Ryokan Isonaya

In my 30s, I stayed at Shirahama Ryokan. The sheep festival and the sahok were delicious.

I come here whenever work takes me to Yagishiri Island. The outside is covered in trees and looks a little desolate, but for an island stay, the rooms are clean and well kept. Dinner changes with the seasons, with different dishes at different times of year. This time I had fresh mozuku seaweed, and it was delicious ( ・∇・).

It's more of a guesthouse than a traditional inn, and the prices feel a bit high, though I suppose that's hard to avoid on a remote island. The owner was a relative of mine. I hoped to try the Suffolk lamb, but it had sold out. There were cleaning supplies and towels left around the bathroom and hallway. I think they should put those away so guests don't have to see them.

The husband and wife who run this place serve a wide range of dishes, and seem open to requests for other things, like Suffolk lamb. I'm not quite sure whether to call it a ryokan or a guesthouse. Rooms are simple Japanese-style and don't have private bathrooms. It's not especially cheap, but I felt the stay was good value overall.