sora-mame

The hosts’ hospitality was priceless, and the minshuku had a warm, cozy feel. It was well equipped and very clean. This was easily the best stay of our Japan trip, even though it was too cloudy for us to use the on-premise sky observatory. We only wish we’d stayed longer.

The hosts were lovely and helpful, and the house was beautiful and spotless. I liked having personal contact with them, and they shared some of their culture with us. It felt better than a hotel. Thank you for the hospitality, you deserve five big stars.

The staff made me feel at ease with their warmth and thoughtful help, and this was a convenient base for visiting the hot springs and trekking to the Jomon Cedar from the Arakawa trailhead. It was my first time in Yakushima, and I’d been a bit nervous about traveling alone, but the quiet atmosphere helped me relax. One night I was invited outside to see the stars, and the view was breathtaking. They also showed me photos of local fish and nature, sharing parts of Yakushima you wouldn’t find in a guidebook. I left captivated by the island and hope to traverse its central area next time. I’d definitely stay here again. Thank you very much.

The dining room has a breathtaking table made from a single slab of Yakusugi cedar, four meters long and more than ten centimeters thick. Even locals are amazed by its size, knowing another piece can’t be cut from the mountains. The quiet location outside town met our expectations, although the turn from the main road onto a narrow, winding lane was hard to spot. Take it slowly, as other roads around here can be similar. There’s no TV in the room and cell reception was poor, which kept the stay from being perfect. Wi-Fi worked fine, and treating the weak signal as a digital detox made it memorable. I was in a first-floor room nearest the dining room, where the soundproofing wasn’t hotel-like. I could hear footsteps and sliding doors. The other guests were upstairs and the owners seemed considerate, so it was acceptable, though not ideal. The room only had a shower, but that gave us a reason to visit local hot springs and added variety to our itinerary. The advice and local information were very useful, and we enjoyed chatting with the hosts. We were happy with the accommodation and destination for our wedding anniversary trip. On our way home, bad weather canceled our flight, so we quickly booked a high-speed ferry. We then missed our flight from Kagoshima, and the Shinkansen ride from Kagoshima-Chuo cost quite a bit.