Hotel Shiraiwa

The outdoor onsen was at least an alternative place to bathe, but this hotel badly needs renovation. It all seems much the same as when it opened over 30 years ago, and the bathroom is so outdated it's almost unusable. I stayed because there was literally nowhere else on the island that weekend, and it felt overpriced for what you get. The front desk staff were unfriendly and unhelpful when we had questions. Breakfast was ordinary and not worth ¥1200 per person.

The staff were kind, like everyone else we met on the island, and the hotel shuttle to and from the port was handy. Breakfast was good, though it was Japanese style only, and the onsen was decent. The first room we got was awful. The western style mattresses had huge holes, with the springs visible, and there was a cockroach trap and a lot of dirt under one bed. The second room was much better, but the ofuro had a persistent, unpleasant sewer smell. If you really have to choose this hotel, ask for a Japanese style tatami room with a sea view. In a word, decadent.

We had a toilet in our room, though the bathing and shower facilities were shared like at an onsen. It was a kid friendly place, and only a short walk from Motomachi. The shuttle picked us up at the port and dropped us back there too.

My uncle said the hot spring was the one thing he enjoyed during his New Year stay. There were only two staff members, his room smelled bad, and a large hole in the bathtub meant he couldn't take a bath. The staff were rude to him, and he didn't enjoy the stay.