guest house aroma - Hostel

The male dorm is upstairs on the second floor. The facilities are basic but have what you need, and the place feels like it was adapted for hostel use over time. Still, it's cozy and a good place to rest. The host was welcoming and offered travel tips and itinerary ideas. She doesn't speak English, but a kind fellow traveler translated for us. I also took her cooking class and learned to make Okonomi-yaki and onsen tofu. It was fun, and the food was delicious. There's no onsen in the hostel, but a five-minute walk gets you to a great public bath. A warm, local, affordable stay in Ureshino city center.

I found a real connection with people here, including a fellow guest I met and shared drinks with. The owner's hospitality was lovely, and the location is handy, with restaurants and hot springs nearby. Since Ureshino is a hot spring town with lots of hotels, staying here gave me an experience I don't think I could have had elsewhere. I spent one night here on a trip in May 2014, and would like to come back next time I'm in Ureshino.

The bed was really comfortable, and the accommodation was affordable. Every night there was a hot water bottle by the bed, which was lovely to come back to. I was able to use the kitchen to make meals, and the hosts offered sightseeing advice, gave me rides, and even called a taxi for me. The place seems suitable for solo travelers and couples, and possibly families too, as I saw one family there. Yokosan and her husband were both very warm and kind, and I left feeling comfortable in every way. I hope to return soon. Thanks, Yoko!

The men's room is near the entrance on the second floor, so I could hear karaoke and singing outside. It was a bit noisy, haha. The owner seems like a lovely woman, and you can tell she's put a lot of thought into the place. The private space is quite generous for a guesthouse, as other reviews say. We came at the end of February. It wasn't very cold, but since it was winter they put a warm pad or something in the bedding and gave us two thick blankets. I happened to book here because places like Fukuoka and Nagasaki were so expensive that weekend.