Fuurin-Oka Futon & Breakfast

based on 3 reviews

Categories: Hotels, Bed & Breakfast [Edit]

12580 Vista Dr NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

(206) 842-4916

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Price Range:: $$$

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Tarewyn M.

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3 reviews for Fuurin-Oka Futon & Breakfast

Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'

Anna L.

Seattle, WA

11/7/2009

I was looking for some place special to stay for my birthday without taking a long journey. Found this place online and was able to email the owner directly to arrange my stay. She was super attentive to my dietary needs which I usually just work around it and don't bother telling a place.

I have been to Japan a couple times and have also stayed at Japanese styled places on the west coast. I felt that this place was up at the top. The 'cottage' was spotless. The owner showed us around, was super friendly and totally respected that we knew what we were doing with the ofuro tub and our futons. She didn't bat an eyelash when I said we would take breakfast at 10:00am - I was not getting up early.

The place was so quiet at night that you could hear a pin drop and we loved it. This was a great place to spend my *ahem* 38th birthday and I will be going there again. It made a great little vacation from Seattle where you really felt that you could get away.

The cats were an extra bonus too!

Elite '09

Kim C.

2/16/2009

I'm torn.

2 years ago, I would have handed Fuurin Oka 5 stars immediately. Nested amidst forests on Bainbridge Island, the FO guesthouse is a perfect way to re-experience Japan. You'd first call and get in touch personally with the owner (who owns the house adjacent FO). Upon arrival you'd check in with her at the house and then find lots of small touches that make the experience so amazing - Japanese music CDs left out by a CD player (which pipes throughout the guest house), beverages in the fridge, and more. The next morning she'd bring over freshly made and organic breakfast (fruits, granola, eggs, etc) and you'd leave wanting to return time after time.

And then last year, things changed.

It was closed on my birthday for 'renovations' - then a few months later, the owner had left a note on the site that she was shutting down FO to pursue her dream of being a quilter. I can only imagine this meant she was auctioning off the business or otherwise didn't want to be involved. And now, years later, it shows. Big time.

Now, you essentially have no contact with the owner - you call a rental office on the island and wait for back and forth messages. Upon arrival you coldly remove a key from a locked box and breakfast is no longer served. Gone is the music and most special touches (freshly ground coffee was available, but the coffee maker had a gross layer of mold inside of it). Added is a $60 cleaning fee (taking the total for a night close to $300), even though they leave ample instructions on how you must clean and take out everything yourself (what? what's the $60 charge for?!). The garden, once meticulously taken care of, looked run down and uncared for (and looked out fondly upon a bright blue recycling bin - way to kill the mood)

Fuurin Oka remains the only way to get a slice of Japan, lodging style, in the Seattle area. It's beautiful, and those who haven't been there before might be able to handle the new feel in stride... but for those who felt the warm charm of the old FO, the new and soulless version will be hard to swallow. If I had to rate my disappointment this time around I'd give a 1 or a 2.

Very saddening, as I thought FO would remain an amazing location for a special occasion.

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