
From
PhilippinesI'm afraid my words will not be enough to express how much I loved my stay here. Kenさん and Yukiさん were extremely welcoming. I enjoyed my conversations with them, learning about Magome-juku, umeshu, and many other things despite my very lacking Japanese skills. When it was time for me to leave and embark on my hike to Tsumago-juku, they ran after me to give me a bottle of iced water to help me with the summer heat. I almost teared up from their kindness. I was on a solo trip for my birthday and they gave me the most memorable moment of my trip. Other things to note about this guesthouse:
Room:
I'm not sure about the other rooms but I secured the best one. It had an amazing view of Magome-juku. There is only a futon but it was very comfortable. The room is air-conditioned and although not sound-proof, Magome is quiet and you can hear the peaceful sounds of water flowing through the canals at night.
Shared spaces:
The shared spaces include the dining area, living area, toilets, showers, and an indoor bath. There is also a laundry area which you can use for a small fee (about 500 yen if I'm not mistaken). Reception is not 24/7 and the lights out is at 10pm I think. The shared spaces are not only clean, but they're also beautifully designed! Lots of dried flowers as decoration.
Meals:
You can opt to have dinner and breakfast here again for a small fee. Dinner is Indian curry and let me just say-- it was delicious! I had the spicy chicken keema, although personally I wish it was a bit spicier. The homemade yogurt was simply amazing. Breakfast is a simple spread of eggs, bread, yogurt, cereals, a variety of fruits, and drinks such as homemade juice and coffee from the coffee shop down the street. This was again very good and I enjoyed it more than I expected.
I feel like Magome is a one-time destination because of its size, but I definitely want to come back and stay at sakanomichi again!