Hotel Nagoku

The hosts were incredibly kind, and the food was delicious.

I booked the reasonably priced set-menu plan and got a generous, tasty hot-pot meal with sashimi and plenty of vegetables. There’s an izakaya on the first floor, where the guest dining room is too, but the two areas are separated. The owner was very accommodating when my plans changed and I needed to leave early the next morning. Breakfast was listed on the website for 7 am, and he readily agreed to that time. He also carried my luggage to my room. The shared bath could be kept warm by running a little hot water, and the washing machine is free.

I stayed here on a tour and would happily return. The place was bright, the food delicious, and the service excellent. There’s a nostalgic feel to the hotel, though it was a bit noisy, as you might expect from an older building. The air conditioning worked well, and I slept comfortably. The first floor becomes an izakaya at night and seems popular with local people. The young chef is extremely skilled. Every dish I tried was delicious, and the carefully selected rice and Tosashimi fish dishes stood out. I’d especially like to try the young master’s sashimi next time. I was alone and chose a six-tatami room. It was small but comfortable, with a TV, air conditioning, a cotton futon, hot water, tea, and a clothes rack. The bathroom and toilet are shared. The toilet was very clean and tidy, and the bath was spacious, with three faucets and a large tub. You have to adjust the water temperature yourself, and the water was great.

The building’s age is hard to overlook. It seems to be a pattern across Tosashimizu city, perhaps because people hesitate to spend on upkeep in places where a Nankai Trough tsunami is expected to reach. The food was excellent, especially the rice, which was Milky Queen. Dinner was a luxurious spread of sashimi, simmered fish, and tempura. The grilled fish at breakfast was great too, with barracuda instead of the usual salmon or mackerel.