Choseikan

In October 2024, there were a lot of stink bugs, and my wife, children, and grandmother were so scared that they couldn't sleep. When we were sleeping, we heard a banging sound against the shoji screen. The toilet in the room was also clogged, so we had a staff member come and watch over us in the middle of the night. We couldn't sleep during that time. I exchanged messages with the staff several times before the stay, but there was no communication that this was the case, so I was shocked when I entered the room. The staff member also laughed and said, "I'm sorry that there are a lot of stink bugs at this time of year." It was like that. I couldn't rest, so I enthusiastically told the manager about it when I checked out, but he was adamant that he would not give me a discount, so I paid 107,000 yen without showing any anger. I'm sure there are various opinions, but as a human being, I think it's common to give a discount or something like that. Customers who have never had such troubles are paying the same amount.

I stayed here for one night when I went to Japan from Boston in March. I thoroughly enjoyed the large gardens surrounded by nature, the large open-air baths with a great sense of openness, the heartwarming hospitality, and the exquisite cuisine made with fresh ingredients. I was particularly impressed by the Niigata Wagyu beef I had for dinner, which was so tender it melted in my mouth. For your reference, I have uploaded a video I took during my stay to YouTube. Due to the terms of use, I cannot post the URL here, but if you search for "Choseikan" on YouTube, the first result will probably be listed under the title "Staying at the elegant inn, Choseikan, with its large garden and large open-air bath, Niigata Prefecture/Murasugi Onsen," so please take a look if you are interested.

(Front desk) There were several groups at check-in because we stayed on a Saturday, but the lobby reception desk allows 4 to 5 groups to check in at a time. There are too many inns that serve one group at a time during busy times, but this is a very good service that does not make you wait unnecessarily. (Room) 12 tatami Japanese-style room in the main building facing the garden. It seems that it has not been renovated since it was built, and it is quite deteriorated over time. There is an empty small refrigerator and electric kettle in the room. The problem is that the facility is old, so I could only find one power outlet in the bathroom, and after a lot of searching, I finally found it on my way home, next to the safe in the room. It is difficult now that smartphone power is essential. (Hot spring Large bath) The best feature is this radium hot spring. It is tasteless, odorless, and looks like normal water with no viscosity, but you will feel warm and cozy for a long time after bathing, and you will become addicted. The feeling of freedom in the garden open-air bath is the best! ️ There are no towels in the large public bath, so you have to bring them from your room. There is no water or tea for after-bath use, so you have to go all the way to the front desk to quench your thirst. The bath amenities are only cotton swabs and hand soap (men's bath), so is this a thorough saving considering the accommodation fee? (Dinner and breakfast) Dinner is served at chairs and tables divided into groups in the hall. Appetizers and sashimi are served first, and then small trays are served all at once. The food was very delicious, with an emphasis on content rather than volume. The only disappointment was that the kettle-cooked Koshihikari rice from Sasagami was disappointing considering it was Niigata rice. The breakfast was average, but Nakai-san politely recommended refills of rice and miso soup, so be careful not to overeat.