Imakokohotel

The room was roomy, and the kids loved the hammock and tent. Having a dryer, a balcony for drying water shoes and life jackets, and kitchen scissors was useful. There was a microwave, though no toaster oven, and no TV. Also, there’s no elevator, so hauling heavy bags up to the third floor was hard. The Richmond is right in the city center, a few minutes’ walk from Ishigaki Port Terminal and the bus terminal. It’s very convenient, but the downside is the noise from drunk people in the street until dawn, which disturbed our sleep. With that in mind, it was still a comfortable place, and I’d stay again. Seems especially handy for families and larger groups.

The location is the main downside if you’re a light sleeper or traveling with small children. It’s right in a bar and restaurant district, and on weekends we heard people laughing and shouting until around 7 AM. Earplugs and an eye mask might help. Otherwise, we thoroughly enjoyed two nights in this place, booked through Airbnb. I think our hot-tub room was on the fourth floor. Inside, it looked like the photos and felt cozy and homey. There were three beds, each large enough for two women or a couple, so up to six people could realistically fit. There’s no parking, but if there’s space, a coin lot is about a three-minute walk away. Shops, bars, restaurants, and izakayas are close, and the area feels almost like home. A convenience store is about a 5-7 minute walk. There’s a washing machine, but very little room to dry clothes. The line is so low that even a hoodie would touch the ground, so I’d use a hairdryer. Maybe because I visited in winter, I didn’t see any insects. The photos include places I visited by car. With two nights and a car, you can see a lot, though I wish I’d had two more nights to drive around the whole island and try more restaurants and hikes.