Hotel Marui

We came for a professional basketball game and stayed the night. The room had only a small unit bathroom, and it was disappointing that the large communal bath was for men only. Breakfast was really, really good.

The road outside is a fast route from the Mikawa Interchange on the Ban'etsu Expressway, and it lets me avoid Niigata city traffic during the morning and evening. There’s free parking on site and off site. There aren’t any convenience stores nearby, and the rooms don’t have washlets. I stayed in the hotel side of the property. It’s not new or spotless, but it’s maintained well and comfortable. The first-floor izakaya serves breakfast and dinner that aren’t fancy, but the glossy Uonuma Koshihikari rice is just what you’d expect from Niigata. It’s a great place overall.

It’s very handy, close to the station, and I stay here whenever I come to Shibata. Women used to be able to book Japanese-style rooms, which I liked for their calming feel, but apparently that’s no longer an option.

The inn is only a short walk from Suwa Shrine and close to the station, so the location worked well for me. But with few hotels around Shibata Station, it’s hard to weigh convenience against saving money, especially since Niigata city is nearby and I imagine that means fewer people stay here. I booked at the last minute through Rakuten Travel, taking the last Japanese-style room. The listing showed a photo of Hotel Marui, so I assumed I’d booked an old business hotel. At check-in they explained the Japanese-style room was in an annex and sent me to the inn behind the hotel. The building looked astonishingly old, like something from the Showa era, perhaps from the 1950s, and at least 50-60 years old. My single room had its own bath and toilet, though the toilet was Japanese-style. The bath also looked old, but I’m sure it had been renovated, and the other amenities were all there. Opening the window gave me a view of a cemetery. I was relieved the entrance was separated from the room by an extra sliding screen instead of just a door. The other people staying there looked like high school students, perhaps sleeping together in a big room with futons.