Uminoie Painukaji

Everyone in the family made us feel welcome, from the grandmother to the little kids. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and fairly priced. I spent four days and three nights on the island with a sabani boat team, though we only stayed here for one night after visiting other places. This ended up being my favorite spot. I'll definitely book here next time.

The sunset view over the ocean from this hotel is incredible, since it's right by the water. The family and staff were all warm and helpful. I'd happily stay here again.

It was lovely meeting you!

This place is in Hoshidate, about a 15-minute drive from Uehara Port. Once you cross the Urauchi River from Uehara, houses become much sparser. The area is protected, so it's very quiet and green. That also makes it a great place to feel close to Iriomote's nature. The building is right by the sea, and it's set up for beach time, with a spot to rinse off your feet and body and somewhere to hang wet things. The shoreline is shallow, so it isn't really a place for swimming, and the tides change the conditions a lot. You can get here from Uehara Port by local bus, if one is running. If you arrive from Ishigaki on an Anei Ferry, Anei Kanko's free shuttle can drop you right outside. Just let them know when boarding the ferry that you want to use the bus. A stay on a natural island like Iriomote can be a little inconvenient, but I want places like this to be preserved. I came hoping to fit in with the lives of local people, plants, and animals, rather than treat the island as a tourist destination, and that's exactly how the stay felt. There isn't a PET bottle recycling facility on the island. They lend out bottles, and many places will also give you water if you bring your own bottle or an empty plastic one, so you don't need to buy water. It can also be a nice way to meet local people. One morning, while I was walking by the sea, schoolchildren on their way to class greeted me cheerfully. It's a really lovely island.