Echizen Guesthouse TAMADA

Tamada San was exceptionally accommodating when we stayed. He doesn’t open his home to guests very often, but when he does, he’s very hospitable. He expects respectful visitors rather than rowdy partygoers, so please treat his lovely home with care.

The host is friendly, and it’s a lovely old Japanese house close to the beach. It’s quite a way from the train station, though, so you’ll need a bus or car. Buses don’t come often, so plan ahead. Strongly recommended!

The owner was so friendly that I really enjoyed my stay. The old house has a wonderful atmosphere, and I’ll definitely come back.

The owner is a talkative Fukui native and a diver who enjoys telling guests about the area, Fukui, and the surrounding sea. He speaks with what sounds like a slightly rough Edo-period accent, but he’s very kind. In the shared living room, guests can chat with him and one another, which is a special part of staying at a guesthouse. We stayed in a storehouse built by the owner’s ancestors and converted into a guesthouse. It’s been renovated with care and was clean and comfortable. The first floor is the living room, while upstairs is the bedroom with futons. The furnishings and interior look like antiques, apparently pieces that were already in the storehouse. There’s a fireplace downstairs, which must be nice in winter. It is a guesthouse, though. The storehouse connects to the owner’s home, and the entrance, kitchen, toilet, bath, and washroom are shared with the household. The owner and other guests use them too, so you need to keep things tidy. You make up your own futon, and amenities are more limited than at a hotel. Bath towels are optional.