3-Star Hotels in Niigata Prefecture, Japan

My wife and I have had a 3-night stay at this Toyoko Inn Joetsu Myok Eli Nishi Gucci Room #1306 from 13 to 16 October 2025. The Hotel is just a 1-minute walk away from the Joetsumyoko Station. Similar to other Toyoko Inns, the modest reception is on the First Floor and it has limited parking lots on besides the Hotel, and also a bigger open car park about a 2-minute walk away. So we are grateful and thankful that we were given a lot for just ¥300 per day for 3 days at the open car park very nearby. The Hotel staff are polite and helpful, and are not quite able to communicate in simple English. As the Hotel is located quite away from the city centre of this very small city, so there is no shopping centre nearby except a few eateries are near the Station and within comfortable walking distance. The hotel room is the standard typical type whereby it is small but very clean. The bed and pillows are comfortable for our liking, and the small bathroom - again the typical Japanese type - is clean and its has strong water pressure for a comfortable shower. Like all Toyoko Inns, the Hotel provides daily breakfast of simple home cook styles; varieties are limited, but it is very comforting that gives a nice start for the day. Also, it offers free coffee and tea via machines 24 hours daily. At SGD S$97 per night with breakfast, we find it value for money and we will choose to stay here if we travel to Joetsu or Myoko again.

Clean and comfortable, very suitable for family travel, parking is also convenient. In short, it is highly recommended for parents and children. If you drive in Xinyi, choose this one, the service is great!

Staffs are very friendly, even though they don't speak much English, they would try their best to communicate with you. The hotel is located on a little hill side, so there's a lovely view, one side of the room has the ocean view (see image), the other side of the room has the spectacular snow mountain view (didn't take image). The hotel building itself believe is a bit old, so the rooms and bathrooms are a bit dated, but you can tell they try to modernize as much as they could, like very new aircon, new hairdryer (there's one old one attached to the wall which doesn't work, but the new one is in the drawer), TV etc. Bathroom is a little rundown, but it still function fine. The room key was really a ”key”, which you also have to insert into the wall and turn it for lights and electric in the room, it's quite retro and interesting, and it's the first time I've came across this kind of system. Hotel restaurant was the same one as the we stayed in an other city, and food standard was the same - which was good. Breakfast was superb, we loved it. Overall the experience was good and we were happy with our stay.

This boutique hotel is an absolute delight. With only five rooms in total, it offers an intimate, ryokan‑style experience where every guest receives thoughtful, attentive service. The staff embody the spirit of Japanese omotenashi—quiet, sincere, and always one step ahead of your needs. Because the property hosts so few guests, the atmosphere is calm and unhurried. You never feel like just another booking; instead, it feels as though the entire team is dedicated to making your stay exceptional. The dinner course is a highlight you simply cannot miss. It’s beautifully crafted, seasonal, and clearly prepared with great care. Just be sure to reserve at least two days in advance, as the kitchen prepares ingredients specifically for each guest. To my surprise, the overall experience here surpasses even some well‑known Japanese luxury brands like Hoshinoya. It’s more personal, more serene, and ultimately more memorable. A perfect stay for anyone seeking genuine hospitality and a peaceful retreat.

Although it's a new opening, the hotel's essence feels like the glory days of the 1990s, just before Japan's bubble economy burst. The exterior has been updated, but the interior still has a dated feel. The staff are all very diligent; before they spoke, I thought it was Japanese service, but once they started conversing in various Chinese accents, it felt like I was in a Chinese hotel again. The sky onsen is fantastic; soaking outdoors while gazing at the distant snowy mountains creates a scene straight out of 'Snow Country.' Especially from the hotel room window, looking out at the train tunnel instantly transports you to the Showa era.

The hotel is a remodeled Japanese house and the whole environment is OK. The owner's predecessor is estimated to be a hunter, and the restaurant in the store has many animal specimens. The room is quite ordinary. There are two folding beds in the room, with air conditioning and heating. There are public toilets and places to wash outside the room. The public bath room has a hot spring pool of about 8 square meters, and the hot spring is quite good. The owner is a couple aged about seven or eighty. The housekeeper's grandmother is very axes, can't speak English, and communication is difficult. When I left, I wanted to store my luggage temporarily. She was unwilling. Because the next day was Saturday, the house price tripled, and I changed rooms. It is more than 3 kilometers from Shiri-sapporo Station. It takes more than an hour to pull luggage on foot. It is very expensive to take a taxi and it costs about 2,000 yen.

I live in Japan and travel there a lot. I spent four nights in this hotel, which claims to be eco-friendly, but like other hotels recently, uses this as a pretext to cut costs. Indeed, the room was only cleaned once, and the disposable toothbrushes provided on the first day were only replaced a second time during the entire stay. The sheets were never changed, and the bed was made only once. The used towels weren't collected daily. Is offering disposable toothbrushes conceivable with a supposed commitment to environmental responsibility? No. Does not making the bed have anything to do with this so-called environmental responsibility? No. Offering a smoking room near the reception area that reeks of smoke in the hotel entrance... is that eco-friendly? No. Is it respectful of non-smokers? No.

The hotel is very close to the ski resort, which is very convenient. Our family of four had a slightly unusual room; the bedroom and living room were separate, but to get to the living room, you had to go outside to a public area, which was a bit inconvenient because you might run into other guests. Therefore, you had to be properly dressed before going out. It felt a little awkward. The breakfast food was acceptable; the variety was usually consistent, but you definitely needed to eat enough before skiing. There are three hot springs, but the largest one is usually not open to hotel guests at midday, perhaps it's rented out to guests outside the hotel. However, this doesn't seem to affect skiers much, as they usually go skiing around midday.

One of the nearest accommodation to Gala Yuzawa Ski Resort and shuttle via a mini bus is available. Shuttle bus goes to Echigo Yuzawa station too. It is walking distance from Gala Yuzawa. Approach any staff at the Ski Resort with the telephone number of the hotel to request for it. Stayed there for a few night for snowboarding. Breakfast selection was fabulous with two local Japanese sake available! The room is big, clean and well furnished. It even come with a great view! Onsen street which is the street lined with restaurant is 10-15mins walk away. I recommend making reservation for dinner if you do not intend to go out for dinner. Great service is one of the key reason why I would return to stay!

Nice hotel withe rooms of various sizes. For me it was spacious enough. Bed was comfortable, would have liked one more cushion. Room was clean an I liked that i could open the window. It was quite hot in the room because the heater was turned on. Even if i turned it off hot air came out. Room was clean and had everything i needed. You can also get things at the front desk. Breakfast was buffetstyle and really very good with a lot of choises, both Japanese, local and western. Location was very convenient near the train station. About max a 5 minutes walk. Near the hotel there are a lot of places to eat or have a drink. At the station is a shopping mall.