Celeste Shodoshima

The ocean and land views are lovely, though the large shopping mall nearby gets in the way. The owner's hospitality seemed limited for guests he didn't like. You have to check both large baths and insist on your choice. Removing your shoes at the entrance may feel uncomfortable, and staff will touch them when you check out. They take pride in the food, but the quality and logistics didn't match nearby restaurants. Bikes also cost extra, despite the room guide suggesting otherwise.

We went as a family for dinner after hearing the food was good, and the staff made us feel welcome from the phone reservation onward. It's about a ten-minute drive from Tonosho Port. The hotel is small and atmospheric, with road-side and entrance parking. Despite its Western-style name and exterior, inside it's more like a traditional inn: shoes off at the door, slippers on, and paintings throughout that give it a luxurious feel. They took our name and showed us straight to the second-floor restaurant. Our table had an ocean view, although the supermarket stood out quite a bit, especially at night. Another group was staying overnight, but the seating was well spaced, so having the kids with us wasn't a worry. We chose the 4,000 yen course, excluding tax. It was Italian food, with a good range of delicious dishes and clear explanations that made the meal fun. There was plenty of fish, followed by Olive-fed Beef sirloin steak, which seemed like good value at that price. Bread was all-you-can-eat, and we toasted it ourselves and had it with olive oil and three kinds of olive salt. The baguette was light, easy to eat, and went well with the oil, so we had a lot. Even the coffee cups were different for each person. The children's lunch was generous too: curry, hamburger steak, fried shrimp, nuggets, potatoes, salad, juice, plus the same soup and dessert as the adults. The kids ate more than they usually do. We paid by card at the front desk, and the staff took time to see us off. For the price, we were very satisfied. They apparently offer lunch too, so we'd like to return.

It's taken me a while to calm down enough to write this, but Shodoshima and this stay have become awful memories for me. My husband and I chose the hotel for our honeymoon, trusting its three-star rating, and went to celebrate the year we finally married. I had told them beforehand that raw shrimp gives me an allergic reaction, but thoroughly cooked food is fine. At dinner, the course menu on our table listed a luxurious shrimp pasta as the last dish, one of my favorites, so I was looking forward to it. When it arrived, our dish was different from what everyone else got, and nobody explained why. I understand staff may find it hard to judge whether something is raw or well cooked, or whether it's an allergy. Still, they could have changed the menu name or told us when the meal began. Being given something different without warning was a shock. Then the duck pasta was so tough, perhaps because it was frozen, that I couldn't call it tasty. I asked the man who seemed to be the owner whether breakfast would be changed like that too. He answered coldly and without expression, “Huh? What do you mean, changed?” I was speechless, and dinner had already left me feeling bad. The next morning, as I left the inn, I saw him smiling happily at other guests, which did nothing to improve my mood. His service seems to vary a lot depending on the person, and he appears selective about whom he welcomes. I never want to go back, and I don't want to visit Shodoshima again.

The highlight for us was dinner. The Western-style meal used Shodoshima olive oil, soy sauce, and herbs, with local olive-fed beef, seafood including sea bream and mantis shrimp, and pasta with olives. Everything was delicious, and we were very satisfied. Breakfast had plenty of tasty vegetables too. We were a family of three staying one night. The small, elegant building has just six rooms and was immaculately clean. From the hotel you can see Yoshima, Angel Road, and, farther off, Kagawa's Yashima. The paintings on display had notes from the artists, a tasteful touch. The staff were few, but all were courteous and welcoming. The bathhouse is small, though with so few guests it wasn't a problem. We'd definitely stay again if we get the chance.