Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

Watausagi is a self check-in guesthouse.

So our guests are basically free to come and go as they like. No waiting at a check-in counter like a hotel, and none of the fuss that usually comes with it.

But.

I don't want it to be a completely unmanned inn.

Whenever time allows, I try to be around so I can meet our guests in person. Even a little chat tells me so much — where they've traveled from, where they're headed next. And honestly, that's the part I love most 😊

The guests I get to meet tend to ask me the same things. The same questions, over and over. "Wait — didn't someone just ask me that?" It happens constantly, ha.

So I thought, why not gather them all in one place? Today, here are the questions I get asked most at Watausagi, ranked into my own personal Top 10. (The ranking is just my gut feeling, so bear with me 💦)

No.1 | Is there a convenience store nearby? Any good restaurants in Tsuruoka?

The undisputed No.1 is, of course, food.

"Is there a convenience store nearby?" "Any good places to eat around here?"

These come up by far the most. When you travel, the real joy is the food, isn't it? I get it. Same for me.

There's a convenience store and shops just a 1-minute walk away, and a supermarket 2 minutes on foot. The supermarket is cash-only, so I always make sure to mention that. As for restaurants, we have all kinds — Japanese, Western, Chinese, fast food, you name it. I try to read what someone is in the mood for from our chat, then suggest places to match their appetite and their budget — and they seem happy with it.

For guests I can't meet in person, our official website has a "Handy Map" with recommended restaurants, sights and more, so please use it as a guide.

▶︎ View the Handy Map Here

No.2 | I might not make it in time for check-in… is that okay?

At Watausagi, our staffed check-in reception runs until 8 p.m.

That's because late-night arrivals have caused trouble for our neighbors a few times. It may be unusual for a lodging, but we deliberately keep it early. I'm sorry for the inconvenience to our guests, and I hope you'll understand.

So we actually get this question a lot:

"I think I'll be arriving late — is that okay?"

And the short answer is:

"Yes, that's totally fine."

If you fill out our online form in advance, you'll receive that day's passcode. Once that's done, you're free to check in even after 8 p.m., on your own schedule.

Keeping things self-service lets us cut labor costs, which is exactly how we keep room rates affordable. (It's a bit of a long story, so I'll write about the system in a separate article sometime.)

People who aren't so comfortable with tech sometimes think "this sounds complicated…", but travelers who just want a clean, safe, affordable place to sleep, and quickly, tend to really appreciate it.

If self check-in makes you nervous, come before 8 p.m. and I can help you — remotely, at least — so I'd recommend arriving within those hours.

No.3 | Is there parking?

For those coming by car, this is a make-or-break question, right?

Watausagi has parking for 5 cars on the lot next door. But we don't take reservations — it's first-come, first-served. And honestly, it's not very big 😅

So for anyone in a vehicle larger than a standard car, I can't really recommend it. A smaller car is ideal. Carpooling with your group is very welcome too.

If you can't park there, I can point you to a lot a little farther away. If you're worried, get in touch ahead of time and we'll do our best to find a solution together.

▶︎More about parking here

No.4 | Best sights around Tsuruoka & Shonai — and how to get there?

"Any good sightseeing spots?"

This one's common too. Ideally I'd love to hear each person's tastes and suggest the perfect place for them. But the time we get together is limited.

So, to help you do a little homework in advance, I introduce lots of places right here on this blog. Take a peek before you set off — I'm sure you'll find somewhere you want to go.

See the "Yamagata Iitoko" blog here

No.5 | Can you hold my luggage before and after check-in?

"Can I just drop my bags before check-in?" "Could you hold them for a bit after check-out too?"

Yes, of course — go right ahead. You're welcome to leave them freely in the living room.

Just please don't leave valuables there. If you must, we have a lockable locker in the living room, so please use that. And when you head off, please don't forget to grab your valuables!

No.6 | Can I extend my stay?

Here's a question that actually makes me happy:

"Can I stay one more night?"

Watausagi is apparently more comfortable than people expect, ha — a fair number of guests ask to extend their stay.

Especially those traveling Japan over several weeks. When you sightsee and move on, day after day, fatigue builds up before you even notice.

"I don't want any plans today — I just want to relax." "I want to do my piled-up laundry." "The weather's bad anyway, so I'll take it easy for a day."

For reasons like these, one more night. If people feel comfortable enough to stay longer, nothing makes me happier. It really keeps me going.

Booking through our own website is a great deal, so please use it.

▶︎Check availability here

No.7 | What can I only eat around here?

Here we go — the question I struggle most to answer.

"What's a local specialty I can only eat here?"

There's too much to tell you. Really. And to make it trickier, the treats of this land are often seasonal.

Mōsō-jiru (bamboo-shoot soup) in spring. Imoni in autumn. Kandara-jiru in winter.

I want you to try every one of them, from the bottom of my heart. But each is only available for a tiny window of the year. Every time I have to say "it's not the season right now…", it breaks my heart a little.

And one more thing. Hiyashi ramen, and tori-chuka. Many people come excited, thinking "Yamagata means these, right?" — but those are actually inland Yamagata dishes. Here in Shonai, we can't really serve them.

"But it's the same Yamagata!?" everyone is surprised. Explaining this is another one of my little struggles 💦

▶︎Tsuruoka & Shonai are full of delicious food! See more on the "Tsuruoka Gourmet" blog.

No.8 | Are there day-use hot springs nearby?

This is one I really want you to ask, now that you're in Shonai.

There are lots of hot springs around here. Not famous hot-spring inns, though — I mean day-use spots, like public baths, where you simply enjoy the water. They are dotted all over, one in each area.

And each one has different water. So hopping from bath to bath is a joy in itself!

There's an article rounding up the hot springs nearby, so please use it as a guide. Let the water wash away your travel fatigue ♨️

No.9 | Can I use a washer and dryer?

A common question from long-term travelers.

We do have a washing machine. But it doesn't have a drying function.

Instead, for guests who want to do laundry, we've set up laundry spaces both indoors and outdoors — use them freely. If you really need a dryer, I recommend the coin laundry a 2-minute walk away.

▶︎In the grounds of the supermarket 2 minutes away there's a coin laundry, Pizza Hut, KFC, Yokohama-ken (a ramen shop) and more — handy tenants all around.

No.10 | I want to leave early in the morning — how do I get around?

Let's end with a bit of disappointing news.

For those who want to leave early in the morning: I'll be honest. There aren't many options 💦

Taxis and buses both start running around 8 a.m. If you want to move earlier than that, it's not easy.

Your choices are to go on foot, or to use one of the bikes we lend out for free at Watausagi.

If the timing works out, it may be possible to arrange a taxi before 8 a.m., but I can't guarantee it. If you need to move in the early morning, I'd suggest talking to a taxi company in advance to be safe.

▶︎Taxi companies you can call in Tsuruoka, Yamagata

I’d love to hear your story!

You can find answers to more frequently asked questions on our official website. Please take a look if there’s anything you’re unsure about!

▶︎Read Watausagi’s Frequently Asked Questions Here

— which means, if you come stay at Watausagi, you won't need to ask any of these. Let's use that time for a different chat instead. Tell me about your travels 😊

Wrap-up

This is why guesthouses are so much fun!

Watausagi is a free-spirited, self check-in inn. No over-the-top service. Instead, we throw ourselves into enjoying each once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

On this blog, I’ll keep sharing the charms of Yamagata, Tsuruoka, and Shonai. I post update announcements on Instagram Stories — follow along if you’d like.

Likes and shares make me really happy too 💕