oliver B.
I loved wandering along the quiet historic street in the merchants quarter, especially in the evening. The guesthouse is close to the bus stop, and there are hardly any people around. The building is about 200 years old, carefully maintained and refurbished, with stylish decor that still preserves its original character. The lounge looks onto a peaceful little courtyard, and there’s much more room than I usually find in Japan. The showers are modern. Oki was welcoming and helpful from the moment I arrived throughout my stay. Breakfast was a real highlight: the almond butter toast was the best I’ve ever had, and the little bowl of morning soup was so warming. I stayed in the upstairs room, where getting to the shower means walking past the cafe and communal areas. That felt a bit awkward, especially while getting ready in the morning, and the toilets are shared rather than ensuite. The cafe starts operating at 8am, with staff arriving early to work; at 8 a building-wide melody plays as a time marker, so sleeping in is very difficult. Still, I’d highly recommend staying here.
