Kinhomaru

I used to visit the 88 temples of Shodoshima once every few decades. The inn where I’d previously booked a bus for our stay had closed, and with bus fares higher and long waits making transfers difficult, I decided to drive this time. After looking at several places, I chose this homestay, which didn’t include meals. I bought food after arriving. While out walking, I met a local who said fish was sold in Okada, Hidosan, and recommended a supermarket as well. We had barbecue for dinner, sandwiches for breakfast, and I packed lunch to take along. After checking out at 10am, I walked to Emon Fudo 81, which is in the area.

It had been 25 years since we all came together for the first time, and we returned to Kobe, a place tied to fond memories from several training camps. Our group had all sorts of plans: some were curious about old farmhouses, others wanted to fish, soak in hot springs, eat out, drink, or see the sights. We probably should have stayed two nights instead of one. We visited Yoshida Onsen, ate at Taruya, then fished in the sea in front of the guesthouse. The next day we did some sightseeing before heading home. The countryside has things you just don’t find in the city, with so much nature in both the sea and mountains. It brought back memories of my visits to Kobe long ago. I’m glad we went.

The house is quiet, so it’s fine if the kids get noisy or a baby cries. It’s a roomy traditional Japanese home with a garden, well-furnished inside, and a clean bathroom. There are BBQ facilities and it’s affordable for a large group. We had Wi-Fi, a TV, and a hair dryer. Even though it’s a private lodging, they provide bath towels and disposable hand towels. The ocean behind the house gives you beach views, sunsets, and a great night sky. There’s a road down from Kankakei Gorge to Obe, and I’m glad we chose this place. Do your shopping before you check in. On the island, Marunaka and Maruyoshi Center in Tonosho Town are good supermarkets. Cosmos and Zagzag are cheap for bread, though there aren’t any bargain stores. Dairex is a good place to get ice, alcohol, and sweets. Stock up on drinks, food, and even snacks for late night and breakfast. There are no condiments at the house, so you’ll need to buy those too. There are no bicycle rentals here, but you can get one at nearby Obe Campground. There are real estate agents around, both near the sea and up in the mountains. For restaurants, head to Obe Port in the neighboring village. There’s a cafe called Sanwa. Yoshida has a small hot spring. Entry used to be 400 yen per person and has now gone up to 600 yen.

The place was okay overall, and it’s quite far from the city center, so make sure to shop before heading to the lodging. The futon was thin, and I wish it had been a bit better quality. The toilet smell was pretty bad, which may be unavoidable, but more deodorizers would have helped.