Guesthouse Cosa

The food was a real highlight: dinner and breakfast were both delicious. Breakfast that day was minestrone, bread, and an omelet, though the menu probably changes with the season and ingredients. Dinner is served as a course too, and the chef is friendly. The ragu pasta was especially good, with just the right al dente bite, and there’s a nice range of wines by the glass. The restaurant is on the 3rd floor and has a pleasant auberge feel. It made me realize I should learn proper Italian table manners. This was my first time staying in a guesthouse after only ever booking hotels, and I had a great time. It’s very close to Tamaya, with a Lawson across the intersection, which is reassuring when you want a 24-hour convenience store nearby. There’s no affiliated parking, but Yawata-koji Parking Lot by Hello Work and Tamaya costs 400 yen for 24 hours. It’s fairly large, though it fills quickly on weekends. I parked at night and it was full by the time another car arrived. A few practical things: bring your own pajamas, towels, and toothbrush, or pay for the available amenities. Paper towels and tissues are in the bathroom; I wasn’t sure whether cotton swabs and paper cups were free. There’s no fridge or TV. The room had a large Plasma Cluster humidifier/air purifier, a light and outlet by the bed, and two more outlets at the foot of it. There was no Wi-Fi, and I didn’t see a makeup mirror, so I used the bathroom one. The room didn’t seem dark. The desk is open from 10am to 7pm and seemed unstaffed afterward. Lights go out at 11pm, though there’s no curfew, and you don’t need to check out at the desk because you get a password for the door. They ask guests to stick to their check-in time so they don’t inconvenience anyone, and to contact them if running late. There’s a washing machine in the room for a fee, but it can’t be used at night. No elevator either, and the guest rooms and restaurant are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, so keep the stairs in mind when packing. The shower room is just big enough to crouch in. If you’re worn out, the newly opened KOMOREBI super public bath is nearby. On weekends it costs 1080 yen and has a high-concentration carbonated bath, sauna, cold bath, and a restaurant with proper meals. Towels are provided there. One thing that could bother some people: the tenants in the building across from my room were noisy late into the night. I could hear people using the stairs, and when I came back from going out, someone lit an e-cigarette in front of my room. Thanks for the hospitality.