Sato no Yado Suyama

The place was comfortable and very nice, with spacious rooms and tasteful decor. The prices were quite reasonable too. It’s a little way from the nearest train station, perhaps around a brisk 20 minute walk, but it’s right by Miyanoshita port and there’s a bus stop around the corner, so I still found the location good.

It’s around 30 minutes from the tourist area, which made this a quiet, peaceful place to stay. There were plenty of restaurants nearby, along with a pharmacy and supermarket, so it was easy with children. We had fish dishes for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Our room was clean, we could use the bath as a family, and both breakfast and coffee were delicious. I’ll definitely stay here again.

The food was a highlight, with a fish-focused dinner of sashimi, fried pufferfish, and simmered sea bream heads. Breakfast came as a plate with a good variety of dishes, and the rice was delicious and filling. I enjoyed the morning coffee after dinner as well. I stayed here during a trip to the Seto Inland Sea, the night before my second trip to Shishijima. Being close to Miyanoshita Port let me take it easy in the morning, and I also visited Namiuchi Hachimangu Shrine. The inn sits beside the torii gate of Namiuchi Hachimangu Shrine, with parking for up to three cars in the first-floor garage. My room was a six-tatami Japanese-style room on the second floor. The bathroom and toilet were shared, but everything was very clean and tidy. The bath could fit two people, and since I was the only guest that day, I had it to myself. I’d stay here again if I get the chance.

The food was generous and carefully put together, mostly grilled and simmered dishes. I liked that it wasn’t the lavish tempura-and-sashimi-platter kind of meal. The interior was the prettiest of any guesthouse I’ve stayed in, and the innkeepers were warm and cheerful while still being considerate about not taking up our time. Good shampoo in the bath is a sign of a guesthouse you can’t go wrong with, and this one had it. A real find. There’s Wi-Fi, and laundry costs 200 yen to wash and dry. There’s a refrigerator, but no vending machines nearby, so stock up ahead of time. I also liked cooling the hot kettle water in the teapot in my room before drinking it. The room was a little dusty, probably because it was the off-season, but everything else was so good that I’m giving it five stars. The bone-in chicken shown in the photo is an optional extra.