Megu House ZuKu

The owner was kind and thoughtful, and even prepared a light breakfast, though generally kept to herself. We only saw her at check-in. The free local hot spring is about a two-minute walk away and felt great on my skin, but getting ready for it is a hassle: there’s no shower, washing area, or amenities, so you have to bring everything from the accommodation, including a bucket and chair, as well as shampoo. The price is incredibly low, but the security was bad enough that I wouldn’t stay again. Doors were left wide open, and it’s surprising nothing has happened. It’s an old house partly renovated into separate Japanese-style rooms. The rooms don’t lock, and there’s no privacy at all: you can hear the next room, people in the hall, and anyone getting up to use the toilet. It might suit students or foreign visitors looking for a very cheap stay, but I wouldn’t recommend it to women traveling in groups or couples. There’s air conditioning in the rooms, but not by the entrance or kitchen. In winter you’ll feel cold after bathing, and in summer it may get hot enough to sweat.

Other guests have called it comfortable, and I can see that. But in the middle of winter, drafts make the heating pretty ineffective. Even once I was in bed, my head and neck got so cold that I couldn’t sleep. They should improve the insulation or add some inexpensive cold-weather supplies from a home improvement store.

It’s an extremely cheap place, and it could be a good fit if you like chatting and meeting other guests. The sliding doors might feel uncomfortable if security matters to you. There’s a free private bath, but the sulfur smell is really strong, haha. My hair smelled of sulfur after washing it, and there was no shower, so I had to fill a bucket and rinse with that. I found it pretty unpleasant. If you only want a soak, you might be fine, haha.

My first stay in a traditional Japanese home was a lovely experience. The hostess was very friendly and provided excellent service, including rides to and from the station and free bicycle rentals. She didn’t speak much English, so we used translation software to communicate. (July 1, 2019)