Kohan

We were a family of five staying for one night, and the food was so good that it more than made up for the drawbacks. There was plenty of seafood, including crab and abalone, and every dish was delicious: crab rice, crab shabu-shabu, crab gratin, sashimi, and grilled sweetfish. There was more than we could finish. Our futons were already set out when we arrived, and we had a private dining room separate from the bedrooms. Wi-Fi only reached the lobby, the room toilet had no washlet, and the bath wasn't a hot spring. Even so, we were extremely satisfied.

Dinner was an all-you-can-eat crab spread: a whole snow crab, gratin, shabu-shabu, and crab rice cooked in a pot. At breakfast, each room had its own set of dishes, with a choice of 7:30 or 8:00 seating, and coffee afterward was a nice touch. Chestnut yokan in the room was a hit with my roommate. We stayed as a group on a one-night, two-meal plan with all-you-can-drink for around 15,000 yen. The inn is on the shore of Lake Toyanogata, about 2 km from JR Niigata Station, and is said to be the largest in Niigata City's Chuo Ward. The reinforced-concrete building looks more than 30 years old. The lobby is open, but the low ceilings in the room corridors make them feel cramped. The rooms seem standard, though stained, yellowed sliding doors and worn tatami show how many guests have stayed here. I didn't notice the view at night, but in the morning I could see swans on Toyanogata, Big Swan sports stadium across the water, and Mount Yahiko and Mount Kakuta in the distance. The big public bath is basic, with one indoor bath and no sauna or open-air bath, but the tub and washing area are spacious.

I liked the old-fashioned character of the place, and the man at the front desk was very pleasant. Breakfast was delicious, especially the thick omelet, which impressed me. The squid sashimi and potato salad were tasty too. I'll definitely come back.

The inn itself is fine, but the surroundings are awful. When the wind blows, the west and south sides of the building smell like mud. Drainage keeps leaking and discharging, and it makes me feel terrible. No matter how good the food is, this is a shame. I hope they clean up the area around the inn and improve things. Please be kind to the earth.