Andrew M.
We were three people and had a really pleasant stay. It's a spacious house with a bright living room, adjustable lighting and air conditioning, plus a tatami room that can be used for tea or for laying out futons. There are four beds in the bedroom, with good insulation for winter, and air conditioning for either season. Two bathrooms have Japanese toilets, and the wetroom has a washing machine, sink, shower, and bath. This is a quiet place to rest, set apart from the bustle of bigger Japanese cities. Otsu Station is about 10 minutes away, and Kyoto is less than an hour away. There may not be as much happening in Otsu, but the house is near the pier, so you can take a morning walk before the day gets going. It's affordable as a place to unwind. The host was genuinely kind. I went for my birthday and they surprised me with a cake. I'll definitely come back. I've attached photos of the house, view, and a few other things. For tourists, Japanese houses can be a bit of a culture shock, and you may need to figure out how some things work, like the shower, bath, and washing machine. The washer has a drying option, but we mostly air-dried our clothes on the indoor rack by the window, using the air conditioning too. The shower and bath are controlled from units by the bath and outside the kitchen. You'll need to translate the controls: press Operation On/Off to turn on the water heating, then Automatic for the automatic bath. Turn it off when you're done. Cleaning amenities are provided if you want to use them.
