Dai Ichi Inn Shinminato

The room felt fresh and comfortable, which makes the breakfast presentation stand out even more. There weren’t many choices, and even the rice and miso soup came in disposable paper bowls like something from a food truck. That made the meal feel rather meager compared with the room. With a selection this small, I think a set meal would have been more satisfying. The hotel is fairly new, and on a clear day you’re said to get a view of Shinminato Bridge and the Tateyama mountain range. It’s a little out of the way, but I thought it was a good hotel.

The breakfast had been discounted from ¥2,000 to ¥1,100, but I still found it quite disappointing. The room itself was spacious, clean, and newly built, with a roomy unit bath and a large toilet. Wi-Fi was fine, though the HDMI connection wasn’t great, and there was an Android TV and a bottle of water collected in Imizu City. The welcome coffee was a nice touch, made with dark-roasted beans from a long-established coffee shop in Takaoka rather than standard hotel coffee. Service was attentive. The nearest station is the tram stop from Takaoka Station, and Lawson and 7-Eleven are walkable. Parking is next door at the Cross Bay lot: one night is free with a ¥500 coupon, and the lot charges ¥500 for 24 hours. I booked a discounted meal-and-stay plan, though prices went up quite a bit during the promotion.

With a Lawson right across the street, this feels like a place I’ll come back to regularly. The renovated hotel is spacious, new, and good value. It’s been a while since I stayed in Shinminato, and now I don’t have to go all the way to Takaoka.

I only got to look around this time and didn’t stay overnight, but it seemed comfortable and a good size. It was my first visit since the location moved. I’d be happy to stay there if I get the chance.