Minshuku Iwakawa

The tatami was pretty worn, and after the first night our backs hurt. We stayed five nights, so sleeping comfortably never really improved during our time in Yakushima. The rooms themselves were very clean and seemed to be maintained often. There are washing machines, dryers, even one for shoes, which came in handy on the island, plus a shared kitchen. The rooms are furnished very simply.

Bring earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, since the walls are thin and you can hear a lot. Still, I found the room spacious, clean and very affordable, and the shoe dryer in the laundry room was a huge help with my wet shoes. I also appreciated being able to get more than one towel during my stay. The person working downstairs in the shop was so friendly. He broke larger bills into smaller ones for me a few times and greeted me enthusiastically whenever we crossed paths. Great budget lodging in Miyanoura.

I stayed in one of the main building’s single rooms, above the fishing shop. There are two annexes a few minutes away as well. My room was cheap and very bare-bones, just a futon, a small table and a TV. The hard wood floor was a bit rough to sit on. Guests can use a shared fridge, freezer and microwave. The location is good and the place does the job. Two small annoyances: the water felt quite soft, so rinsing soap off in the sink or shower took longer than usual, and the outside staircase is extremely narrow.

I only saw the owner when I checked in for my three-night stay. She went over the instructions, and I didn’t see her again at check-out. The little partitions between rooms don’t block much sound, so you’ll hear the neighbours. Bring earplugs. This also didn’t feel like the kind of hostel or homestay where guests tend to chat and meet each other. As I’ve often found in Japan, people seemed to avoid eye contact and talking.