Oyado Sukeya

The rooms are a little tired, and the shower's a bit cramped if you're tall, but for the price I'd come back. The lady running the place was so kind and hospitable, and went out of her way to make us feel at home after a long day on the road. It's a little off the Henro route, for those doing the henro, but puts you in a good spot to see many temples the next day.

The host is the highlight here. Such a character, she went above and beyond to look after me and show me around the area. After asking what Japanese food I liked, she made okinomiyaki for us for dinner. I slept well and ate plenty. I stayed three nights during my pilgrimage, when a typhoon hit. The place is a little rough around the edges, but the bed was one of the comfiest I had during my six weeks in Shikoku. Definitely worth swinging past.

The rooms are simple and okay, and they were clean. My main gripes were the out-of-the-way location and the limited shared washing facilities. The lady who runs the place gives more care than any landlady I've met, though. She was very helpful despite her limited English, and offered a free evening meal as well as a nice buffet breakfast.

The owner is what makes this place special. She's an older woman, very kind and wise. I spoke with her in Japanese, but apparently she can also manage English if you use your phone and translation. After settling in, it's worth spending some time with her in the shared room, where you can watch TV and have free tea or coffee. She offered me sakura mochi because it was the season, and cooked a delicious dinner with vegetables she'd picked that morning. She also made rice balls for my breakfast. For the price, it was super good. If you're walking the Ohenro, ask her for directions. She'll give you a map and explain the way. It took me four and a half hours to reach temple 60th from there, though I'm not especially fast. I stayed here the night before visiting temple 60th while doing the Henro Pilgrimage in Shikoku. The building used to be an old karaoke place, now renovated into Japanese-style room accommodation. Each room has a futon, TV, air conditioner, and a toilet that was originally Japanese-style but has been fitted with a plastic attachment to make it Western-style. Free Wi-Fi is available. The shower and bath are in a separate, very small building, but they work well enough. I'd definitely return if I walk the ohenro again.