Hatago

I strongly recommend staying at Hatago. Kaoru, the owner, was a great host, and the rooms, toilet, and common areas were all comfortable and clean. Breakfast tasted great. It’s also within walking distance of [the review ends here].

It’s a cute, stylish, and very beautiful place. You can feel that the house has rules, so you have to behave yourself and take care of it, haha. The one catch for someone as free-spirited as me is that you need to plan ahead to use the tub. I’d definitely stay again, though, and I won’t reserve a tub time next time either, haha.

This was my third visit, and the place seems more beautiful each time. The local Japanese design is exceptional. It was created for the private rooms of a wealthy family, rather than for ryokan use, and that’s something that’s almost impossible to find elsewhere, especially for foreigners.

I’d love to come back someday. This guesthouse, a beautifully renovated shop in Yanagawa’s shopping district, lets you experience the feel of old Japan. I enjoyed chatting with the female owner, and her personality shows in all the little details that made the stay so wonderful.