Kanazawa Guesthouse Pongyi

I booked the Japanese style room which was spacious & lovely with the calming sound of water flowing outside and decorated with beautiful Japanese fabrics and furnishings. A real Japanese experience in a charming old timber building ( previously a kimono shop) combined with a welcoming environment and the opportunity to engage with other guests and try out Japanese crafts at night. Nina the manager created a warm inclusive environment and was very helpful with local knowledge and eating recommendations. For someone travelling on their own it was the perfect place to stay. Easy walk to the railway station and tourist areas of Kanazawa as well as close to a local bus stop.

Nina is the best and she will do everything to make you feel at home and teach you some things about Japan too. Very clean, very well taken care of, good area, good location. Thanx Nina!

I felt really privileged to be able to stay at Pongyi. It's an old Kimono shop that's been beautifully restored and has many tasteful furnishings that add to it's unique appeal. Nina (hostess) is such a lovely warm person - she makes everyone feel welcome and is helpful with local information. We stayed in the Japanese style room and the futon beds were super comfy. (Thank you Nina for helping to get our luggage up the narrow staircase.) It's also only a 10 minute walk from the main Kanazawa train station and a 15 minute walk to Omicho market.

It's a very small lodging and if you are a tall or bigger structured person you may find it a little cramped.

I was impressed by the story of this guesthouse (read a short book inside). You should come not for a night stay but for longer to fully enjoy this experience. The host is sweet, friendly and everything is next-level clean. Every corner is taken care of and has a story to tell. The room was a traditional one (no food, no drinks allowed). Small shared spaces and friendly tourists around.

Well, to be honest, for cold-hearted Nordic travellers the host was way too clingy and she used only sugar coated words. The check-in process is slow, very local and there are many rules to follow. We were not feeling in our natural habitat but of course it's Japan! :)