Bayside Tomari

I really enjoyed my stay. It was only about 9,200 yen for three nights in a private room, and so far this is by far the best guesthouse I’ve stayed in. It felt like heading home after sightseeing, having drinks on Kokusai Street, and wandering around Naha. (´˘`＊) The room was quiet and had the basics. There are three bicycles you can rent, though they’re not new. You can hear your neighbors, of course, but that’s only to be expected to a degree. I was on the second floor and thought there was just one toilet and shower, but I was allowed to use the ones on the third floor too. There’s no AC in the private rooms. The shared areas have it on full blast, and the air seems to come through the gaps above the room. It was early October, with daytime temperatures in the low 30s, but I slept fine at night with a fan.

I stayed over the New Year’s holiday and would definitely come back. The owners’ warmth made me feel at ease: the husband is kind, the beautiful wife is cheerful, and their outgoing Kafuu boy is adorable. As a women-only inn, it felt safe, was clean, and offered good value. It’s also an ideal base for taking trips to the outlying islands from Tomarin. The location worked well for getting around. Miebashi on the Yui Rail is a 15-minute walk away, and Route 58 is easy to reach. I used the free rental bicycles, though I chose to walk more than 6 kilometers each day for exercise. I went to Kokusai Street, museums, art galleries, Yachimun Street, Fukushuen Garden, Wakasa, and as far as Shuri Castle and Onoyama. Nearby are the Naha Tuna Market, Yaeyama Soba Inaka, and Ruby, a snack bar. Along Amakusa Road toward the museum, I found supermarkets like Gusto, Ryubo, and Coop, plus Uniqlo, Daiso, Bikkuri Donkey, Capricciosa, and Shabu-Yo. There’s a refrigerator in the room, which made it feel like a proper residential stay. Long-term guests seem to cook, but since they’re out working, it was quiet during the day and I never had to wait for a shower or restroom. The washer and dryer cost 100 yen to use. My only complaints were that the AC is in the hallway, so you can’t set the temperature, and the thin room walls let noise through. It could be hard if people weren’t considerate, though everyone else was, so I didn’t have any bad experiences. The room to my right was very quiet, with someone who left early and came back late. The accordion door in the room to my left was quite loud when it opened and closed. I got used to it, but the first time I heard it in the middle of the night, I jumped and thought there was an earthquake. 💗💗

It’s a women-only place and can host groups of different sizes. It’s popular, so booking three months ahead is recommended. 🎵 The main single rooms are on the second floor, while the third floor is better for cooking and eating together. There are three rental bikes, and the location makes it handy to use both the Yui Rail and buses. It’s also very convenient for boats to the outlying islands from Tomari Pier. Single rooms go first come, first served. The price has gone up a little, but 3,500 yen a night for a single room is still a bargain, and it costs even less per night if you stay multiple nights. ♪

The surroundings and facilities were as good as other reviews said, and I found everything I wanted here, plus a bit more. I was trying to pack light, so it helped that, unlike at other guesthouses, I didn’t need to bring towels, shampoo, or laundry detergent. The washer and dryer were easy to use and cost only 100 yen, which meant less luggage for me. Some guests seemed to live here, and they were all lovely. The owner does a careful job cleaning such a large area, which I think is amazing. I’ll definitely come back.