Niigata Toei Hotel

The whole place smelled of cigarettes, from the first floor and reception to the elevators. I’d booked a non-smoking room and was given a smoking one. The hotel felt stained, dirty, and dated, and the security seemed poor since they still use physical keys instead of electronic ones. I tried to find another place, but everything else was booked. Just awful.

The room and bathroom were both quite spacious, and the hotel was easy to reach from JR Niigata station via the bandaid exit. Staff were nice and the cleanliness was great. I got a very good price with a last-minute booking. The decor is quite old, maybe from the boom era, but that didn’t bother me.

The beds are pretty terrible, basically springs wrapped in fabric, but I’d still stay again for the price and everything else. Check-in and checkout were quick and friendly, and they’ll store your bags before or after if you need. There are lots of restaurants and big shopping malls within walking distance. The rooms are budget priced.

The staff were lovely, the location was great, and I enjoyed the meals. Rooms are nice, just small. The staff’s English was limited, but it wasn’t a major issue and was what I expected.