Volcanic Island

Such a lovely little guesthouse, and the staff were great.

The bathroom was bad enough that I went to a nearby public bath instead. There was also a faint smell that might bother someone sensitive to odors, and the common areas had a feel that made me hesitant to touch things. I noticed dirt that I wouldn't expect after cleaning, so the general cleanliness was disappointing. At 5,000 yen a night, it didn't feel clean enough to me. I've stayed in cheaper hostels, capsule hotels, and business hotels that were cleaner. I picked this place because it was inexpensive and its photos and Google reviews showed four stars or more, but I regret the choice. I think a dormitory with a cleanliness guarantee would have been more comfortable. I know people have different standards, and running a business can be hard. I'm sharing my own experience because I wish I'd had more information from reviews before booking.

The manager was cheerful and friendly, though usually out, and seems to enjoy fishing. There are lots of fish prints on the first floor. I stayed one night without meals so I could spend my money on activities and food. For just sleeping, the place was fine, and the other guests were quiet despite signs asking people to keep their voices and phone calls down. The walls don't block sound well. The building is old, and the doors don't slide or close smoothly, probably because they were handmade. Upstairs, the guest rooms have new flooring, clean new mattresses and sheets, and air conditioning, but no window screens. The shared toilet is old, though it wasn't dirty. The first-floor common area and kitchen were messy and unclean. At home, I'd want to clean and organize those spaces or do some DIY. You can apparently use as many towels as you like for 100 yen.

The owner was out fishing the whole time, so I only saw him at checkout. Reviews described him as friendly, and I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to see that for myself. My main concern was how exposed the rooms felt. The plywood doors are old sliding doors converted to swing open, with only a basic metal latch on the inside and no outside lock. There's a small safe, but someone could take the safe, and it can't protect all your belongings. I felt very uneasy even stepping out into the neighborhood. There are big gaps around the doors, too, so someone could look in, and ordinary sounds carry easily. Quiet hours and headphones are required at night, and guests followed the rules, so noise wasn't a problem. At the back of the hiroen, the inn's odd open space, there's a Japanese-style toilet that was locked with metal fittings, so I couldn't use it and had to go downstairs. The hiroen floor was in tatters. The shared bath didn't look appealing, and another guest said there were spiders and suggested going to a day spa. I've stayed at plenty of inns, and honestly this was the worst. Even a guesthouse should have secure locks.