Shogetsukan

The breakfast was tasty, like a home-cooked meal, and I’m glad I stayed. The price was very reasonable, though the hotel felt cold throughout and the room’s air conditioning didn’t seem very powerful.

Shogetsukan was the cheapest option around, at 3,850 yen for a room without meals. The traditional guesthouse sits back from the road, and it was clean and bright. Getting in was frustrating, though: I couldn’t reach the owners by phone and ended up waiting 40 minutes to check in. There’s parking for four cars.

The room was spacious, with 14 tatami mats, plus its own bath and toilet. It brought back memories of training camp in my student days, lol. Depending on what you’re looking for, it’s fine for a night’s sleep. I booked room only, but I wondered if they serve meals since there didn’t seem to be a dining hall.

I stayed here while climbing Mount Yoshino. The price is really reasonable, and it’s an old-fashioned budget lodging that works for a night without meals. A lot of the guests seemed to be tourists or hikers. There was so much noise from around 3:30 in the morning that I didn’t sleep very well.