Benton Guesthouse, Private Nostalgic Showa-era House, former Akiya

73 reviews

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  Philip

  AU · couple · Oct 2026

  10/10

  Wonderful hosts and ambassadors for the Ehine Prefecture. Highly recommended.

  Lovingly restored and retro-fitted, Benton Guesthouse is a wonderful choice for anyone wishing to experience rural Japan. The house is spacious, comfortable and Showa-era stylish, with all the facilities and touches (fresh flowers) to feel at home. Dani and Evan were excellent communicators and shared great tips to enjoy our stay.

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• S

  Suzanne

  AU · extended_group · Oct 2026

  10/10

  A lovely traditional guesthouse

  We had a wonderful stay for 3 nights in the guesthouse, as a base for cycling the Kumano Kodo. There was plenty of space for the four of us in the traditional rooms with tatami matting and sliding doors. We cooked a meal one night in the well equipped kitchen with its quirky decorations and colours. Dani was very friendly and extremely helpful. She provided detailed recommendations on the local restaurants and booked them for us, for great dining experiences. We were also able to message Dani to arrange taxis from the cycling hire centre. We'd highly recommend staying here for a few nights. Stephen and Sue

• E

  Emily

  GB · extended_group · Oct 2026

  10/10

  11/10 if we planned the trip again we would stay here for 2 nights!

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  Svetlana

  FR · extended_group · Oct 2026

  10/10

  An absolutely wonderful and unique place to stay! We loved being able to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese home. The hosts have done an incredible job recreating the house and filling it with so many thoughtful details that make the experience feel truly authentic and nostalgic. One of my personal highlights was finding the Nintendo console - I hadn't played one since the 1990s, so it was such a lovely trip down memory lane! Above all, we were touched by the incredible kindness and hospitality of the hosts. They went above and beyond to make our stay special: they booked a restaurant for us in advance, gave us helpful recommendations on what to see and where to go, and explained where to rent bicycles. Most importantly, they helped us with our luggage in the most thoughtful way. They personally drove our suitcases to the neighbouring island while we cycled there, allowing us to enjoy the ride without having to carry our bags. We are incredibly grateful for everything they did for us. Their kindness made this stay truly unforgettable. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience!

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  Donna

  AU · family_with_children · Oct 2026

  10/10

  Memorable experience

  Dani was amazing with her help and communication. Nice that we had enough space for 4 people. Good local coffee shop and restaurants. Great spot for doing day trips.

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