Cosmos Guesthouse Iya Valley

We loved using this guest house as a base for our other activities. It’s in a great spot for exploring central Shikoku, and the owners are absolute gems. The owner lent us plenty of guidebooks, shared advice on where to go, and was there whenever we needed something. We also booked a beginner kayaking lesson with him for our second day. He was a fantastic teacher for my partner and me, with a great sense of humor. He made sure all four people in the class were enjoying themselves and getting a suitable challenge. Definitely recommend the kayak class if you’re in the area.

Ryu was a brilliant kayaking instructor. Even with heavy rain and strong wind, we felt safe and still got a good challenge. That morning on the water was one of the highlights of our three-week trip to Japan. Afterward, Ryu kindly drove us to the laundry in Oboke. We waited together over noodles, green tea, and coffee, and it was lovely to hear his story. He’s a very kind, dedicated person, and we hope to return to Oboke for more kayaking. The guesthouse made a great base for exploring Shikoku and Iya Valley. Our room was clean and warm, with everything we needed, and there’s a kitchen area for cooking and making coffee. Until next time, Joel & Kelly

Ryu is a fabulous host, and the rooms are very clean. The guest house is in a good spot, about a 10-minute walk from the station, with a nice walk up the road behind it. We stayed while rafting the river, and Ryu is a rafting guide too, so he can help if you need a guide or want to hear about the river. There’s a small kitchen but no meals are included. That worked well for us since it was nice to cook while traveling. Authentic and a lovely place to stay in Japan.

We had a spacious room with a kitchen stocked with what we needed to cook. There’s a local supermarket within walking distance, a bus stop just down the street, and the train station is about a 15-minute walk away. The guesthouse is in a peaceful, quiet area. The owner was very kind and provided excellent service. Since it wasn’t busy, he offered to drive us to Mount Tsurugi and showed us around along the way.