Guest House Kutomare

I tried all day and again the next morning to reach the owner or staff, apparently the same person, and got no response. The only contact number is Japanese-only and requires a Japanese SIM, and he doesn't reply there anyway. He seems to show up only when the nearby takoyaki shop contacts him. That shop was closed, even though Google Maps said otherwise. If you're okay with being stuck with a problem or without the accommodation you've paid for, possibly for who knows how long, then this is the place for you.

I've stayed here twice and would come a third time if I'm nearby. You get a chip to enter, then drop it in a box when you leave. The bathroom and toilet are shared, so keep that in mind, but otherwise it's a good place to sleep for the night. There's a card game bar in the building, plus the guesthouse owner's own bar. We had a really fun time there!

The beds don't have much headroom, and since it's a dorm, bring earplugs if snoring bothers you. Still, the facilities are clean and there's plenty of room. The dorm also has lockers, a massage chair, and manga in Japanese. The owner was friendly and pointed out places to eat and local attractions. He knows a lot about In This Corner of the World, so if you're visiting Kure because of the movie, ask him where to go. He also runs a takoyaki place downstairs and a bar.

I was traveling from the USA and arrived late, but the owner was so accommodating and made the trip memorable. He's great. I'd stay again if I'm in the area.