ゲストハウス　竹亭

Staying in a house built in the Edo period thrilled the kids; we enjoyed a ninja‑style seafood grill around the hearth, and the shuttle service was a lifesaver.

Yuho·5 months ago

“最高！”

The owner was genuinely friendly and thoughtful, the appliances were complete, the room was spacious enough to make me want to return, and the islanders were kind—great place overall.

Shimada·A year ago

Large rooms, TV, services, and a traditional Japanese vibe, but the kitchen needed a bit more cleaning and the spiders were unsettling.

Pastormerlo·A year ago

“とても満足です！!”

The backyard BBQ, drum‑shaped washing machine, and a full set of toiletries made for a very comfortable stay that helped me recover from travel fatigue; the care shown was excellent and I’d come back.

栗本·A year ago

“The host is a very kind man who is trying his best, but unfortunately faces the forces of nature”

The place is huge for the price you’d pay for a capsule room in Hakone, and it gets even better the longer you stay because the cleaning fee is one‑time. The Japanese vibe is real with a dirt‑floor kitchen, a hallway that opens onto a garden, and antiques up to 190 years old scattered around the garden and storage rooms, all balanced with modern touches like a rice cooker and dishwasher. The owner is quick to answer—he picked up my 2:20 am butt‑dial within three rings, so even staying solo I felt safe knowing I could reach him. There’s a ton of free goodies: two kinds of face mask, four body washes, six or seven snacks, four incense varieties, three guitars, and more. It’s quiet except for birdsong, perfect for winding down. The host even took me foraging kame‑no‑te on the beach, then trekked into the hills with a sickle to harvest bamboo shoots, cooking them for us while we chatted; it was delicious. The island itself is gorgeous, teeming with wildlife—land crabs everywhere, crows, kites, fruit trees you can pick straight off the branches. I saw a biwa tree full of fruit and yamamomo trees; the owner mentioned that in other seasons you’d find mandarins, oranges, and watermelons. He’ll bring anything you need from the mainland before or during your stay, even on weekends or his day off, and he reacts to feedback fast. Overall, I had a wonderful time and would definitely return. The owner acted on my feedback promptly: I spotted mice on the first night, and he was there the next morning with repellent and glue traps on top of the barbecue I’d ordered. I was surprised the set cost 4000 yen, which seemed high since he hadn’t mentioned the price beforehand, so he offered to treat me to Marugame chicken to make up for it and arranged a free guided tour of the island (normally worth 3000 yen) that included exclusive spots I’d asked about. When I complained the floors were dirty, he stayed back while I was on the tour to clean them thoroughly. Paid amenities like rice at 150 yen per cup were pricey, but understandable for a remote island. I asked about miso before arrival; he said yes, but when I got there it was expired in 2023. He pointed me to a bottle of seasoned miso, but the fridge was full of expired items—more than half of everything inside—including a fruit tea cordial (exp. 2021) that I drank before noticing. The sliding doors were often hard to open. The futon and beanbag made me crawl on me during mayfly season. Even an hour after the host cleaned, the floors were covered in stuff again—mostly dead bugs or tiny beige pellets that turned to powder when pressed, suggesting a roof issue. The owner only checked one trap while cleaning, so I ended up with three living mice; I killed them myself with a hatchet instead of letting them starve until he returned a week later. That was my choice, but it wasn’t pleasant, and I wish he’d checked more thoroughly or used cage or snap traps instead. (The hatchet was, of course, provided by the guesthouse)

Hannah·A year ago