Minshuku Maeakuso

Good.

I stayed here for a few work nights in January 2026. I knew from the website that the rock bath was closed for the off-season, but the toilet wasn’t cleaned during my stay. It was dirty when I used it on the first day, and still that way on my last. They don’t provide slippers either, so bring your own in cold weather. The wooden floors in the hallways and dining room get cold. The food changes daily. It’s not fancy, but it tasted good.

We were three people. Our room had bunk beds and was clean. There were two spiders in the private bathroom, but the shower pressure was stronger than at the rock bath, so it could work as an alternative when that bath is busy. The accommodation and lunch box were reasonably priced, and I was mostly satisfied. The bento had two rice balls and a side dish in one pack, and it was tasty. The extra dinner charge, though, was a real letdown. Staff suggested adding 1100 yen, saying we could have sashimi on the first night and extra meat on the second, but they didn’t explain what the extra would be. We agreed. The first night brought five slices of sashimi per person. That seemed a little skimpy, though it was delicious and I was satisfied with it. On the second night, yakiniku cost an extra 3300 yen. The only added item was the chicken wings shown in the picture. Vegetables and sausages seemed to be part of the basic plan, not extras, and we got only two wings per person. I thought the price was far too high. Staff didn’t make clear what the extra portion meant until we asked, which was frustrating. Even by island prices, 1100 yen for two chicken wings didn’t seem reasonable. I was mostly happy with the stay and lunch box, so the meager extra meal was especially disappointing.

The host’s calming personality and all the things he taught me about the island helped me get through some tough work. I stayed there two years in a row, first for 10 days and then for 40. After long days, I looked forward to the delicious meals and enjoyed sharing snacks with Yakushima shochu every night. The large public bath is comfortable when there are lots of guests. Onoma Onsen is a bit farther away, but I recommend its good-quality water too. There are some local rules to know. I’ll make time to come stay again. Thank you so much, host!