Pension Buddy

We came with the kids over the November holidays. The autumn leaves made the area beautiful, and though it's a little way up in the mountains, the place was easy to find. Our room was cute, and the shared toilet and sink were kept very clean. Bath towels can be rented. The homemade full-course meal was delicious, with just the right amount of food. The beds were a bit small for sharing with children, but the room stayed warm despite the cold morning outside. I'd like to visit again if I get the chance.

The owners were gentle and attentive, and I really appreciated their kindness. The guesthouse was clean and well cared for, with a spacious feel that reminded me of a school trip. It was quiet and relaxing, with birds singing and cool morning air that made it easy to enjoy the natural surroundings. The bath was piping hot and felt wonderful, and the food was incredibly delicious. I stayed during Golden Week in 2023 and was deeply impressed. It's far from Ura-Bandai, but this is such a lovely guesthouse that I'd love to return, partly for the food!

The food was served as a course and looked lovely, which gets a thumbs up from me, though tastes vary. There were lots of special alcoholic drinks to choose from, and they were all delicious. I also relaxed with two baths in the single-person tub, very satisfying. The walls are thin like a log cabin, but it stayed warm and comfortable through the cold winter. I slept soundly until morning since it wasn't especially noisy at night. There was a small commotion when the breaker tripped early one morning, but it was fixed quickly.

Before breakfast, we took a walk nearby and enjoyed the nature: warblers calling, cherry blossoms in full bloom, patches of Asian skunk cabbage, and other wildlife. The owners were friendly and talked with us about nature photography and wildlife. As we left, they even took a family photo for us. The pension is close to Goshikinuma Lake in Urabandai and the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art, so we visited both famous spots right after checking out. It was a really satisfying trip. We came over Golden Week for our first family trip since the priority measures to prevent the spread of infection were lifted, and had a great stay. Parking for five cars right in front made loading and unloading easy. It's a genuine wooden log cabin, with natural wood inside too. The COVID-19 precautions included alcohol sanitizer and three shared sinks on the first floor, recently redone with sensor faucets for touch-free use. A button switches between hot and cold water. Paper towels were provided, and the toilets were clean. There was one shared toilet on the first floor and separate men's and women's stalls in the basement. We never had to wait, and the toilet seats were well kept and comfortable. There were two separate bathrooms, both suitable for family use. Each was big enough for two adults and a child, though our family of three used them. The bathtub was about the size of a home bath, with a circulating system, and was clean and comfortable. We had thought we'd take a bath at Nakanosawa Onsen before arriving, imagining a mountain hut bath, but agreed afterward that it wasn't necessary. The log-cabin room had individual beds, a central table, and a stool by the window, like a cabin we'd stayed in in Canada. Each room had air conditioning and was naturally clean. The food was delicious, especially the sauce. I tried dipping rice in it like another reviewer had mentioned, and it really was tasty. The dining room had newspapers, mountain magazines, board games, and cards. We borrowed a game and had fun together after dinner, while trying not to be too loud.