Guesthouse Kazura

It was snowing heavily in Nanto, so getting there wasn’t easy, but we arrived just in time to check in by 8 p.m. Guesthouse Kazura is a gassho-style house relocated from Shirakawa-go. Our room had a bunk bed for two and futons for two, plus a sliding door opening onto a sitting area overlooking the garden, which was buried under ongoing snowfall. The Japanese-style bathroom was very nice. If you come in cold weather, filling the tub with hot water can help warm the bathroom. There are lots of shared areas where guests can sit and eat, and the kitchen is free to use. We chose the tatami room with a low table and a furnace nearby. The man who runs the place goes home at night and works as a ski instructor at IOX-AROSA during the day. No one else was staying upstairs, so we could look around the other areas and see the gassho building’s structure. We had a very nice stay, though it can be hard to reach. Depending on what you’re looking for and your circumstances, that could be a plus or a minus.

Koji brings so much warmth and fun to this wonderful guest house. The stay feels personal, like you’re visiting an old friend instead of checking into a guest house. It’s in serene Nanto, surrounded by greenery and fresh mountain air.

The old Japanese house is stunning, and the owner is very kind. There’s a lovely shared space and a fully equipped kitchen. The location is astounding too, with forests and mountains all around and a great walk by the dam where I saw terrapins.

I slept in the third-floor loft, where you can see the straw in the old roof. There are lots of old objects up there, including some I recognized from the actual Gasshou Museum house in Gokuyama, and even an old samurai helmet. It’s an awe-inspiring place to sleep. The price is a steal, with a bus station, bike rental, and onsen nearby, plus exquisitely beautiful scenery and amazing mountain views. The staff are extremely friendly and were patient with my intermediate Japanese, though it’s perfectly fine if you don’t speak Japanese at all. After I had a bike crash, they were very concerned and even looked for places where I could eat as a vegan. If I return to Japan one day, I’m definitely coming back.