Ryokan Minshuku Kamoya

The food was delicious, and the shared toilet on the second floor was clean. We came here overnight after spending time at Nou Beach, and it was our first stay. The parking area is sloped, which makes handling a lot of luggage difficult. It seems to be run by a parent and child, both with a rather mysterious air. The bath is shared, so we went to a hot spring facility instead. Our room door couldn't be locked from outside, so we kept our valuables with us. There were no bath towels or toothbrushes, and people who are fussy about cleanliness may want to bring something to cover the pillow. Also, if insects bother you, this probably isn't the place for you. The temple right next door made me nervous, especially after reading that a zashiki-warashi house spirit might appear, and there was a mountain just behind the building. But everything turned out fine.

The building has some unusual artistic touches, like bust-shaped objects, and the mirrors are positioned in a way that takes getting used to. I stayed here because the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival crowds meant I couldn't book my usual hotel. There was no guest register, they just showed me to my room. Free parking is close by. The toilets were clean and well cared for, but there was an unpleasant smell throughout the building, possibly from a ventilation problem. The room walls let through so much sound that it felt like sharing a room with the person next door, though at least it didn't feel lonely. The room's air conditioning was cold while the corridors were warm. There was a refrigerator in the room, but I couldn't use it. Wi-Fi reaches throughout the building, but the room had no note with the security key. I found it posted on a pillar by the payment counter, so the key only becomes apparent at the end. The bath was warm and bath towels were available in the changing room, but bath towels were not. Bring your own toothbrush and other toiletries. For comments on the food, see what other guests have written.

If your main plan is spending time at the beach, this place is adequate, though it's not a cheap option in high season. Compared with a clean, quiet, affordable business hotel, it falls short. The hotel is near the beach, and guests can use a beach hut for 500 yen. There's a large parking lot, but the slope in front is steep, so anyone with mobility issues should take care. Noise travels throughout the building. I could hear people running in the hallway, children shouting, and staff talking and walking early in the morning. Someone next door was snoring loudly, and hallway conversations also carried into my room. Traffic wasn't heavy, so the cars and motorcycles outside were less bothersome. If noise gets to you, it would be hard to stay here. The room felt dusty and as if it hadn't been cleaned. There was dust on the TV remote, insects and a dead lizard by the window, and the poorly fitted windows seemed to let insects in. Staff will bring mosquito coils if you ask. The old-style air conditioner worked very well. The room lock only works from inside, so take all your valuables with you when you go out. The sheets were clean, but there was something that looked like blood on the yukata, which was disgusting. The toilet seemed newly renovated and was fine. The bathroom reminded me of my grandmother's house and wasn't bad, but it was small and might get crowded. It has 4 washing areas. There were only face towels, no bath towels, and you need to bring your own toothbrush and toiletries. Dinner portions were huge, too much for me to finish, and the red miso soup wasn't to my taste. If it gets busy, you may have to wait, and I was told they had no draft beer. Breakfast can also get crowded depending on the time. For me, it had a homey feel, but someone easily bothered by noise would struggle. The room is visible from the parking lot outside, so you need to keep the curtains closed. A clothes rack and drying rack in the room are helpful for longer stays.

The futon is still damp, just as it was before. I stayed here last month for the second time, and the room seemed dusty enough to make me wonder if it had been cleaned. Two years ago, when I stayed here, the room was clean and well-kept, but this time it was awful. Dinner was satisfying, with a whole crab served again as usual. Niigata's seafood is really good.