Toushijima Onsen Suzunami

The staff made a good impression, and check-in was quick, so we went straight to our room. It had a sea-facing aspect, though not a direct ocean view. With islanders' houses nearby, opening the curtains or windows felt awkward. When we arrived at the port on a rainy day, someone met us with a flag and drove us to the inn, which was a big help. If the inn is full, though, you may have to wait about 10 minutes in the waiting room. There were some things in the room that worried us: dirt on the table and water left in the T-fal kettle, so we couldn't tell when it had been changed. We were pleased to find the room-service sweets waiting for us. Dinner was a lavish seafood meal, and most of it was delicious and plentiful. The simmered flounder and grilled oysters were cold and quite hard, though, which left us wondering if they were supposed to be that way. It was a letdown among otherwise good dishes. Breakfast was also generous and delicious, and we were delighted to find spiny lobster from the previous day in the miso soup. The indoor public bath had insects and moss-like things in the tub, and a large spider showed up while I was washing my hair. That's understandable given the natural setting, but people who dislike bugs may want to know. The black hairdryer had a broken neck and was hard to use. Tattoos weren't allowed in the public bath. We went back the next morning and enjoyed the hot springs; the water was much hotter than the night before, so we could soak for a long time. If you prefer hotter water, morning may suit you better. The retro, nostalgic hotel has table tennis and massage services to keep you occupied. I was still in my room relaxing and packing around 9:45 AM, before checkout, when a staff member came in without knocking. They left right away, and I think it was probably a mistake, but it startled me. The staff service, shuttle, and meals were excellent. Better attention to cleanliness, facility upkeep, and privacy would make the stay more comfortable. If you're germaphobic or dislike insects, these details may be useful to know in advance.

We went as a family, and the kids had a great time on the boat ride to Toshijima. Someone from the inn met us at the port and drove us over. It's walkable, but with all our luggage the ride was really helpful. Dinner was loaded with seafood. I usually can't eat raw fish, but this was so tasty I finished everything in one go, maybe because it was so fresh. Afterward I left the kids with my husband and went to the bath on my own. The large public bath has a panoramic ocean view, and it was lovely to soak and relax there. We were very happy with the stay and would like to come back in another season. ^^

The website photos make the place look much nicer than it is. The hotel feels quite worn, and the large bath roof is promoted as giving an outdoor hot-spring feeling, but it was cloudy and the sky was hard to see. To me, it was simply a large indoor bath. The strong wind against my room made the windows creak loudly, and I didn't sleep well. The food was delicious, the proprietress was beautiful, and all the staff were friendly. Thank you very much.

My mom and I made some special memories here on my first visit to Tōshijima. We'd come by ferry after visiting Ise Island. The inn has a nostalgic Japanese feel, and while the building has some history, our tatami and room were new, clean, and spacious. The room and the large public bath both looked out over the sea. At sunset the sky turned orange, and the view was absolutely beautiful. We booked one night with two meals. Dinner was a generous local seafood spread with lobster, abalone, tuna, and more. Both meals were served in private rooms downstairs, away from other guests, which made dining relaxing. The food was already laid out when we arrived, and the Japanese-style beds were made by the time we returned to our room. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the staff were incredibly friendly. Choosing this place was well worth it. I'd highly recommend the inn to anyone planning a trip to Tōshijima. 🙌🏻