Guest Hotel Seki Lodge

There aren’t many amenities, but the website makes that clear, and towels and pajamas are provided, so it wasn’t an issue for me. The facilities are old, though well cleaned, and the service is adequate.

This seems ideal for families with kids younger than elementary school age. We had nowhere near enough time to enjoy it all. The children loved the kids’ room and play area, where they could relax, read manga, play board games, table tennis, and video games. The building is old, so I wouldn’t suggest it to couples or anyone looking for a new, spotless hotel. Still, it’s well maintained and the staff were very friendly. The bathroom is small, so it may take a bit of planning to pick a good time. It’s best to buy food before you arrive. We reached Suzuka Circuit in under 40 minutes. The area around the inn also looks nice for walking, so hikers might enjoy it. I’d like to come again!

I stayed at the inn for work. The building was quite old and apparently dates from when it was a national lodging facility, though much of the interior has been renovated. It looks like it could be used for nature programs or summer camps for elementary and junior high school students. The innkeeper was very courteous and made a good impression. There are four floors, two bathrooms, a kids’ room, and a free space. The second-floor common area is truly free to use. There’s a Nintendo 64, GameCube, Famicom, The Game of Life, and plenty of other classic games. You can also help yourself to ice and glasses, which gives the place a homely feel. The rooms have projectors and Wi-Fi, too. You need to arrange your own meals, but the freedom makes up for it. The other thing that caught my interest was the Nahane 20 series train at the top of the hill. From what I found online, it was brought here as part of a marketing plan during the national lodging facility days. It’s in a pretty dilapidated state, but the kind owner let me look inside. Apparently people could stay overnight in the Nahane until about six years ago, but it’s now closed for business reasons. Much of the interior is still as it was then, including private rooms with tatami mats. The owner said demolition was discussed in 2019, but the Nahane 20 belongs to Kameyama City, and the cost seems to make demolition unlikely anytime soon. The city’s eventual goal is to build a railway park somewhere and display it there, though that also seems difficult on the budget. I’m glad it’s still here, and it would be great to see it restored through crowdfunding or something similar. Between the inn and the owner’s helpfulness, I’d give the place five stars. Railway fans should come see the Nahane 20 series.

We had a wonderful time here. I live in the city, but for a year-end party I got to use the big hall in the annex and a guest room on the fourth floor. I’d recommend the place for families. There are so many thoughtful touches that for a moment it almost feels like a traditional Japanese inn. The price is reasonable, the facilities are clean, the owner is warm and easy to talk to, and the staff are polite and helpful. The kids’ corner has four Wii consoles, plus shogi, Othello, Go, table tennis, manga, and The Game of Life. There’s also a fridge, microwave, Wi-Fi, TV, and ice, all free to use. The children had plenty to keep them busy. It’s enjoyable for everyone from two-year-olds to adults. The baths are clean and relaxing. You can pick your pillow and samue pajamas, and there’s a laundry room on the fourth floor. The area around the inn is full of nature and nice places for a walk. Even locals recommend it.