Hiisom

The kitchen and the barbecue area right beside it were my favourite spots in this cozy guesthouse. It was lovely to cook with family and friends and spend time together.

I’ve seen plenty of old houses turned into accommodation, but this one really stood out. The design is distinctive without going overboard, and the building materials are high quality. The furniture looks custom made and is very nice too. There was a good range of cooking utensils, along with lots of attractive pottery. It made cooking an especially enjoyable part of the stay.

We found this guesthouse in Yunotsu, a quiet bay on the Sea of Japan, a little away from the main hot spring town. It’s a secluded resort near the World Heritage site of Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, with rocky mountains all around. The old farmhouse charm is still there, while the renovated interior has queen-size beds and sofa beds that made our stay comfortable. It worked well as a base for a relaxed bleisure trip with family or friends. Just keep in mind this is a very small hamlet, so please don’t make noise late at night.

The kitchen opens straight onto the barbecue area, which is such a clever setup! ((*>laughing◡ The beach is only a few minutes away on foot. It’s beautiful and empty, and there weren’t even any jellyfish! (o^^o) After a swim, we could rinse the sand off outside and head right into the bath. There’s also a washing machine and detergent, so we could wash everything. That was a lifesaver.