Cliff House Yanagida Ryokan

There’s no convenience store close by, so make a stop before you arrive. The nearest one is tens of kilometers away, and the laundry facilities only wash clothes, with no drying service. Still, this old hotel has a nice retro feel, and you can catch the sunrise from the second-floor corridor. Cape Erimo is only about a three-minute drive away. A friendly, cute white dog welcomes you, and it seems pets can stay too. Dinner had plenty of delicious seafood, and we ate our fill. Breakfast portions were generous as well.

The owner speaks fluent English despite his age, which was a real plus. Booking online directly was easy, without needing to make a phone reservation, and that’s helpful for foreign visitors. There’s a green line running across the lobby to the owner’s tied-up dog, so the staff have to keep adjusting it to stop it tangling 😊. The room has a Showa-era feel, though it’s a shame there’s no sea view. The dog in the room was nice, and the slight smell was acceptable.

Koro has quite a personality. Every time the automatic door opens, he heads outside on his long leash to get some fresh air. I picked this inn because it welcomes pets and arrived without expecting much, but the warm, homey atmosphere surprised me. The building is old, and the food was delicious. Next time I’d get there earlier and take Koro for a walk around the fishing port behind the inn.

Koro lives at the inn, while Konkichi is out on the grounds (lol). I could see the ocean from my window, and the owner and staff were kind. The bath is big enough to stretch out in, and you can add water if you want it hotter. Smoking rooms are available, and 9,000 yen is a great price, with pretty good food for the money. I had a very pleasant stay. The owner seems to enjoy jazz, blues, the Stones, and the Beatles. He said the records in the dining room are only a small part of his collection, so if you love music, go talk with him. He’s really friendly. 🎵