Had an enjoyable stay for 2 nights.
Highlights include free noodles at night (standard practice for Dormy) and roof top onsen for males with nice rock feature and sauna. Separate onsen for ladies on lower floor.
Laundry is free and tumble dryer cost is 100¥/20 mins.
Whilst massage in Japan is generally expensive, the rate here is 5,500¥ + tax for 60 mins. The massage therapists provide a firm and thorough technique. For a tired traveller, a hot soak followed by massage is worthwhile. Make sure to book massage early.
Breakfast buffet is extensive and exceptional, offering a good range of (mostly) Japanese and (some) western dishes.
Free bus shuttle to/from train station are available and most staff speak English quite well. JR Niigata station is 10-15 mins walk, relatively easy to find.
Highlight at Niigata station is the Ponshukan selling a range of food/drink with extensive sake sampling in back room (500¥ provides 5 tokens ie one sample per token. The day pass city loop bus (500¥) also includes one free sake tasting token at the Ponshukan (I was given 2 tokens). JR Echigo-Yuzawa station also features a similar Ponshukan as well as sake hot bath (800¥ for bath/200¥ for towel and 100¥ for locker). Main difference is that Echigo-Yuzawa has a larger range of sake to taste including ume (plume wine) and shochu, as well as descriptions in English. The Ponshukan in Niigata has Japanese menu only but still fun to sample from across the prefecture.