Sasayakanayado Futtsu

I came expecting somewhere to relax, but the place was nothing like the photos and I left disappointed. I do like the old-fashioned feel, but it wasn't maintained at all. There were several cockroaches and even eggs. Bugs may be hard to avoid, but this room was simply filthy. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with asthma or allergies, or even for people without them. The toilet and kitchen hadn't been cleaned. Dishes, the sponge, and its holder were brown and unusable. Dust covered the fan, table, remote, furniture, and air conditioner. The futon smelled moldy, and when I lifted the mattress there was dust and clumps of hair underneath. There were dead bugs and grime all over, and several dead bugs in the fridge too. The freezer had ice in it, but I have no idea how old it was. The hearth can't be used in summer, they said, but there was trash in it, so I wonder if it hadn't been cleaned since winter. The room was old, unlike the pictures, and the lockers outside were useless: no locks, with sandals and tools inside. The sliding doors were hard to open, bugs came in through the gaps, and some cracks had only been taped over. I also found several cigarette butts from the previous guest, even though they say there's a 10,000 yen fine for each butt found. For what I paid, I expected them to at least clean the room, even for a room-only stay. It's a shame, because it was all I could get. The YouTube and website footage made it look fairly new, so the reality was a shock. Also, be careful on the way in, you have to cross a very narrow railroad crossing.

There isn't air conditioning, so in winter you'd want to make good use of the hearth. It's a big room that can hold 25, and since there's nothing around, you can play music loudly without bothering anyone. I had a great time there. The bathroom is basically a temporary shower room, so it won't suit anyone wanting a proper bath. There's room for five or six cars, but the road in is incredibly narrow. A Hummer II did make it through, though.

For such a low price, you get a wonderfully free space. The rooms are spacious, with doors on all four sides. There's no bath, and the kitchen and separate shower toilets for men and women are in another building. It's more than enough as a simple free space, without expecting lots of hospitality. The owner runs it as a hobby, so responses can be a little slow, but you understand once you meet him. Thanks for having us. P.S. It sounds like some young people caused a lot of trouble, even burning a wooden chair in the hearth. If people with bad manners are given these wonderful spaces, places like this will become harder to find. Good luck, owner!

It's unusual to find somewhere that takes up to 25 people, though around 15 seems like the comfortable maximum in practice. I was satisfied, but found it a little expensive. Since the toilet and kitchen are reached from outside, rain could make things inconvenient.