The room is perfect if you want to experience living in a house/apartment in Japan. It's an old style without modern toilet, but you could cook and do your laundry here. There is no room heater but you can just turn the air conditioner to the warm one, put it into room temperature and you'll be okay from the cold days. Mariko-san also provides you futon and additional warm, fluffy blanket and pillows. Around the neighborhood you'll find almost everything, grocery, restaurants, Daiso. There are also some stores on the Hirai Station, don't forget to check it out. You need to walk for 10~15 minutes to Hirai Station, but since I like walking, it's totally fine.