Tsubaki - the best guesthouse in Inawashiro

The owner appears to be an elderly woman, but a man who appears to be her son (?) is in charge. When I called to inquire, her son (?) answered the phone. He seemed annoyed and very unpleasant. I wanted to cancel because they were completely underestimating their guests, but I was pressed for time on the day, so I convinced myself to hold off. Upon arriving at the inn, I deeply regretted choosing this place. The rooms are separated by plywood, so you can hear not only the conversations from the next room but also the sound of people unpacking their shopping bags. There's no key, so I have to carry my smartphone and wallet with me even when going to the bathroom, and I can't sleep properly at night. There's a strange space about 10 tatami mats in size, with a kotatsu table and a small 14-inch TV, but no TV in the room. The space is decorated with a sofa and other elaborate details. It's not the kind of taste an elderly person would have. Even though the room has air conditioning, for some reason there's also a fan heater. You could probably buy a TV with that money. There are other places to spend money on instead of wasting money on this obscure space. Bathrooms and toilets are unisex. The room has a sliding door, and even though I pulled it very carefully to avoid disturbing other guests, it still rattles no matter how hard I tried. The floor, stairs, and room creak everywhere I walk. Due to my job, I've stayed in many hotels, inns, and guesthouses all over the country, but this is by far the worst place to stay. This place doesn't deserve to be ripped off. If you don't care about security or privacy, maybe it's fine? But for the same price, you could stay at a normal hotel.

We stayed here as two adults on January 19th. Although the room was private, I was surprised to find that the lock was a simple, strong latch. It only accommodates about three groups, and there's one group on the left across the hallway, and two groups on the right, both with latches. It seems unlikely that it would be unlocked in an unexpected way. Is this normal for a rural setting? I was a little worried at first, but it turned out fine. lol We were greeted by an elderly lady who seemed to live downstairs. We were welcomed into a room that felt like a grandma's house in the countryside. 😊 The kitchen, toilet, and bathroom were all shared and on the first floor. The creaking stairs were quite a bother if you came home late at night, so it was best to come home early. 🏠 We stayed in the room on the left, and when I opened the strong latch, I found a relaxing space just over 2 tatami mats in size. There was a kettle, a simple table and chairs, and tea and coffee making facilities. Open the shoji screen next to it to reach your room. There is no lock on the shoji screen, So I was a little worried about not locking it the first time. The room seemed much larger than the other rooms, and was plenty big enough for two people. If the TV is too loud, you can hear it all the way up the stairs. In the morning, I could hear someone snoring from another room, so the walls don't seem to be that thick. (It wasn't that loud, though.) There seems to be a shower, which I think should be fine if you don't mind sharing, but if you're concerned, it's best to go to a nearby day spa first! There are three parking spaces: One in front of the Tsubaki sign (on the road side), and two diagonally across the road. Reservations are required by phone in advance. It was hard to find the lodging because of the snow. 💦 When using the navigation system, you may end up on a narrow road behind the hotel, but be careful because you can't access the back side. ⚠️ I was planning to go to Inawashiro Ski Resort the next day, so it was really convenient that it was so close! We arrived in just 7 minutes. 🗻 So close...lol At first, I was nervous about what to expect, but I guess home is home? Or something like that. Once I got used to it, it was fine. ☺️ It was a great trip and experience. Thank you!