Toolate Guesthouse Toyama

The owners were very friendly, but this is another apartment that’s been repurposed. The photos don’t make it obvious why they stopped using it for long-term stays but still consider it suitable for tourists. There’s a steep staircase right after you enter, which is awkward with luggage. The living room and kitchen are upstairs, with a fairly large table and a couch. The bedrooms are on the next floor, separated by another difficult staircase that slopes about 60°. Carrying things up and down is hard because you need at least one hand on the rail the whole time. Luckily, there’s another toilet upstairs, although that floor has no furniture. Foldable mattresses are provided, but the plain sheets don’t stay put overnight. The linens don’t fit the duvets either. Getting a warm shower can be tricky: hot water runs out quickly, then the heater needs time to recover. A previous Thai review made it sound as though there was only one upstairs toilet. They may have missed the one at the end of the first set of stairs, just outside the main living room.

The building has been renovated inside, but the original structure is old and still feels quite old. The stairs to the second-floor living room and third-floor bedroom are both steep, so take care going up and down. The bedding is thin even in winter, and it seems best suited to one person rather than two. Wi-Fi is free on the second floor but doesn’t reach the third.

The stairs really were steep, just like the comments said 💦. We had a lovely time chatting at an easy pace.

The host was incredibly kind and even switched on the air conditioner ahead of time in case it got hot. There’s one bed, plus an upstairs tatami room where 4 to 5 people can sleep. A small washing machine is provided, and the interior has been neatly remodeled. It’s about a 10-minute tram ride from Kanazawa Station. The staircase is quite narrow, though if you’re curious about the layout of traditional Japanese houses, you could see it as an interesting feature. Be careful on the stairs if you’ve been drinking. I came with one friend and would like to return with 3 or 4 people next time.