A-Mami 315

I could hear a Ruddy Kingfisher, which was lovely. I used to live in Amami and wanted somewhere close to nature instead of a hotel, and this place was affordable and made me very happy. The shower, sink, kitchen, and toilet in the room were all just right. It’s like having a whole prefabricated building to yourself, with space to park right beside it and unload easily. The road in is narrow, though. Akagina is handy for A-Coop, and it looks like a Drug Mori may be going up next door, which surprised me! It was so good that I’m a little sad it’s getting popular and harder to book. I’ll definitely stay again when I’m back on the island.

We came during the pre-opening, and the best part was how it felt like living on an island for a while, not simply sleeping at an inn. The place is intentionally simple, in keeping with the idea of “nothing, doing nothing.” Some people may find that sparse, but being surrounded by Amami Oshima's nature was wonderful.

The apartment-like bathroom and toilet felt familiar and made it easier to unwind after traveling. They’re surprisingly separate, though there’s only a shower room and no tub. I prefer showers in hotels, and soap, shampoo, conditioner, and face wash were supplied. The room was clean and tidy since the place hadn't been open long. I’d worried a prefabricated building might be noisy or cold, but it sits back from the houses and road, so it was quiet and private. Amami isn't especially cold anyway, and the air conditioning kept things comfortable. For simple food there’s a microwave, kettle, and paper plates, but no stove for cooking over a flame. Supermarkets and restaurants are within a 10-minute drive. I liked having a private space where I didn't have to worry about being seen, and would stay again if I get back to Amami. It even made me want to say, “I'm home!” (laughs).

For a solo trip, this turned out to be a very satisfying stay, especially given the low price. The room was generally clean, and having a kitchen was a welcome change from a business hotel. I also liked the tasty coffee, the roomy refrigerator, and the plentiful amenities. The toilet and shower room are separate, too. The drive in is on a narrow road, and there were lots of insects at night because the place is surrounded by nature, but neither was a big problem.