Guesthouse Izame Ann

We really enjoyed our stay, adding dinner and breakfast also.

This low-key inviting Japanese inn is worth the stay - off the usual tourist track, for sure. Breakfast and dinner are wonderful.

I highly recommend staying at Guesthouse Izame Ann. The Samegai experience is incomplete without at least one night's stay here. Actually I would recommend 2 nights, and at least half a day spent in Samegai. I echo earlier reviews and highly recommend the dinner. I wish that I could have spent more time in Samegai. It was so lovely -- if you are the type of traveler who finds beauty in small things. Regarding Guesthouse Izame Ann, I loved the wood architecture, the decor that showcases Samegai's history, and also the functional design where the ground floor is a shared space and the upper floor has the guest rooms. In the shared space, the bookshelves are full of interesting books of important topics, including (but not limited to) Japanese culture and history and a few English books on international law. The decor -- including callligraphy and a map on the wall -- give the distinct feeling of being in someone's treasured home, and it is part of a treasured heritage. As a solo traveler who does not speak Japanese, I was struck by the owner's respect to guests, dedication, and warm hospitality. We communicated very well through the owner's translation app. The owner made sure I had an excellent dinner experience, and did not hesitate to explain to me (through the app) the freshness and local origins of the dinner ingredients. (E.g., he caught the fish that morning in the local stream, and that's one of several courses he prepared for us for dinner). At dinner, I also enjoyed simple English conversations with the other Japanese guests. I really hope to come again to Samegai soon, and stay here again.

By far my Best stay in Japan, such a cozy Japanese style inn, with an amazing host. Whilst a bit secluded you are still easily able to access nearby towns via trains. The local area is a lovely pace to stroll around, visit shrines, or simply enjoy the scenery. The hosts attention to detail hospitality, and cleanliness is palpable, on top of that he cooks amazing meals that you can (should) opt in for, even if you’re not usually a fan of fish like myself. Everything served was tasty and exceptionally fresh if not caught by himself.

All I needed, great location and great stay!