The head chef’s cuisine is crafted to maximize seasonal flavors through carefully selected ingredients, showcasing the skill of bringing out the inherent deliciousness of each ingredient.
In spring, mountain delicacies such as wild vegetables and bamboo shoots; in summer, fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan; in autumn, chestnuts and mushrooms; and in winter, Echigo specialties like cold-season yellowtail and snow crab — seasonal flavors can be enjoyed throughout the year. The rice, made with Niigata-grown Koshihikari, is renowned for its distinctive local flavor. Local premium sake is also available, and pairing it with the cuisine allows guests to fully savor Niigata’s food culture.
4. Comprehensive In-House Facilities and Services
Comprehensive facilities are available for guests to relax. Particularly noteworthy is the lounge “Salon Yamazato.” This lounge is popular as a space that guests can freely use during their stay, with matcha and Japanese sweets offered in the morning and local sake and wine available in the evening.
Furthermore, the lounge offers panoramic views of the expansive Japanese garden, with natural light streaming in during the day and an illuminated garden creating a fantastical atmosphere at night.
5. Hospitality Blending Tradition and Modernity
“Shiratama no Yu Kaho Bettei Koshinosato” is a luxury accommodation that fuses the warm hospitality of a traditional Japanese ryokan with modern comfort. At the core of this hospitality is the thoughtfulness of each staff member. From the moment of arrival to checkout, meticulous care is provided — casual words of kindness, smiles, and flexible responses to requests all serve as important elements that create a special stay.
■” Shiratama no Yu Kaho Bettei Koshinosato “: Access Information
- Official Website: https://www.koshinosato.com/
- Access: Approx. 20 min by shuttle bus from Toyosaka Station
- Address: 134 Tsukioka Onsen, Shibata City, Niigata 959-2395
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/w4ZVMrTv4bcjgTRU9