villa HIRUGI

Lovely sea views, and a clean, convenient place to stay. Breakfast was a simple Japanese-style meal. The owner speaks very little English, but enough to handle basic communication.

The owner was so nice, the room was clean, and the tour was perfect. It has a cozy feel, and I'd absolutely come back.

We saw a wildcat just beside the guesthouse around 9 pm, for about 15 seconds. It was pure luck, but we wouldn't have seen it if we hadn't stayed at Hirugi. I've been to Iriomote about five times, and this was a fantastic family-run place. They made a welcoming space where people could gather, and I really enjoyed my stay. The inn is about a five-minute drive from Uehara Port. The sisters running it were kind and helpful, and the way they handled our typhoon-delayed arrival was reassuring. They called politely to say it was fine that we were arriving two days late. When Uehara service was canceled and we weren't sure if a ferry would leave from the remote island terminal, they explained clearly that we could take a ferry to Ohara Port and connect by bus. They came to pick us up right away, and transfers to Uehara Port are free. The room was bright and very clean, with air conditioning that worked almost too well. We had a twin setup and a private bathroom, which was roomy enough to use comfortably. A balcony room would be nice if you want to feel outdoors. We could also use the washing machine, with detergent and drying racks provided, which made it easy to wash and dry clothes after activities. They lent us towels for snorkeling at Hoshi no Hama beach and for fishing, too. The windows and front door are generally left open, so some bugs get in. That might be tough if you dislike insects, though they seem to be everywhere on Iriomote. There was free breakfast with rice and miso soup, plus takeaway water from a dispenser and Sanpin tea. They make bags, mats, and other lovely things by hand from palm and pandanus leaves and ginger lilies. The guesthouse also has inexpensive rental cars, even cheaper for multiple days, and you can arrange one when you arrive with their pickup service. We only ate dinner on our first day, so we rented a car from the second day. The stay itself was less expensive than other places I looked at, and the price felt very reasonable for what was offered. For food, Pocket House is a five-minute walk away. It's spacious and unusual, and the food was delicious. I've eaten at lots of restaurants on the island, and I trusted it more than social media recommendations. It was easy to find something to eat.

The view from our roomy twin room was excellent, and the private unit bath meant we didn't have to wait for anyone to finish bathing. The building is a little old, but the staff were helpful and suggested several nearby izakaya since they don't serve dinner. I arrived by bicycle, so I don't know whether they offer pickup. The inn sits on a hill, and the ride up was hot. Wi-Fi is available, though the router seems to be on the first floor and the 2.4 GHz signal was a bit weak upstairs. A mesh Wi-Fi setup would be nice.