Iyashi No Yado Koemon

There are lots of guesthouses around here, and the sea is close enough that I decided to go for a walk and see it. From the window, though, all you see is the neighboring house. The room itself is roomy and comfortable to stretch out in. Dinner was tasty, with grilled crab, shabu-shabu, and seasoned rice. One of the side dishes was pickled vegetables, so I would’ve liked another dish alongside it. The shower pressure is weak, just as other reviews have mentioned.

I’ve stayed here every year for the real Matsuba crab, and I’d happily recommend this guesthouse. The staff and landlady are warm and attentive, and the place feels homey. Everything was spotless and neatly kept. Meals were arranged over LINE, and I felt comfortable knowing there was little contact with other guests and infection prevention measures were in place. The crab was so plentiful I couldn’t finish it all. Dinner had hot pot, plus grilled, steamed, raw, and miso crab, so it was crab in every form. The crab miso was rich and delicious on its own or spooned over the rice porridge at the end. Breakfast started with sweet crab rice cooked in a clay pot. A really lovely morning. I plan to return next year when I’m in the mood for crab.

The crab portion advertised online didn’t match what we actually got. The listing also said cards were accepted, but at the inn they told me it was cash only. When I pointed out the card information, the staff looked unhappy and ran my card reluctantly. A terrible experience.

The clay-pot rice at breakfast was amazing. This was my first stay, and I liked that the inn takes only three groups a day. The two large baths are private to each group, as are the named toilets, and the dining rooms are fully private too, so there’s little chance of crossing paths with other guests. The sashimi meal was a bit underwhelming, though that’s about what I’d expect at a minshuku. It didn’t cause any trouble for us.