Setouchi Kominka Stays Hiroshima Furousen

A relaxing getaway in a spacious, renovated traditional Japanese house

Because it’s a whole-house rental, you can truly relax without worrying about other people. Although the exterior is that of an old traditional house, it has been renovated in a way that preserves the atmosphere, and it was very comfortable. The Rooms are spacious as well. There are two Japanese-style Rooms and one bedroom, so even with three of us staying, we had more than enough space. There are also two toilets, so I don’t think it would be an issue even if the maximum of eight guests stayed. The bath is large too—big enough for four adults to soak in the tub at once. However, it takes about two hours to fill with hot water, and if you run hot water for more than an hour straight, the water heater may stop due to an error. So you need to turn off the tap once before an hour is up and then start it again—an extra step that’s a bit inconvenient. The water has a slightly sulfur-like smell and feels slippery, so drinking it or washing your hands with it can feel a little odd, but as bathwater it feels like a true Onsen experience and was amazing. (I wanted to soak again in the morning but gave up because there wasn’t enough time to fill the tub.) The kitchen is spacious and seemed well equipped with cooking tools, so we cooked our own dinner. However, the provided knife was extremely dull—it couldn’t even cut fish or a baguette... If you plan to cook, I recommend bringing your own knife. (Or I’d really appreciate it if a sharper knife could be provided.) Perhaps because they filled in what used to be an earthen-floor area? The counter height is very low. I’m about 155 cm tall, and kneeling while working felt like just the right height. It might be better suited for outdoor BBQs with light prep or meals that don’t require much cutting. There are bugs. Plenty of mosquito coils and insect spray are provided—do your best and fight them off. Watching the sky from the hammock before sunset, then enjoying handheld fireworks at night— even though we only stayed one night (two days), time felt slow and relaxing, like we’d spent much longer there. A lot depends on guests’ common sense when using the place, but overall this Accommodation offers quite a bit of freedom. This time we were on what you’d call a girls’ trip, and it was refreshing to discover there was such an option in this northern area of the prefecture. I highly recommend this whole-house traditional home not only for families or groups but also for smaller parties. I’d love to come back again if I have another chance.