Yutori

It’s set just a little out of the way, so the walk there is pleasant. The station and supermarket are close, and everything else is within easy reach too. It makes a great base.

The location is great, the place was clean, and it had almost all the basics. But this was the only bad stay among the more than ten hotels we’ve used in Japan, and it wasn’t even the cheapest. I definitely wouldn’t stay again. The photos gave a misleading impression of the space. There was only about 15 cm (6 inches) between the bed and the window, and around 25 cm (10 inches) on the closet side. The mattress and bed were awful, as were the pillows. That was surprising when better pillows were available for well under 1,000 yen at the DCM store three blocks away. The AC worked, but when it ran alongside the kitchen or bathroom extraction fans, there was a constant clicking loud enough to keep us awake. We had to switch off the fans at night to use the AC. We told management about the noise, but they didn’t really offer a solution. There was a small kitchen but no dining table, even though there was a sofa. A small table with two chairs would have made more sense and left more room to move. We were fine with no elevator, but the narrow stairs made moving large luggage uncomfortable.

They let me leave my bags before check-in, which made the day much easier, and later helped me quickly retrieve something I’d left behind after checking out. Communication with the host was easy, clear, and accommodating from the start. The place is clean, comfortable, and well equipped for relaxing after a day out. It’s a convenient base for the Shiminami, with an easy walk from the main road and good access for exploring the area. The service was outstanding throughout. If you want a comfortable stay without hassle, I’d highly recommend it.

After cycling the Shimanami Kaido from Imabari, we stayed two nights booked through Airbnb to rest and recover. The hostel was clean and quiet, with an easy walk from the cycling station. There was some smell coming from the washing machine.