Questions
What is a machiya, and what is it like to sleep in one?
A machiya is a wooden townhouse, traditionally both a shop and a home. You sleep on futon bedding laid directly on tatami mat flooring, which is firmer than a Western bed. Shoes come off at the entrance. The buildings are old, so floors creak and sound travels more than in a hotel.
Are the rooms private?
All six rooms in the Main House are private rooms with doors, as is the Koagari no Ma in the Annex. The seven Kibako no Ma are individual sleeping berths along a shared corridor, closed by a roll-down curtain rather than a door, and are mixed gender.
Is anyone else in the building?
Outside the festival, each house is rented to one group only. During the festival we let rooms individually, so you may share the building with other guests. The owner lives on the ground floor of the Annex, on a separate floor from the guest rooms.
Do you serve meals?
No. Both houses are room-only. The Main House has a kitchen you may use. There are restaurants and a convenience store in walking distance, though during the festival many close early — we will advise you.
How do I pay?
Payment is made in full before arrival, in Japanese yen.
For guests outside Japan we use Wise. You send the money as a normal domestic transfer within your own country — to a local account number in the United States, the United Kingdom, the euro area, Australia and several other regions — so the fee on your side is usually well under 1%, and it arrives within a day. We send you the account details once your dates are confirmed.
If you would rather pay by credit card, we can send a PayPal invoice instead. A 5% handling fee applies in that case, as the card charges are considerably higher.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free up to 30 days before arrival. 30% from 29 to 15 days, 50% from 14 to 8 days, 80% from 7 to 2 days, and 100% on the day before, on the day, or for a no-show.
When can I book for the Owara festival?
Bookings for the following year open on September 4th, immediately after that year's festival ends. Rooms are limited and go quickly.
Can I bring children? Pets?
Children are welcome; they are charged the same bedding fee as adults. Pets are not permitted. The buildings are non-smoking.
Is there an English-speaking host on site?
We hand over the keys in person and can help with questions. Detailed conversation may go through a translation app, which works well in practice.
What else is there to do in Toyama?
Toyama city is 25 minutes by train. The Kurobe Gorge Railway, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and the historic villages of Gokayama are all day trips from here.
