Pension Noah

The open-air bath is spacious and beautiful. The meal only had two side dishes, which didn't feel like enough. The TV was broken, and the elderly owner didn't know the Wi-Fi password.

I had booked a trip for the Obon holiday, but with a major typhoon approaching, I was concerned about travel conditions and possible damage, so I reluctantly called to cancel. The staff insisted there had been no typhoon reports in their area. Even though I was polite, they were very defiant and demanded the full cancellation fee. The booking site said a 50% fee was enough, but they wouldn't listen and even said the typhoon was a lie. I was already disappointed to miss my planned Obon trip, and the way I was treated made it much worse. Other reviews have mentioned it too, but the staff member really was a stubborn old man. I wouldn't stay there even if it were free. Just thinking about it makes me furious. If this is how they treat other customers, they shouldn't be running a business and should close immediately before more people become victims.

The open-air bath was the best part. The owner gives you a key, and you can lock it from inside so nobody else comes in. There's room to change and leave luggage, plus soap, rinse-in shampoo, and two showers. Be careful with the water, since the changing area gets wet. We did see a few bugs, but the bath was still very pleasant. I went out around 10pm one night to look at the stars. The owner saw me leave, then locked the door from inside, so I couldn't get back in. There were four of us staying; one person was delayed washing their face, but they contacted me by smartphone and managed to open the door and come back in. The place has a bit of a training-camp feel. Check-in is at 3 PM. I arrived then, saw the owner apparently preparing food in the kitchen, and said hello, but he didn't seem to hear me. I went up to the kitchen, introduced myself, and he showed me to my second-floor room. It had a small unit bath with toilet and tub, two beds for two people, one table and two chairs. There's a shelf above the hangers for luggage. A TV, but no fridge. Just one outlet, so bring an extension cord. Amenities were pretty sparse: bar soap, conditioner-in-shampoo, and bath towels. Bring your own toothbrush set. The air conditioning worked well, though the fan blades can hit you in the face when you're falling asleep. Dinner was at 6pm. I suspect they serve the same menu each time: soup, salad, stewed beef, Greenland flounder baked in foil, cake, and tea. Beer and wine are sold there, but the red wine was light. Breakfast was at 8am, and if you didn't leave your room, the owner called you. It was served on the same table as dinner: warm bread, salad, a plain omelette, and two sausages, with butter, strawberry jam, and blueberry jam. You could choose tea or coffee. That's also when we discussed the bill. We were told checkout was at 10am, but we could pay and leave whenever we were ready. The owner may not be a bad person, but he seems inflexible. People like different things, so it's hard to say for sure, but this was definitely an unusual trip I'll remember.

The breakfast was a real highlight, and you could tell the owner put care into it. The rolls came toasted from the kitchen, with as much as we wanted. They were fluffy, flavorful rolls from a local bakery. There was also a perfectly runny omelet and two big sausages from a local shop. Apparently the sausages are bought by weight, not by the piece. The owner chatted with us enthusiastically and happily. He kept topping up our tea and coffee, and his warmth really came through. For dessert, he cut up a fresh, incredibly juicy pineapple, which seemed to have been prepared just for us. We were sent off with a kind “Please come back to the foot of Mt. Fuji again.” I'd stay again if I get the chance. This visit was about a year ago, but it was such a heartwarming experience that I wanted to write about it in case it helps the owner. Take care. We came by car around the lake and found this guesthouse village. Since we arrived at night, there were hardly any streetlights and it felt pretty unsettlingly dark. Then the lights came on, and the owner greeted us at the entrance. He explained the key, the living room amenities, and the free drinks. The entrance has a high ceiling up to the second floor. The dining area on the left seats about 10, while the right side has a clean bidet toilet and the stairs. There were four of us, so we took two twin rooms. The amenities weren't new, but the rooms had been cleaned and the beds made carefully, and the air conditioning worked well. Small wooden chairs were nice for sitting and talking, and a little window in the middle looked out onto the forest behind. Even with a large backpack, the room didn't feel tight, so it was comfortable. We could use the open-air bath for free. Beside the two-person shower area was a large stone-paved tub. They kept the lid on until just before we went in, so there weren't insects floating in it. It was a very pleasant soak.