Sowakarou

Once we got there, we had a wonderful stay, though I did think it was somewhat overpriced. Breakfast was superb, and I especially liked the cedar bath on the first floor. As others have said, the light switches are confusing. It’s also an older hotel, so noise and insects can be an issue. The shuttle information could be clearer. I reached Fukuyama station about 45 minutes early, but the advertised bus never came, and the other operators waiting there knew nothing about it. I waited, thinking it might be late, then saw it pass by from another spot. Buses can queue up to a kilometer down the street from the pickup point the hotel gives you. I eventually caught the second shuttle of the day, but it was disappointing to lose time waiting in Fukuyama instead of being in Tomonoura, where I’d planned to spend my stay. The hotel didn’t do much to help sort it out.

The rooms are very nice. It would help if things were a bit more accessible to English speakers, though. Everything, including the meal menus, is only in Japanese, and only one staff member could manage a little English.

Tomonoura is a quiet, small traditional town with history, temples, shops, and fishing. It isn’t in the tourist guides, so there were some visitors, but it was still peaceful. I only wish I’d made it to the island. The weather was extremely hot, and my little kid was struggling with the heat. The hotel itself was well located, with recent, well-equipped rooms in lovely traditional buildings. We ate very well, especially at breakfast, and the staff were polite and helpful. I really enjoyed the weekend stay, and would definitely recommend both the town and the hotel.

Tomonoura felt like a breath of fresh air after the busy cities so many foreign visitors go to. It seemed like we’d found a hidden gem, and with overtourism in Japan these days, I’d recommend it to travelers looking for the country’s untouched charms. We stopped here for one night while traveling from hiroshima back to osaka, and wished we could have stayed longer. The hotel felt luxurious while still fitting the character of Tomonoura. Our clean room blended modern and traditional Japanese touches, the food was great, and the staff were wonderfully friendly. We arrived before check-in, and they kindly showed us around town and introduced us to its history, culture, and restaurants. The onsen has an outdoor bath overlooking the ocean and small islands. We went at 6am for the sunrise, which was one of the most special moments of our whole trip.