Interesting overnight places Niigata - Tokyo

Hi.
I will be visiting Japan in mid October this year.
I think I may have an extra night there based on the flights that I would like to book.
We will heading to the following places (in that order) where we will spend a night or multiple nights :
- Izu Peninsula (Shimoda, Inatori Onsen)
- Wajima
- Wakura Onsen
- Sado island
- Niigata
- Tokyo

As I may have an extra night (and do not want to spend it in Tokyo as I have been there multiple times), are there any interesting overnight stops between :
- Wakura Onsen and Niigata
- Niigata and Tokyo

FWIW, we will taking the train for most of the time and may fly between Haneda and Wajima (Noto airport).
If we have to take a train between Izu Peninsula and Wajima, we can only consider stopping overnight in enroute to Wajima if there is an interesting place.

Any recommendations ?

Thanks.

Minakami between Niigata (city) and Tokyo has many interesting onsen lodgings. The shinkansen station is called Jomo Kogen:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7463.html

However, Niigata City and Tokyo are connected by a different shinkansen line (Joetsu Shinkansen) than Wakura Onsen and Tokyo (Hokuriku Shinkansen).

Many thanks Uji.
Are there any ryokan that you would particularly recommend in Minakami ?
Always trust your recommendations :)

Unfortunately, many of the best ryokan are not easily accessed from the shinkansen station, but require at least one bus ride (or even two).

Most popular among foreigners is the Osenkaku in Takaragawa Onsen:
http://www.takaragawa.com/english.html
I personally have only visited on daytrips and can't judge the accommodation.

Very rustic, but also very remote is Hoshi Onsen which I highly recommend for the "time slip"-type of experience; however access by public transport is challenging:
http://hoshi-onsen.com/english/index.html

For a high-budget, I recommend the Bettei Senjuan:
http://www.senjyuan.jp/e/

Assuming you are using JR pass, you might want to experience this special shinkansen from Niigata:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/genbi/en/

Thanks Uji & Shinji.

Interesting shinkansen; I do not have a JR Pass but good to know about it so that I can perhaps check it out when I am there.

Does anyone have the email address for Hoshi Onsen ?
Can't seem to find it on their website.

Cheers.

houshionsen@yahoo.co.jp

Thanks, hopefully they do check and will reply my email.

I visited the onsen last year, any information you need? I am happy to share.

Thanks Shinji.

- which room type do you recommend ?
How much did it cost approximately ?

- does the ryokan provide pick up and drop off service at the Jomo-Kogen station ?
If not, how much does a taxi cost approximately between Jomo-Kogen station and the ryokan ?

- what is the bus timetable from the ryokan to Jomo-Kogen station ?
I can find the timetable to the ryokan but cannot locate the return one.

- is the bus stop directly in front of the ryokan ?
Or it is the last stop for the bus ?

Thank you.

It is not really "on the way", but you may consider Aizu Wakamatsu. Interesting town with a great castle and historical surroundings. It's east from Niigata, towards Fukushima. But it's on a regular train, not Shinkansen, so you are 2.5 hours there and then about the same south to Tokyo the next day.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7700.html


Another option without adding any travel time would be Yuzawa (mega ski resort town on Joetsu Shinkansen). In mid october, you may be lucky and catch early fall leaves changing colors.

http://www.yuzawakogen.com/en/

- which room type do you recommend ?
How much did it cost approximately ?
Japanese Guest Houses was where I made The reservation from, if I am not mistaken, room rates starts 40000‰~ for two? We selected a room in the original building.
Vinsent:
jgh72@japaneseguesthouses.com

- does the ryokan provide pick up and drop off service at the Jomo-Kogen station ?
Unfortunately, no.

If not, how much does a taxi cost approximately between Jomo-Kogen station and the ryokan ?
- what is the bus timetable from the ryokan to Jomo-Kogen station ?
Directions:
Take a bus from JR Jomokogen train station
(Departure Times are: 14:10 and 14:55) to Sarugakyo Bus Stop (Approximately a 30 minute bus ride and the cost is 860 yen one way).
At Sarugakyo Bus Stop please change buses and take the bus to Hoshi Onsen (Approximately a 15 minute bus ride).
The buses leave at 15:04 and 15:56.
You can also take a taxi from Sarugakyo Bus Stop to Hoshi Onsen (It takes approximately 15 minutes at a cost of about 3,000 yen).
From the Hoshi Onsen to the Sarugakyo Bus Stop, the bus leaves at 09:05, 09:50, 15:30 and 16:15.
From the Sarugakyo Bus Stop to Jomokogen, the bus leaves at 09:30, 10:20, 16:04 and 16:40
http://www.hoshi-onsen.com/access.html

- is the bus stop directly in front of the ryokan ?
yes, minutes walk from the reception

Hi,

I live in Niigata prefecture. I am happy to share information that could be useful for you.

If you gave me your interest, desire, budget, or parties etc, I would help you make a plan of travelling in Niigata Prefecture in Oct 2018.

Best,
Takeshi

I second AIZU-WAKAMATSU.
It is an onsen town, small but with some interesting sites:
http://samurai-city.jp/en/

Hmm, isn't Aizu Wakamatsu a bit to near to the Fukushima nuclear reactor ?

Re : Hoshi Onsen :

- are there always taxis at Sarugakyo Bus Stop ?
easy to get one there ?

- we would like to leave the ryokan a little bit later on the following day (like noon or so); but it seems there are only 4 buses a day from Hoshi Onsen to Sarugakyo Bus Stop.
We are OK to splurge JPY3k on a taxi from the ryokan to Sarugakyo Bus Stop, but are there any other buses between Sarugakyo Bus Stop and Jomo-Kogen train station (in addition to those listed) ?

Thanks in advance.

Hmm, isn't Aizu Wakamatsu a bit to near to the Fukushima nuclear reactor ?

Not at all. Aizu is virtually unaffected. If you chose to stay in Aizu and have the budget, I strongly recommend the Mukaitaki, one of the best ryokan in all of Japan:
http://www.mukaitaki.jp/

https://sarugakyo-navi.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/nobori.pdf

Hmm, isn't Aizu Wakamatsu a bit to near to the Fukushima nuclear reactor ?

About 120 km from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, not exactly near.
I visited the town 2 years ago, stayed at Shosuke-no-Yado Takinoyu, just next door to the
Mukaitaki. I highly recommend the ryokan, beautiful riverside room, onsen and reasonable rates.
https://shousuke.com/
As you are already in Niigata, IMHO, Aizu Wakamatsu would be a better option. It is easier to reach than Hoshi onsen, and you might also enjoy the visit more, the town offers some interesting sites which are conveniently located within the city circle bus route.

Thank you all.

Mum is less comfortable visiting Aizu at this point in time, so I think I may give it a miss for now.
Maybe on my next trip when I am with my friends :)

Re : timetable between Sarugakyo and Jomo-Kogen train station
- is it valid for 31 October and 1 November ?
- I suppose most of the buses operate daily (with the exception of those marked in a circle) ?
eg : the 1227, 1335 and 1420 hours buses from Sarugakyo to Jomo-Kogen station is in operation on 1 November ?
- just wondering if it is even worthwhile taking a taxi from Hoshi Onsen to Sarugakyo, and then change to a bus on to Jomo-Kogen station.
How much does taxi from the ryokan to Jomo-Kogen station cost approximately ?

Cheers.