The Cue

We’d told the owner by email that we would arrive after dinner, but she never replied. When we got there, nobody was around to check us in, so we waited about half an hour. She appeared another half hour or so later and didn’t even say hello. Then she started scolding us in Japanese, despite clearly being able to speak English, and told us to “please obey Japanese manners.” She kept insisting that checking in before going to our rooms was “the rules,” and said she was “very busy running two hostels.” But she hadn’t told us when she would be available. She was extremely rude and unreasonable to us, and very xenophobic.

For Italian food when I’m in town, this is my go-to place. I’ve tried pretty much everything and it’s all good. My favorite is their Jibie pizza, though you usually won’t find it on the menu, so ask the chef if he has wild boar meat. It’s succulent, and even the crust is tasty enough that I eat the edges. My husband and I order two whole pizzas to take away and eat them the next morning. They still taste good cold. If you’re traveling and want local food that isn’t Japanese, this is a place to dash into. Highly recommend it. The photo shows the chef’s special valentine day pizza!

The friendly staff, pleasant attached cafe, free tea and coffee, and usable kitchen were the good parts. It’s also very close to the station and restaurants. The building feels like a very ad hoc conversion into accommodation, with lots of chipboard and that sort of east London style. It creaks and carries sound, so I was woken several times by other guests moving about. You can hear people using the toilet from bed. Our room had no windows or fresh air supply, and got stuffy after a couple of hours with two people in it. There’s one shower for everyone. Towels and luggage storage cost extra. There’s no safe for a passport, and security is just a small lock on the bedroom door. The front door doesn’t lock. Compared with the fantastic, cheaper places we stayed in over two weeks and six stops in Japan, this wasn’t very good. It costs too much for what it is. We found several guesthouses elsewhere that were both cheaper and better.

The house is beautiful and traditional, with modern upgrades and everything we needed, including a coffee percolator, aircon, and an outdoor area. It’s in Tanabe’s restaurant and nightlife area, but still very quiet with no foot traffic. It felt safe and secure. It’s a two-minute walk from the bus and train, and the host was very friendly and spoke great English. We loved staying here for several nights and were sad to leave. I’d recommend it to anyone after a relaxed, homely, traditional stay. We’ll be back. Peter and Alison.