“10+ stars: our best stay in 8 months of travel”

The best stay we've had in 8 months of travel across central and east Asia. If a stay could be rated more than 10 stars, Guesthouse Chara deserves the medal. The downstairs room is immaculate, decorated so nicely and is very comfortable. Fusao and Toshiko are the perfect hosts and will make you feel part of their family. Toshiko is a fabulous cook, each evening making a small plate based on seasonal vegetables, giving us insight into homemade Japanese cuisine. Fusao, a true gentleman, welcomed us each evening with Chara time and drove us to the station/ castle when we needed it. Honestly the most perfect experience we could have hoped for. Thank you.both - you're absolute stars.

“Clean, comfortable, Japanese experience 😍”

Loved everything - traditional Japanese. Hosts were amazing, very attentive, house was immaculate, cooked breakfast was beautiful. Drove us to strain station, Hirosaki park etc. Very comfortable and well thought out would definitely come again

“Pleasant stay with a very welcoming couple”

The elderly couple is really friendly and welcoming. Especially if you can speak broken Japanese, they are quite glad to converse with you. The room was quite spacious and filled with many various decorative pieces. They also organise tours, so I did take the tour of Hirosaki castle which was informative.

Liked a lot. Liked all at once. every little corner, gear and thing, liked atmosphere and sounds around ... and especially the owners!

“Comfortable stay with friendly hosts.”

We had a very comfortable stay. The hosts are very friendly and looked after us well. There was some English spoken and understood by the host which was good because my partner also understood some Japanese. It was snowing a lot so parking our car in their under cover car port was very welcome. The supermarket is very close so you can buy nice prepared dinners there. We had breakfast made by the host every day and it was excellent. Would stay there again if in the area.

“An amazing option. You will love it!”

This is an amazing option for anyone wanting to spend a few days in Hirosaki. The owners are extremely kind, accommodating, and welcoming to their guests and really make you feel at home. They picked us up at the station on check-in day and drove us to the station or to the castle every morning of our stay. The food was delicious, the space is cute and we'll kept, all amenities are provided (even pijamas, tea, shaving cream, and all others), and the bath is spacious. There is no doubt we will stay here again if we are in the area! If I could go back, I would have booked another night.

“Nice stay that I ever had”

The atmosphere of the stay. As well as the friendliness of the host.

“More than a guest house, this was a true home-from-home experience”

The Kumara family were incredibly kind, generous hosts who went out of their way to make our stay comfortable, including dropping us off to the station and town, helping us reserve a family room at the local onsen and getting us there and back. The breakfasts were very tasty and filling, the coffee freshly made and the "Chara time" drinks plentiful and encouraged. Close enough to supermarkets and great ramen restaurants to not have to stay in town. We loved our stay and have no hesitation recommending Guest House Chara to others.

“One of our best experiences. This is a guesthouse so please follow the rules for a good time”

Very comfortable place. Attention is great. They share lots of stories, knowledge, and culture. I wish more people experience staying here. They have many recommendations for the region.

“A warm and memorable stay filled with kindness, comfort, and heartfelt hospitality.”

We had a truly heartwarming stay at this lovely guesthouse run by a kind and welcoming elderly couple. Although their English wasn’t very fluent, we still had such enjoyable and sincere conversations with them. The room featured a traditional Japanese-style wash area where you can sit comfortably to wash your face and brush your teeth, a charming touch that gave the place a nostalgic atmosphere. The host also kindly offered to help us do our laundry, which we really appreciated. Breakfast was incredibly generous, more like what you’d expect from a hotel than a homestay. The next day, when we mentioned we’d be driving through the mountains, they thoughtfully reminded us to check the weather forecast. We also learned that “Chara” was the name of their beloved dog who had passed away, and they named the guesthouse in her memory, a touching story that made the place feel even more special. Before we left, the host picked some lavender from the garden and gave it to us as a farewell gift. It was such a warm gesture that perfectly summed up the kindness and heart of our stay.

“An excellent stay”

An absolute gem in north Japan. This is an excellent place if you want to experience living in a Japanese home. Run (very efficiently) by an elderly couple who try their best to communicate with you despite language barriers. The overall feeling was like coming home to visit long distance family. The home is warm and welcoming. Everything you need is provided and everything is really well thought out. We never needed to ask for anything extra because it was all there already - all the toiletries are supplied. Shower room was massive and was great for family use as I could use it together with my small children easily Everything is so clean and tidy in the house. Guest House Chara is also their home - you can see it is well loved and that they are very proud of their home. It’s also very nice of them to provide car service from home to Hirosaki station - or other local destination as required. This saved a lot of time and cost for us. Breakfast was very affordable and the meal was excellent and plentiful. We came at peak time for the Neputa matsuri, and paid peak prices but I still think it was the best choice for us. I wish we had more time in our itinerary to stay longer. Thank you so much for such a wonderful stay, and for your hard work in providing us a welcoming stay. We hope to be back one day!

“Great stay, welcoming friendly hosts.”

Host was great, was waiting to pick us up and took us back to the station, also gave us a lift to the castle. My daughter thought that the Ramen for dinner was one of the best she had had. Great stay very welcoming. First time I have had the wheels on my suitcase cleened on arrival.

“Wonderful house, wonderful hosts, please choose them.”

It was fantastic, definitely exceeded expectations, the staff are a lovely couple that have lived there for many years, they picked us up from the stations and dropped us off as well they were incredibly hospitable and caring. Although we stayed one night they really made an impression with their breakfast, dinner, and chara time 😍 highly, highly recommended. Plus it’s only a 30 mins walk from the castle as well!

Very lovely couple that hosted us with so much history.

What a wonderful stay, the hosts went out of their way to make us feel at home. They even had a takeaway coffee ready for us the day we left. Would highly recommend for a true authentic stay in Japan.

“Wonderful stay”

What more can be said that others already haven't? We stayed for 5 nights and we very well looked after by our gracious & helpful hosts. Very comfortable, very clean, very happy guests :) Great supermarket nearby in a lovely quiet neighbourhood. Thanks so much. We'll be back again for the Neputa!

Hosts are nice old couple who are very eager to please and advise. They can give information about where to go. The restaurant they recommend is very good.

“Great hosts.”

Great owners, kind, picked us up and dropped us off at the station.

Host's hospitality, helpfulness and friendliness was the key highlight. Especially enjoyed Chara time!

“A home away from home”

Our stay at Guest House Chara in Hirosaki was perfect. The couple who run this clean, charming place are thoughtful and make every effort to enhance the comfort of guests. They love a friendly chat, can speak some English, and provide an excellent breakfast free of charge. I highly recommend it. It's also within driving distance of the castle and apple patk in Hirosaki and not too far for a day trip to Shirakami Sanchi National Park for walking in the beech forest.