KOTONE

The host was friendly and helpful, and the air conditioning and water heaters all worked well. We had a lovely, clean house for six, just a three-minute walk from the clock tower and shopping area. Its tatami-style living room, with a table you can slide your legs under, gave us a nice sense of being in a Japanese home. There was a fully equipped kitchen and utensils, so we could bring food back from the supermarket and streets to prepare and eat. The washing machine, dryer, and standing clothes hangers were useful too. Having parking in front of the house made driving convenient.

The owner was very friendly and quick to answer my questions. The house is easy to reach from Minami-Otaru JR and close to Otaru Music Box Museum, Otaru Steam Clock, and Sakaimachi Street. Otaru Canal and other nearby places are walkable too. Many thanks.

The only real plus is the location. It was snowing heavily when I checked in, and there was heat on the first floor but none at all upstairs. After a lot of discussion with the landlord, I moved a blade-type electric heater from the storage room myself. It barely helped, and the room was under 10 degrees Celsius. I was freezing. From other reviews, it seems this place gets hot in summer and cold in winter.

The location is excellent, about 100 meters from the concert hall, which made it easy to go back and rest when we got tired of shopping. The house itself is a little old and there aren't many supplies. There are toothbrushes, but only one pack of tissues. There's just one air conditioner, downstairs, so it might get hot in summer. If you're driving, take care: the entrance is awkward, especially for a 7-8-seater car, and backing in is recommended.