Animale Annex

We stayed for a weekend with our family of four and our dog. Everyone seemed to have pets, and our kids enjoyed being around the dogs. We were very satisfied overall, and I appreciate the stay. The maisonette had a Western-style room and toilet downstairs and a Japanese-style room upstairs. Bedding made it feel cramped, and the curtains didn’t close properly, so you could see outside if they were only loosely drawn. Those were my only room complaints, and it was fine as long as we just slept there. There wasn’t a noticeable pet smell. At check-in they checked our vaccination certificates, including five or more types and rabies, which we had brought. The bath could be used without a reservation from check-in until around 10:30pm when available. In the morning, you had to book a 30-minute slot for 220 yen, free with Anicom membership. I got up early and wondered if I could change my morning time, but there were no forms at the front desk, so I gave up. We wanted the all-you-can-eat steak and all-you-can-drink options, but they were sold out when we reserved about a month ahead. When I called the booking number afterwards, they couldn’t add them. The steak was lean and a bit tough for a child missing a front tooth, but the fish dishes were delicious. Our family got hungry later and ate instant noodles in the room. Dog food costs 550 yen for breakfast and dinner. They recommend booking it in advance, though apparently you can order on the day if there’s availability. The outdoor bath was quite cold at this time of year. The indoor bath seemed to be around 45 degrees Celsius. The shower only had cold water at first, so we mixed in hot bath water. A family member who went later said they ran the regular water until it warmed up, and then the shower got warm too.

The owners were a friendly, nice couple. I had a comfortable time with my dog, especially in the pleasant outdoor bath.

We brought our dog along, and it was a relief to be able to take him into the dining area and even the bath since he doesn’t like being left alone in the room. The owner is a dog lover too, and kindly set up a chair for him at mealtimes. We booked the reasonably priced one-night, two-meal plan. The room was basic, with two beds and a toilet, so check the room size first if you want more space or are concerned about pet smells. The bathroom had shampoo and conditioner for dogs and people, plus body soap, though bringing your own amenities is still recommended. There’s a hairdryer in the room but not in the private bath, so in winter you may want to take one along from the room to avoid getting cold afterwards. The food was tasty for the price. The cake buffet had lots of choices, though the cakes tasted average, probably because they were frozen. This is a relaxing, dog-friendly hotel that I’d recommend to dog owners.

We had a lovely stay and plan to come back, even in summer. The Western-style meals in the cottage dining room were delicious at both breakfast and dinner. It’s great to find a pet-friendly pension like this in Nasu Highlands, and the baths are private, so you can bring your pet along. There’s even a dog-sized tub in the bathing area. You can book morning baths in 30-minute slots for 220 yen, or for free with Anicom insurance. We stayed two days and one night. The room was arranged over two floors, with the beds upstairs and a living-room-like area below. My only complaint was that there was no fridge in the room, just a shared one.