IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 19 hotel brands with more than 6,300 hotels in over 100 countries. In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates about 47 hotels under seven brands from Hokkaido to Okinawa (as of March 2024). For this interview, we asked Mr. Go Matsumiya, General Manager of ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Niigata, about the attractions around the hotel.
Name: ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Niigata
Location: 5-11-20 Bandai, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture
–How did you come to work at ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Niigata?
I have been interested in the hotel business since my college days and started my career with ANA Hotels. Then, after IHG-ANA Hotels Group Japan became IHG-ANA Hotels Group Japan, I gained experience in Okayama, Naha, and Sendai as GM for 11 years, and arrived in Niigata in April 2021. Niigata is a fascinating place, blessed with seafood from the sea and mountains, a diverse culture unique to a port town, and Sado Island, which is aiming to be registered as a World Heritage Site with its Sado Gold Mine.
–What kind of hotel is it?
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Niigata is a city hotel located close to Niigata Station, in the “Bandai area” in the center of the city, yet in a quiet atmosphere, convenient for both business and sightseeing. Six restaurants and bar lounges that make the most of local ingredients have long been a favorite of both domestic and international guests as well as local Niigata residents. The Koshihikari rice dish for breakfast has also been well received as a unique Niigata specialty.
The combination of urban convenience and abundant nature is one of the attractions here in Niigata City. It is hard to find a location where, after finishing a business meeting, you can enjoy shopping and dining downtown and then go to the sea to watch the sunset over the Sea of Japan. A recommended way to spend your time is to spend the evening at the bar on the top floor of the hotel, watching the sun set over the Sea of Japan and toasting the bartender’s pride and joy with a glass of his drink.
–please let me know if you have any personal favorites tourist spots or restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.
The Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, is within walking distance, and there is a long promenade called the “Shinano River Yasuragi Tsutsumi. It is an exceptional time to walk and enjoy the magnificent view of the great river as it eventually flows into the Sea of Japan. There is a fitness room in the museum, but we encourage you to take a walk on a sunny day. The Bandai Bridge, designated as a National Important Cultural Property, is also a highlight.
–What restaurant menu do you recommend?
As a hotel staff member once said, “Niigata people make and eat their own delicious food.” Niigata is a land of local production for local consumption. Not only sake, rice, and fish, but also meat and vegetables are delicious. Teppan-yaki Kura’s “Niigata Wagyu” is another must-try dish. It is good with wine, but we also recommend a marriage with Niigata sake.
–What souvenirs do you recommend?
The best sake is Niigata sake. The deliciousness of Niigata sake is well known outside the prefecture and even outside Japan, but there are also many sake products that are only available in the local area. At the Ponshu-kan in Niigata Station, there is a sake tasting facility called “Sake Tasting Room” where you can taste the best of Niigata’s sake. We hope you will find the sake of your choice here and take home a bottle of your favorite as a souvenir.
© Source travel watch
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