Pension Kuruminoki

Dinner was sukiyaki, and breakfast came with Japanese salad and bread. Both were delicious! The room was clean, suited our family of three perfectly, and had plenty of heat for winter. Ski admission tickets were available for purchase at the hotel at a discount. I believe the one-day pass was reduced from 8,300 yen to 4,000 yen. The elderly staff were so welcoming. They saw us off at the ski resort and picked us up when we finished. There aren’t many buses in this rural area, but the elderly man even drove us to Ebara Station, which we really appreciated. 😭 Thanks to him, we got to Toyooka earlier than planned. For a student who’d been busy all year, it made for a wonderful end-of-year trip.

The husband and wife were attentive and very friendly, as other people have mentioned. Breakfast was delicious, especially the bread and omelet. I went back for another serving of bread. The cottages in the accommodation building are getting old, but they have a handmade character and seem to be well cared for. My one disappointment was the lack of window screens, especially on the large window beside the bed. When I visit the highlands to get away from summer heat, I’d like to sleep with the cool night air and no air conditioning. Screens on the big windows would make that possible.

It was my first time staying at a guesthouse, and I’m glad I found such a lovely place. The owners were attentive and wonderful, and the room was spotless, which made for a comfortable stay. The outdoor barbecue was fantastic, with generous portions of excellent meat and vegetables. Breakfast bread was fluffy and delicious, almost as good as "Nogami" (a famous bakery).

This seems to be a family-run place that’s been around for a long time, and I was very happy with both the quality and the price. Eating inside or having a barbecue outdoors are both great options. The owner takes wonderful care of guests, and I hope the restaurant carries on for many years.