Ezo House

A cup of tea was just what I needed, and it was nice to have a bar right there too. The place is spotless, the help is friendly, and you can rent bikes, e-bikes, mopeds, even a motorbike. The 7/11 is only a two-minute walk away.

I had a very pleasant four-night stay, with walking trails close by. My Japanese-style room had lots of little touches that felt thoughtfully picked out, including a cute pen holder. I expected to share the room, but the owner gave me one to myself. He seemed cool at first, but turned out to be very kind. He also has a hidden cat named Nanmaru, who’s adorable. When I went out in the morning, he offered me a bicycle so I could ride to Lake Kussharo. A shower at the guesthouse costs ¥300. For ¥500, there’s a one-day discount coupon for a nearby onsen hotel, which was a great deal. The living room has a self-service snack bar with instant noodles and drinks, handy if you don’t feel like going out for food.

The host was kind and polite, though she didn’t explain every detail. It’s worth asking where the common-area lights are, since the rule is to switch them off when nobody’s there and turn them on when needed. Even though the building is old, it’s well cared for. My private room had a panel heater and its own kerosene fan heater, and I slept soundly in the incredibly comfortable bed. Since it was off-season and I was the only guest, I could relax alone in the first-floor common area. The second-floor bathroom has no hot water, but in cold weather you can wash up using the gas water heater in the first-floor kitchen. That night I got a discount and enjoyed Kawayu Kanko Hotel's free-flowing hot springs. For the price, the rooms there seem a bit worn for a hotel stay, so staying here and using the day-trip option is a good deal. Check-in is by 8 PM, and you can check in until 9 PM.

It’s a comfortable rider’s house, with pleasant shared spaces and a roomy private room that was especially nice in fall. The drum-style washer-dryer costs 700 yen, which isn’t cheap, but it washes and dries everything for you, so there’s no hassle and no need to hang laundry in the room. Nearby hot springs are available at a discount too. Prices are a little higher than at other rider’s houses, so it’s not the place for someone trying to save money. If comfort is what you’re after, it works well.