Kussharo Genya Youth Guesthouse

I enjoyed the location of this guesthouse very much as it’s a 5 minute drive from Kotan Onsen. The guesthouse itself also has a lot of character, and there is breakfast provided and dinner upon request (will have to pay extra). The deer stew was delicious and the apple cinnamon some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. I guess I was just a bit surprised that the hosts didn’t have a very welcoming energy towards me, which surprised me for a place that seems to receive foreigners quite often and has many socialising areas, and dormitory rooms. Even though I arrived at around 5.30, the host seemed bothered when I asked if I could order dinner, thinking I’d been generously made a special request, only to see the other Japanese guests had also ordered dinner without a problem. Also, I spoke mostly in Japanese to them, so it’s not like I couldn’t have had a short conversation with them. All in all, I’d still definitely recommend staying here as it’s the only accommodation in the area with a great price and location.

The house design is beautiful, but the location is a bit far unless you have a car. The guesthouse serves food, and you can mingle with other guests. You can also play with the cats, though be careful with the three-legged one. The room is clean and comfortable.

The hostel is in a location that could be described as either remote or scenic. Surprisingly, the service is rather indifferent, although the price is very reasonable. At check-in, the male receptionist warned: "Depending on the weather and time of day, the Wi-Fi may not work and there's nothing we can do. The next morning, while connected to Wi-Fi, I couldn't access any websites. Even using mobile data, the problem persisted, probably due to the location. This hostel is not ideal for those who need a stable connection for work or important tasks. If you're here to disconnect, it might not be a problem, but be prepared for unreliable internet. As you would expect from a hostel, you will be lucky to avoid noisy groups. The facilities show signs of age and lack of maintenance, with careless guests frequently banging luggage against walls and stairs - an unfortunate reality for the owner. The atmosphere is spiritual, as reflected in the selection of books.

Good location, ~15 minutes to downtown Teshikaga, and 15-20 minutes to nearby volcanos and lakes (can dig own onsen on the beach). Quiet little hostel. Onsen. Laundry is $300 Yen, drying is $100 yen (30 minutes), and detergent is $100 yen.

the guesthouse & room need major maintenance & cleaning. if you leave room open you find cats on your bed/luggage! breakfast is nice & typical, position is Ok to visit arround but need ~30 min by car to local store7restaurant. Photo on web are dated and do not show reality at all.

Cosy youth hostel offering a good value half board stay. The hostel offers private rooms and dormitories, with the rooms having a sink inside. The toilets and bathrooms are on the first floor. There is a large common area on the first floor and a small common space on the second floor. The hostel also offers unkai tours. A shuttle bus service to and from Mashu train station is available upon reservation.

I don't know how the other rooms were, but the one I got was a 4-mattress shared room, and I didn't like it. So I decided to look for another hotel with an individual room nearby. I guess it is cheap and good for young guys; not bad, just not my cup of tea. To the manager: Thanks for the check-in process, but I decided not to stay at your facility.

I stayed two nights, and I’d say I had an overall pleasant experience and might come back. I was by myself without a car and wanted to explore the area. For people like me a guesthouse which offers transfer to the station and meals is the only option to see lake Kussharo without breaking the bank. The guesthouse is a family business. Very nice architecture, good food. However could be cleaner and rooms in summer get really hot. No shops or restaurants around, if you’re on foot walking everywhere takes a long time. Some English around but not too much. Staff won’t spoil you with attention. Morning tour to the sea of clouds is very beautiful.