Voneten Guest House

The taiyaki were delicious, with fillings like bean jam or fruity jam. The original Japanese tea was great too.

TV－Let's Go to the Remote Islands❗ featured it. The menu listed Ashitaba taiyaki for ￥２４０yen, Ham cheese mayo for ￥３３０yen, and Ashitaba kintoki for ￥５５０.

The guesthouse is one of the distinctive places to stay around Habu Port, on the southern side of Izu Oshima. Motomachi Port has more shops and accommodations, but Habu Port has its own unusual stays and stores. The area seems to have become a tourist destination fairly recently, and Shimakyo Bonten is said to be among its earliest accommodations. I came by bicycle because I was planning a cycling trip, even though rental cars are generally recommended on hilly Izu Oshima. There are sights such as fault lines on the way from Motomachi Port, but the route also crosses mountain stretches, and I wondered if there really was a place to stay out there. Then, past the winding lanes, a cluster of unusual accommodations appeared, with Shimakyo Bonten standing out. The front opens onto a cafe and shop. Around back there’s an open garden with a bench and two infinity chairs, which is already inviting. The private rental house inside is even better. It seems to be a renovated old home, with lovely furnishings and great taste that give it both a nostalgic and oriental feel. The living room is spacious, and the bedrooms are refined, so it’s easy to look forward to spending time there. Breakfast is included, and it’s taiyaki. There are savory options as well as sweet ones, and one is quite filling. You’ll find plenty of lunch and dinner choices in Habu Port. We had ramen from a nearby restaurant for lunch and sushi for dinner, and also bought ingredients to cook ourselves. On our last day, bad weather meant there weren’t enough boats, among other problems. The innkeeper gave us helpful advice, and we got home safely. They were kind and helpful throughout the trip, which made for a wonderful time on Oshima Island. I wholeheartedly recommend this inn.

The owner’s hospitality and taiyaki made our three days special. Our family of four stayed two nights at the end of summer vacation, and I’m usually not someone who writes reviews. I was impressed enough to write one this time. After a tiring day snorkeling, we checked in and couldn’t decide what to eat because we didn’t know the area well. The owner quickly arranged sushi delivery, and it was exceptionally good. We’d been looking forward to the tortoiseshell sushi, and were very happy with it. The next night, delivery plans fell through. We bought dried soba noodles nearby and prepared them ourselves, and the owner kindly gave us a condiment to go with them. That small gesture really touched us. The taiyaki were delicious too. We tried every kind available that day, and liked them all. The chilled summer taiyaki had chewy dough, and the cheese risotto had a fragrant, cheese-flavored crust. They were big enough that one could fill you up, but I greedily ate two because they tasted so good. Thank you for the meals and for looking after us.