Minshuku Shimanchu <Miyakojima>

What a terrible place!

I ended up staying around 10 nights even though I’d only planned on one. Sharing meals, chatting, and just enjoying time with everyone was the kind of experience you get at a guesthouse, and I had a great time. There were pros and cons, though. I wish the check-in process had gone more smoothly.

For the price, I felt it was about what I expected. I used to cycle and have stayed in lots of places, and I’ve also worked as a helper, so that’s where I’m coming from. The washing machine was in good shape, with detergent and softener provided. Having a rooftop clothesline and pegs for small items was really useful. The place was generally tidy, the dishes were washed and put away the next day, and there was a women-only shower and toilet. Bugs and geckos are hard to avoid on Miyako, even in super-clean dorms on the second floor. There was insect spray to deal with them. The detached room smelled musty. I’d brought air freshener, and there were several deodorizing sprays in the living room. The customer service left me with questions. Some of the women on staff were nice, but I wondered if information was being shared. I checked in at 3 PM after calling to get a QR code and being shown to my room, since there was no check-in QR code or number available there. The futon was crumpled and looked like it was still from the previous guest. I needed to sleep before going out, so I put a towel under my pillow and lay down. Then I heard a clatter. When I opened the door, the staff member said, “What?” lol. They explained the room hadn’t been cleaned yet and apologized. The man who handled the phone and the woman helper seemed not to have communicated. There’s no point specifying a check-in time if the helper only arrives about an hour after a 3 PM check-in. I wondered whether they even had a reservation schedule. I was staying four nights and five days, and the next day someone opened the door while I happened to have left it unlocked, lol. The lights were on, so they should at least knock. Since the helper was a woman it was only a bit of an annoyance, but if it had been a man, that would have been impossible. There aren’t many staff stationed there. Even when the workshop is open and staff are present, they don’t come out if someone has trouble checking in or workshop staff arrive, so if you’re relaxing in the living room, you end up guiding people yourself. lol I also felt uneasy about a short, see-through curtain on a window at the back. The gap between the window and fence was narrow, so I thought nobody would come there. But on my second day a man was working in that space, which was extremely uncomfortable and scary. 💦 I’m used to guesthouses, so these things don’t really bother me, but from both a guest’s and staff member’s point of view, they seem easy to fix. I hope they work on them.

People seem to judge Japan without really thinking about what makes the country extraordinary. What are they missing? Europe is less than nothing compared with Japan. Instead of passing judgment, they should consider the decent services available in Italy at absurd prices. For non-Italian foreigners living in Europe, I can only imagine what world they live in when they talk such nonsense.