Yakuno House

We stayed in November, when it was cold, and got a lovely chance to experience traditional Japanese life. Marie has thoughtfully renewed this century-old house, from the bedrooms and kitchen to the heating system. We didn’t have a car, so we rented e-bikes, which worked out fantastically. Nothing to improve.

The room was clean, and I think the inconveniences are part of the inn’s charm. It’s an old house, so the toilet is outside and flushes into the shower. Phone reception is weak and there’s no Wi-Fi. The parking area won’t fit a large car, so you need to use the grassy space below. A good choice if you want to enjoy nature.

The house has plenty of room for a group, and the kitchen is spacious with lots of cookware. There aren’t restaurants nearby, so being able to cook for ourselves was useful. It also stayed warm in winter with the air conditioning, kotatsu, wood-burning stove, and kerosene heater. The place was generally clean, but some problems made the stay difficult. The toilet is outside, and I tripped in the dark on the way there at night and got hurt. The bathroom is small, not especially clean, cold from drafts in winter, and I often saw insects there. The parking path is narrow and tricky for a large car. There were what looked like rat or bat droppings on a beam, so we stopped using that room. The stairs to the second floor are steep, with a narrow top step. Someone fell, though fortunately they weren’t seriously hurt. The old house seems to have been renovated with corrugated iron, but gaps haven’t been fixed, which left it feeling flimsy. This year there was also a huge stink bug infestation inside. I’m not especially afraid of insects, but couldn’t relax and barely slept. I’m not trying to speak badly of the accommodation. I’m sharing this honestly so someone else doesn’t have the same experience. I imagine some things may be improved later, and hope this helps people considering a stay. I hope everyone has a good visit.

The kitchen is well equipped, including an oven, pots, dishes, and the other basics. The bath is small but deep enough to soak up to your shoulders. The only toilet is in the annex just across from the house, which could be inconvenient in rain, though its lights turn on automatically and it was fine even at night. There’s a fireplace, and sitting by the wood fire in the cold season is relaxing. The first floor alone has three large rooms. It’s more space than one family needs, but a group can split the cost and enjoy a comfortable stay.