Guesthouse Tu Casa

We loved this place. It's pretty and comfortable, in a fantastic spot with lovely surroundings, and the owners are delightful. Guesthouse Tu Casa was a joy to stay at. Make sure to get dinner downstairs too!

This was our favorite place to stay on the Japan trip. Taka and Minni were so helpful and treated us like friends. Their home is bright and welcoming, with lots of plants, and the cafe they run is great too.

Tu Casa's living area was the most comfortable one I've found in a hostel. It has welcoming chairs, air conditioning, a TV, working wifi, and a river view. Inside, it feels like a modern Japanese person's home. I had to switch from another hostel because of booking issues, and I'm glad I did. This place was much better. There's a kitchen on the second floor, connected to the living room, and toilets, showers, and baths on both floors. The bunk beds are comfortable and easy to climb into, with lights and outlets built into the headboards. Each bed also has a locker, and hangers are available for everyone. The front door uses an electronic lock, and the manager is reachable by phone after desk hours. I didn't need to call, but his number was left on the desk. The manager was friendly and spoke fantastic English. When I told him I was in Japan to improve my Japanese, he offered to practice with me and taught me some too. For getting around, one bus line serves the nearest stop, but the metro is less than a minute away, and another, more convenient bus stop is a short walk away. It's reasonably priced, and I highly recommend staying here.

I didn't stay at the guesthouse, just went to the cafe underneath it. It's a tiny, cozy spot serving vegan, sustainable, zero-waste food. After my double trip to Mt. Inari, I was starving and ordered BBQ with soy meat, rice, and salad, plus the soup and scone of the day. They tell you what's on offer and check that you're okay with it, which I thought was a nice touch. I also got the seasonal strawberry milk with syrup and a Pour Coffee. The two owners were friendly and kept busy cooking, cleaning, and answering questions. The food tasted amazing, portions were good for the price, and the wait for fresh preparation seemed normal and worthwhile. It can get busy, so you may have to wait for a seat. In the pictures you can see the strawberry milk, BBQ bowl with seaweed soup, and Pour Coffee. I forgot to photograph the scone because I was too hungry, but it had a nice traditional pastry flavor and would probably be even better with tea. Worth a visit, just be ready to wait if it's crowded.