The Hotel Yakushima

Yoko-san and Hirata-san made our four-night honeymoon stay last May unforgettable with their kindness and dedication. When we realized we couldn't get cash for our early morning hike, Yoko-san contacted the guide and arranged for us to pay through the hotel, so we could go without any trouble. Thank you too to @greentrekyakushima for the amazing hike to Jōmon Sugi. I highly recommend him as a guide. Then our flight from Yakushima was unexpectedly canceled. Hirata-san worked tirelessly on alternate routes, and he and Yoko-san coordinated buses, ferries, and flights. They drove us to the port themselves and helped with tickets so we could reach Tokyo safely and on time. Their professionalism and kindness turned stressful problems into a smooth experience. Our time on Yakushima became one of the most memorable parts of our honeymoon, and I highly recommend the hotel and its staff.

Dinner was a whole experience, especially the 'Yakushima Sound Art Immersive Dinner,' where the chef brought out the local terroir so well. The food was exquisite and the service impeccable. From my balcony, I could watch the wild ocean and crashing waves in a breathtaking panoramic view. Falling asleep to the wind and waves felt like pure bliss, and waking up to that view was therapy. A luxury retreat in nature, highly recommended.

The laundry and airport shuttle were especially good, and service and amenities were great. Our Japanese tatami room was spacious and clean, with a slightly dated bathroom that had good storage. The only downside was that there was no AC during our stay, so mosquitoes came in when we opened the window.

The view, breakfast, and general staff service were relatively good during our one-night stay. But one staff member made the experience really negative. I don't know her name. She was alone on the front desk night shift on 14 Dec ‘25, wore glasses, and seemed able to speak fluent English. After dinner, my wife asked her to clarify how to rent hiking gear. The staff member made a snarky remark: “I thought I already told you what to do.” We hadn't made things difficult for her, but she said that to my wife. We kept quiet, didn't want to make things ugly, and went to choose the gear. When we went back for help after choosing hiking shoes, she made another demeaning remark, “PUT DOWN! PUT DOWN!” while pointing at the floor with her finger, as if I were a dog following commands. It was appalling to see someone in a service job behave that way. Please check the lobby CCTV around 8-9pm to verify what happened. Thank you.