"Live Cafe no Umi is a chance to stay in a traditional Japanese home and experience home cooking and true hospitality.
This is Keiko’s family home so it is very traditional and that includes a shared bathroom and toilet, but it is set up in a very easy way. The stairs are very steep, which is completely normal in Japan but worth being aware of.
Our room included a small kitchenette which was handy, but we paid for breakfast (1,500 yen each) which was a huge, multi-dish affair presented beautifully like in a fancy ryokan.
The downstairs is where Keiko serves meals and also is the location of the Live Cafe. We heard a jazz quartet rehearse while we were there - it was a fun chance to hear local musicians.
If you want a regular hotel and its amenities, there are some in Itiogawa. If you would like to experience real Japanese living and people, we could not recommend Live Cafe no Umi and Keiko’s hospitality more."