Hagi no Sato Annex

I stayed here while taking care of some business in the Hida area. The two meals included for ¥7,200 seemed inexpensive, and the reviews were decent, but my actual stay was a bit different. I drove and parked in the lot opposite the road from the main building, which is currently closed, using the sign as a landmark. From there, it was a short walk to the annex in the blazing sun. After checking in, I went straight down to the basement bath, then had dinner. The room was six tatami mats in size. Even though it was a smoking room, it didn't smell, but I did wonder about the two rooms that seem to be non-smoking in name only. It feels good to run the air conditioning day and night while sleeping. The shared toilet is cramped. It is Western-style, at least, but... There is a trash bin, though apparently you're basically expected to take your rubbish home, which is a drawback.

Just half a minute from Hida-Hagiwara Station, this is a very convenient little guesthouse. The building is old, but everything, including the bathroom, was kept clean. The changing area did get hot in summer. Meals were delicious, especially the local sweet simmered amago trout, and the couple were warm and welcoming. They even left rice crackers and rice balls in the room, though I’m not sure whether that’s something they always do. I found the service lovely, and the stay comfortable enough to give it 5 stars.

I picked this inn to keep costs down during a filming trip to Gifu, with side trips to Gero and Takayama. I’d rate the place around 3.5, but the owner and his wife were so kind that I’m giving it 4 stars. The station is right outside, which is handy, though trains only come every hour and a half, so missing one would be rough. The old building was fairly quiet, and people seemed to turn in after 9 PM. I’d had a bad experience with a shared toilet in Asakusa, but this one was reasonably clean. The proprietress gave me rice balls, and both hosts were lovely. There’s no Wi-Fi, which I should’ve checked before booking. I had data I needed to send, so I ended up borrowing the owner’s connection briefly. For a place advertising itself as a business hotel, adding Wi-Fi would make a real difference. I expected a shared toilet and brought disinfectant, but hadn’t realized it was shared by men and women. That felt awkward. It’s also so narrow that my knees hit the wall if I sit far enough away to keep my clothes from touching the bowl. I’d love to fix it by removing the inner door and putting a lock on the outer one. When I pulled the blanket over me, something powdery or dusty got in my eye and hurt for a while. Maybe it came from the wall. There wasn’t a chair to use with my laptop, so my back hurt. I moved the desk to lean against the wall, and toothpicks and food scraps fell from its corner. Apart from that spot, the room was pretty clean. I imagine it’s hard for an elderly couple to run the place, but two or three inexpensive improvements could probably justify another 500-1000 yen. I wonder if there are any young people nearby who could help. The location is so good and the basics are decent, which makes the issues a shame.

I always stay here when I'm in Hagiwara-cho, Gero. The facilities are old, but the owner's and landlady's simple hospitality and home-style cooking are real strengths. The price is reasonable too, which I appreciate. It's a business inn for merchants, so don't expect too much, but it has what you need if you keep your expectations modest. It's right by the station, so it's convenient for train travelers. It's also a handy base for visiting Hida Kaido Hagiwara-juku. I got advice here when I took part in the Hida Kaido Oshi Festival, held every autumn. Most guests are here for business, but the inn works for sightseeing too, and I recommend it.