Hotel Horizon

Had a great time!

I went for a walk every morning, and the sunsets and starry nights over Ogiura Beach were lovely. The room stayed clean, and I could rinse off in the outdoor shower area after walking on the sand, so I didn't have to track dirt inside. I even enjoyed looking for pretty stones and sea glass along the beach. The hotel made getting to the port and Omura easy with its shuttle. Without that ride, Futami Port would be a bit far, around ten minutes by car, and the route has lots of hills. I also appreciated having a washer and dryer to use for free, with a laundry basket and net in the room. You can borrow gyosan sandals in different colors by the front desk, too. I wore them on tours and saw lots of other visitors and islanders wearing them. It made me feel part of the island community. The staff were helpful and kind, even in the heat. Meals were generous and tasty, with Japanese and Western food alternating each day, and there was apparently a BBQ on the final night. For anyone wanting to enjoy Ogasawara food and ingredients at an easy pace, this seems like a good place to stay. It may be the best hotel in Ogasawara.

I stayed three nights in mid-December 2024. Unless you've booked a private charter cruise, the Ogasawara-maru schedule dictates the trip, so a voyage means three nights here. The hotel sits beside the beach at Ogiura, about five kilometres from Futami Port. It's far from the bustle of town, and the beach has swimming facilities and toilets set up by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The distance also means you can't just wander into town for a drink. Staff offered a ride, but I felt awkward asking for one. I heard there used to be a bar here, and I think having one would have been a nice way to meet other guests. For Chichijima, this is probably one of the most upscale hotels. Unlike luxury hotels in Tokyo, though, the room price includes breakfast and dinner. The meals clearly get a lot of attention, and the chef seems to put real care into them. Looking at the menu, I could see that much of the food comes from the mainland to satisfy visitors. Since supplies have to arrive by Ogasawara-maru, ingredients unavailable locally cost several times more than they do on the mainland. It must be quite a challenge. The building is around 30 years old, and the aging is real, even if photos don't show it clearly. There's no elevator. The first floor has the lobby, office, kitchen, and other service areas, while the guest rooms are on floors two and three. It may be a relatively low building, but I would normally expect a high-end place to have an elevator and be accessible. I was told the only building on the island with one is the clinic. That seems tied to the island's geography. Elevators need a yearly legal inspection, but there are no specialists on Chichijima. Bringing someone from the mainland means working around the ferry schedule and a six-day round trip. Few companies can manage that, and arranging it privately could cost an enormous amount. Repairing, renovating, or replacing aging buildings is said to cost more than twice as much as on the mainland for the same reason. Those conditions are a serious burden for everyone on the island. I hope the government and politicians pay attention so this lovely hotel, Hotel Horizon, can keep going for a long time.

The homemade passion fruit juice was so good that I ordered it every day. The food was delicious too, though I felt bad leaving some of breakfast since I'm a light eater and they had gone to the trouble of making it. From my room I could see Ogiura Beach and hear the waves, which was so calming. The staff's thoughtful hospitality really warmed my heart. It was my first winter visit to Ogasawara. Being a little way from town turned out to be nice, since it was quiet and peaceful. I also enjoyed visiting the nearby shrine and walking through the mysterious tunnel. A lovely memory, thank you.