3 Amazing Ramen Shops & Our Wild Weekend in Niigata, Japan 🍜🌧️ Ramen, Rainstorms & Room Surprises!

3 Amazing Ramen Shops & Our Wild Weekend in Niigata, Japan 🍜🌧️ Ramen, Rainstorms & Room Surprises!

hey everyone if you’re new around here I’m Stephen and I’m Elaine And we’re here in Nigata Japan And we just got to the Nigata train station In this video we’re going to show you three amazing ramen restaurants Elaine’s creeping on the ramen shop We can’t wait Oh stay tuned [Music] Today we are super excited to be leaving the warm beach weather of Zushi Japan and headed to Nigata Thanksgiving and there are oranges That’s how warm it is All right we made it to Sushi Station and now we are off to catch Jr Tunata Spoiler alert we had no idea what we were getting into We took the local train into Tokyo where we caught the infamous Japanese bullet train [Music] Okay so we found it easiest to come up to Tokyo and get our tickets from the line here together I got to considering Tokyo is the largest city in the world There’s barely any talking [Music] It was a very comfortable 3-hour ride from Tokyo to Nigata Station [Music] Nigata station We just arrived in Uganda We’re super excited to check out the beach the train station museum and so much more Or at least that was the plan Hey guys we have made it here to Nigata Japan Japan is known for its different ramen styles all over this island Stay tuned for some of the best food in the country Without even leaving the station we found our first of three amazing ramen shops Got [Music] a ticket Two tickets Japan is so organized There was one line to use the ordering kiosk and then a second line to be seated [Music] We chose the counterstyle seating over a table as it’s always much faster [Music] There were a ton of different spices and flavorings to add to our ramen but it was so delicious it didn’t need a thing [Music] This is what it’s like walking with a lane through everyone Every once in a while it’s Oo look at that We need to keep our eyes peeled for an advent We’re getting hit by a hail storm We just got the We got the I said I wished it would snow It’s not going to get above 40 There’s no way for it to snow But it’s raining Who else do you know that gets happy in the hail [Music] Oh boy Yeah Hi Why don’t you wish for a million dollars like you wish for this hail I wish for snow So I’m not 100% accurate but happy Thanksgiving Happy Thanksgiving [Music] A two beds again I guess that’s our new thing But it’s cute We got a little desk I can edit You can relax Oh we take our bags off and then do a room tour Okay So after the train ride we stopped for that amazing ramen And then we walked here to our hotel We are soaking wet because we were walking and talking and I was wishing for snow for Thanksgiving and it started hailing on us We got caught in a crazy hail storm Anyways let’s show you around the room Okay so we got an upgrade I’m not sure exactly what the upgrade was cuz we had a standard room and now we have some type of deluxe But we have two double beds They’re a little bit wider than a twin but not by much They’re definitely not what we call a double in the US Oh super comfy Lots of pillows Not sure what all this is over here Looks like a clock and I don’t know switches to control the lights and things I don’t know Let’s give it a try here Oh yeah there we go Oh foot What’s foot Maybe we’ll figure that out later Oh nice light there An actual radio Anno is like uh that over there Anyway maybe we can find some music later Anyways over here we have a desk which is where I will be editing The best part is this coffee maker And I love when they have these nice nest cafe espresso machines with these adorable boxes of fancy coffees So we have a floral and complex Tokyo Viva Lungo No idea Looks beautiful though I love the This is the fanciest looking pod we’ve ever seen And then an intense and creamy but it’s decaffeinated So maybe we’ll mix them together to enjoy the flavors But I love these These are fun Then there’s also these roasted green tea mint tea I thought it was coffee Okay that makes sense cuz this is the coffee Eye masks Can’t wait to open these And the showstopper [Music] These show walls They’re paper walls With this view we can see a huge parking lot But nigata super exciting I love it All right let’s go check out the bathroom Oh I should mention there are several restaurants here We’ll check out some of those restaurants We’ll definitely show you the breakfast buffet We get that included with our room every morning And of course in the evening at least once we want to check out the rooftop bar We loved the one at the Crown Plaza in Toyama That was amazing So hopefully this one can live up to the same hype This is a huge TV and a little mini refrigerator Didn’t come with any drinks but that’s all right We’ll put our leftovers and things in there Oh wow Look at this Oh my gosh More coffees and teas And a kettle I never would have looked down there if we weren’t doing the room tour so we would not have found those And oh cups Oh they can fit so much in a small space And we got beers in our welcome bag So we’ll put these in the mini fridge All right on to the bathroom We have a nice hallway a closet Oh my gosh look at these robes They don’t have a pool They have a gym We don’t know if they have an onen nearby but look slippers these house coat or pajama things All right now for the bathroom Very white Looks uh very clean This is a nice big shower We have the same products we did at the last Crown Plaza so that makes sense Except for this guy This foam soap is new so that’s cool Ooh with royal jelly That’s from like bees Supposed to be good for your skin And then more amenities Bath powder This is a bigger bath so maybe I will take a bath So bath salts a razor a hairbrush This one’s different than the one we had last time All right So that’s it That’s our room We don’t know what we’re going to get into now but we’ll for sure see you for cocktails if nothing else All right [Music] before heading out for the most epic ramen we’ve ever had we stopped at the rooftop bar which had the absolute best city views and the most ornate cocktails of our lives [Music] We had some chocolate and some nuts with our drinks Hey guys we are up here in Nagata It is rainy and it is cold It’s just one of those moments that you can’t replicate So just wanted to say what’s up [Music] This is our salad That’s how it goes people They let you take all the salad [Music] They wrote this I think she said this is scary They just finishing up overall It’s beautiful [Music] Oh my goodness Dinner was to die for Stephen saw it earlier today We came back to that pouring rain It was crazy We’re soaked Our shoes are wet But it was worth it Absolutely delicious Six different courses We started with salad and some kind of raw meat There was just so many different things It was amazing We absolutely loved it And it ended with noodles which Stephen was happy about Also we got these little candies Not 100% what they say but they’re so cute Sure What they say Yeah What I say Not 100% what they say Oh not 100% Oh Oh Oh I thought it was going to be minty Kawai Anyway so dinner was amazing Highly recommend So we’re in the train station by the way That’s where we came back for dinner And there are just too many delicious restaurants So we’ll probably come back again this weekend For now we’re headed back to the hotel to dry off and relax And we’ll see you tomorrow Bye It hailed and it looks like it snowed It’s awesome Happy Thanksgiving [Music] Or hail [Music] [Music] The breakfast buffet was awesome [Music] They had everything imaginable for both western and Japanese style breakfast [Music] Before our third and final ramen experience in Nigata we popped into the rooftop bar to enjoy one final happy hour drink Icy Carter or Icy Cart [Music] like would you like something with meat Okay What do you want [Music] All right Well looks like we closed them all up All right guys So we just found this beautiful ramen shop It’s right next to the one that we ate at the first time we were here but it has some amazing food and we got to pay by the machine You just order your food Be quick though because it timed out on us We don’t want that to happen to anyone else But you could pay with your speaker card on your phone and then we go inside and then we had the most delicious ramen I mean it was just fantastic The different flavors of the broths and then the came out was grilled to perfection We are so lucky to have found such great ramen places in the Nigata train station just a 10-minute walk from our hotel All these places behind me have some great food But for now we got to go because they’re closing up shop You can see the bars behind me The mall that’s located in the train station is closing And so while the food place stay open for about another hour ways to get out are limited So we’ll see you next time All right Well that that’s it for us here in Mikata Japan We hope you really like these three restaurants that we showed you They were so amazing Absolutely fantastic We wish we could try more of them We just don’t have any more time So maybe next time we’ll have to come back And we really want to see some of those sites Unfortunately the weather doesn’t always work when traveling and you just have to be flexible So that’s what we did And we had a wonderful time Warm soups were perfect this weekend And now we have to head back to our house Next video we’re going to be in Narita and we’re going to show you some great things there before heading to Korea All right that is it from us here in Nigata For those of you new around here I am Steven and I’m Ela Wishing you spicy and enticing adventures Bye [Music] Be free with me [Music] Let’s go Let’s be

Join us today, as we take you along to try our 3 Favorite ramen in ALL of Japan! We planned a relaxing, adventure-filled weekend in Niigata, Japan… but let’s just say things didn’t exactly go according to plan. What started as a sunny morning in the warm beach town of Zushi quickly turned into one of the most unexpected (and hilariously memorable) trips we’ve had in Japan.

Armed with a full sightseeing itinerary—train museums, seaside strolls, and all the scenic vibes—Mother Nature had other ideas. As we arrived in Niigata, we were welcomed not by sunshine, but by a sudden, crazy hailstorm! Yes, actual hail! It was freezing, wild, and honestly kind of fun (after we got over being soaked). So we ditched our plans and leaned fully into weathering the storm—literally.

But here’s where the magic happened: Ramen. Lots of it.
🍜 Ramen Stop #1 hit us right in the comfort zone—located just outside Niigata Station, this bowl came with a full slice of crispy, thick-cut bacon. Never seen that before in a ramen shop, and wow, it works.

🌧️ After slurping our first bowl, we make our way through the rain to check into our hotel… only to find the return of our least favorite travel surprise: single beds. Again. (Who keeps booking these?! Looking at you, Elaine.)

😴 But hey, it’s all part of the journey. We grab a quick nap, then head up to the hotel’s rooftop bar for happy hour. The city views are stunning—even in the drizzle—and our cocktails are well earned after all that cold weather.

🍽️ Ramen Stop #2 night, we return to Niigata Station for something truly special: a five-course ramen experience where each dish is cooked right at our table. From flavor-packed broths to noodle textures we didn’t even know existed, this meal is hands-down one of the most unique ramen dinners we’ve ever had.

🌧️ The next morning, it’s still rainy (of course), so we keep it cozy with the hotel’s breakfast buffet, featuring both Japanese and American-style dishes—miso soup, rice, eggs, sausages, and even pastries. Perfect fuel for a slow, relaxing day indoors.

🍜 Later that night, we head out for our third and final ramen shop of the trip. This one is tucked away and unassuming, but the flavor? Outstanding. It’s a quiet, delicious end to our very soggy but super satisfying Niigata adventure.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned—and sometimes, that’s where the best stories (and the best bowls of ramen) are waiting. Come along for the ride as we navigate hailstorms, hotel quirks, and a ramen tour we won’t soon forget.

✨ Thanks for watching! Wishing you Safe & Enjoyable Adventures!✨

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Japan travel vlogs, food adventures, and unexpected moments with Steven & Elaine of SandE Adventures!
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We have been working and traveling the world together since 2016. We have decided to “risk it all”! We quit our jobs, sold our cas and are hoping to ‘live like locals’ as vagabonds traveling the world. To record and share our experiences with family & friends we are creating these short videos from our travels. We hope you enjoy!
Steven & Elaine

INSTAGRAM: @SandEAssets
FACEBOOK: @SandEAdventure

Travel vlog 157 | Filmed November 27th-29th 2024