Guesthouse Tomaru

It felt like a home, and the location couldn’t be better. Such a cute traditional Japanese house, with a simple style that’s just lovely.

The guesthouse is about three minutes from the station, and the owner and his family were lovely. The only real snag for me was the single shower for all the guests, which made it hard to get one in the morning. Some guests were also very noisy, laughing and talking late at night or early in the morning, especially one group of girls. I’m not blaming the owner for that, though.

Clean, roomy dorms and helpful staff who speak English. They were welcoming, accommodating and knew the area well. The hostel has an authentic Japanese feel and is a short walk from the station and the main attractions, including sake tasting, good restaurants and even indoor archery. Yes, you can shoot arrows after a few glasses of sake. I’d recommend the place, and thanks for a nice stay! :)

We booked Guesthouse Tomaru at short notice after our plans changed, expecting only a place to sleep for one night. We ended up feeling very lucky with the choice. The owner spoke fantastic English and explained everything clearly. The place has what you need, and it’s cute and full of character. Even the shampoo and conditioner seemed higher quality than at the other hotels we’d stayed in. I forgot to ask the brand, but they left my hair smooth as silk! He also marked local highlights on a map and suggested places to try. His tips made for a great start to our time in Takayama. And when we arrived, there were three warmers ready to help us warm up. Couldn’t thank him enough. Five stars for sure!