Kikusui

We had a lovely, relaxing cultural stay at this traditional Japanese Airbnb in Shizuoka. Tatami floors, sliding doors, and a quiet garden give the house an authentic feel, and it’s very well kept. The location also works well for exploring the area. The host was warm and attentive, communication was easy, and they made sure we were comfortable throughout. A great choice for a distinctive Japanese experience.

The location is ideal, but staying here was stressful. It was about +8C outside, and the bathroom and shower were cold. Getting to them meant crossing an open, uncovered patio. This might be fine in hot summer weather, but I wouldn’t recommend it in those conditions. If you enjoy drafty traditional Japanese guesthouses or camping, you may like it. I just wish the booking site explained more plainly what sort of stay to expect. We barely interacted with staff. During self check-in we happened to run into someone, who showed us the room and left. Later, the front door lock failed and we couldn’t get in. We rang the bell several times around 3 pm, but nobody was inside. Luckily, after repeated tries we eventually managed to enter.

The balcony was the nicest part of our stay at Kikusui. It had comfortable chairs, a table, a small bar fridge, and a pleasant view of the large pond by the shrine. Inside, the Sengen rooms were spacious and mostly fine, with comfortable beds and a good shower. The kitchen had what we needed, apart from a cloth towel for wiping things down, as there were only paper towels. A hole punched in a wardrobe and a fly screen that had come off a window suggested some maintenance issues. Getting to the room was difficult because of a long, steep staircase, which wasn’t mentioned anywhere. Some people couldn’t manage it, so this really needs to be made clear when booking. The pin code entry was okay, though the PDF instructions weren’t very clear about how it worked. The PDF’s station directions also sent us zigzagging through streets, even though it would’ve been much simpler to take the big road from the station and turn right onto the street with Sengen Taisha shrine. The property repeatedly says it’s entirely non-smoking, so we were confused to see an ashtray on the grounds. Would we book again? Maybe, maybe not. It wasn’t cheap.

This was a wonderful stay, with impeccably clean rooms and a luxurious but rustic villa feel. The bamboo room had its own view of a breathtaking bamboo forest, plus a kitchenette, toilet room, private bathroom with amenities, and a secluded outdoor patio under falling leaves. Other rooms have their own names and designs, like the water room. There are only a few individual rooms, not standard hotel units. It’s the last of a group of grand mid-century ryokan inns. A gracious host might give you a brief tour if you arrive before 5 pm. After that, the place is unstaffed and you check yourself in. In winter, the room and floor may take a while to heat up, so a sweater can come in handy. The garden ponds are close by, and the hostess was able to call a taxi for us. Thanks for the stay.