Inn Aozora

The friendly older woman who owns the inn was lovely. She didn’t speak much English, but did her best, and we could understand each other well enough. She showed us the manners and practical ways of living in a modern Japanese house, which I found amazing and genuinely useful. The inn is small but feels like a modern Japanese home with lots of rooms. The kitchen couldn’t be used. There are two shared bathrooms downstairs, and upstairs there are two toilets and three washbasins with drinkable water. The water may look a little cloudy at first, but it’s safe and fresh; leave it standing for a couple of minutes and it clears up. Our room was spacious for two, with two futons and a Japanese pillow that we found good for posture. After a full day walking in the frozen winter weather, it helped with our minor back and neck pain. There was also a nice “hita” heater. We turned it all the way up, then had to open the window at 4 a.m. because it got too hot, even though it was -7C outside. The room had a small folding table and tatami flooring in the sleeping area. Two yukata, simple kimono-like Japanese clothing, were provided, and I enjoyed wearing one around the inn. I’d recommend the place to foreigners who want a feel for life in a modern Japanese house and to learn some everyday customs. For Japanese guests, it should feel like home.