Echigo Yuzawa Hatago Isen

The location is hard to beat, right across from the station, and they offer snow boot rentals and connections to ski equipment rental shops. Our room was clean, the food was delicious, and the hot spring water left my skin feeling great. The public bath is small, but it was well kept. What spoiled the stay for me was the women's bath in the morning. A boy who looked at least 10 came in with his mother. She said he was seven, but his appearance made him seem much older. I called the front desk, and they told me their policy allows children up to age 10. I found that deeply inappropriate and out of touch, and it left me and other women guests extremely uncomfortable. Everything else about the ryokan was good, but this experience ruined my stay. Management should reconsider the bath age limit so female guests can feel their privacy and comfort are respected. I hope they update the rules to reflect more modern, sensible standards.

We stayed in a quiet hotel across from the train station and shopping street, where you can browse local products. It felt like a place to unwind, and the food is what would bring us back. We booked the half-board package, and dinner was a wonderful mix of Japanese and Western cooking, made with fresh ingredients in season. Breakfast was tasty too, with Niigata ingredients and Uonuma Koshihikari rice. There are 16 rooms, an onsen, and two restaurants serving great food. We'd like to return to this hotel and its restaurants in the near future.

The Sakura room is enormous, with a kitchen, living area, tatami and Western bedrooms, bathroom, and private onsen. It's a great choice for a big group of friends. We also stayed in a double room. There's a ski locker room downstairs, and the public indoor onsen is small but fine for a quick bath. The location and breakfast were both good.

The Japanese breakfast was especially delicious, and you can also choose a Western one. We skipped dinner so we could try places around the area. If you're skiing or snowboarding, breakfast is a good idea since there aren't many places to eat in the morning unless 7-Eleven works for you. The place is convenient, just across from the train station, and the staff were friendly and attentive. One thing to know about the single rooms is that they don't have a shower, so you'll need to use the public bath area. We had to spend a night in one because the inn was full. If you're uncomfortable with the public bath, there's a private bath upstairs that you can rent for a fee.