Resort Pension Turtle House

The host was very friendly, and the Japanese-style room was spacious. We had booked two nights, but a typhoon kept us from arriving on the first day, so we stayed for just one. They charged us for only that night, which I really appreciated. It's a typical Japanese pension, quiet at night, and the beach is only a two-minute walk away. The air conditioning, TV, and fridge were all okay. I'd recommend it anytime.

The breakfast was tasty home cooking, and the room was clean and comfortable for what we paid. The price was reasonable, the location hard to beat, and the staff were incredibly friendly. We stayed two nights in August, so bring your own towels. After checkout we realized we'd left a hat behind. The staff called us and came all the way to the station to return it. Thank you so much!

You're right by Shirahama beach, which is great, but the room is so cramped there's nowhere to dry a swimsuit or sweaty clothes. There were just two hangers for the two of us, and no towels, which I can understand given the beach. The toilets and showers were often occupied, and the showers were a bit moldy, a common hazard in Japan. The Japanese-style construction also means noise carries. I'm not complaining about that, but light sleepers should bring earplugs.

The owners are courteous and friendly, and they make a real effort to keep guests comfortable whenever I stay. It's a four-to-five-minute walk to the beach, so the location is great. The building is old enough that outside noise comes through easily, and with lots of families staying, you may hear children crying or running around early in the morning. The futons are okay, nothing special. This feels more like a guest house than a hotel. I guess it used to be a rich person's home. I've never tried the first-floor rooms. Upstairs, there are either family rooms with eight or ten tatami mats and almost no furniture, or smaller rooms with two single beds. The tatami rooms use futons and usually have an air conditioner, couch, TV, and a couple of tables. The small rooms are about 9X9, with just a little TV and couch, which is about all that fits. In the hall there are three sinks and three shared toilets, one Japanese squat toilet and two western sit-down ones. Showers, baths, and more toilets are downstairs. There's parking if you drive, though you might need to reposition your car or leave the key with the owner so he can move it while you're away.