Kobe Guesthouse Minato Hütte, Your Home Away From Home

Plenty of Enjoyment as You Head Toward Your Guest Room!

Check in on the first floor and head to the dormitories on the second and third floor. There are dried flowers and cards in front of the stairs. With the simple and natural atmosphere, you are likely to forget about the fatigue from your trip.

There is a blackboard on the wall by the stairs, where messages from guests saying “We’ll be back!” still remain. The chalk rendering of the famous Japanese mountain, Mt. Yari, was drawn by one of the staff.

The first floor was patterned after a mountain hut, while the second and third floors were made to evoke the sea. There is a buoy casually laying in a corner of the landing. There are plenty of small touches in the guesthouse, such as the stairs, to amuse the guests.

Comfortable Dormitories and Shared-Use Facilities

The invigorating co-ed dormitory, with its blue and grey curtains, has twelve beds. One night’s stay is 3000 yen.

The women-only dormitory has eight beds, and one night’s stay is 3200 yen. It has a women-only common shower area and bathroom. The linen sheets are always crisp, and tucked into a soft and fluffy futon. The sheets are carefully switched out each time.

The kitchen, fridge, microwave and IH heater are all available for use by guests. The washer is 100 yen per use.

Borrow a Bathing Set and Head to the Nearby Public Bath!

While there is a shared shower room available for use 24 hours a day, there is a public bath close by, so how about taking a dip in one of the big bathtubs? You can rent out a bathing set that comes with bucket and towel, shampoo and other amenities for 500 yen, and it comes with a pass to the public bath. Even people who aren’t staying at the guesthouse can rent out these sets.

Signs of the Okami’s Thoughtfulness Are Everywhere!

Even though there are plenty of guesthouses, it’s quite rare to be able to come across a place that has the thoughtful little touches of Minato Hütte. For example, to prevent the buzzing of smartphones, there are vibration-absorbing sponge pads placed by the pillows.

The free amenities for female guests include lotion, milky lotion, oils and creams, cotton and even cotton swabs, so there is no need to bring them from home.

Indoor slippers and outdoor sandals have also been prepared for you. It feels like you’ve come to stay at the okami’s home.

How the Guesthouse Got Started, and a Message from the Okami

The guesthouse, which overflows with the kindness of its owners, was born from their experiences visiting many guesthouses in Japan and across the world.”We wanted to build an inn that would bring Japan in ancient times to mind, in a place rich with the friendly atmosphere of traditional neighborhoods, and welcome many guests.”

The guesthouse is the result of their wishes, given form. When we actually visited, it felt not simply like a place to stay, but a warm, inviting place, like the home of a relative. An Italian had just arrived in Japan that day to take part in the Tokushima Awa Odori tour, which also served as an opportunity for exchange, and the place was very lively.

“Don’t just come to sightsee, but relax and enjoy Kobe as though you lived here. Talk to the locals and go shopping and eating in nearby spots. We can also do rooftop BBQ events, and we’re thinking of doing other events in the future, like mountain-climbing and ice cascading tours. Kobe is a very convenient place if you’re going to Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, Awaji Island and even Takamatsu. Come visit us!” We received that message from the okami. If you come to Kobe, by all means, come stay at Minato Hütte and have fun interacting with the okami and the local residents.

Kobe Guest House Minato Hütte