Ailand HOTEL YONAGUNI

The room was roomy, comfortable, and clean, and the hotel is about a 15-minute walk from the airport. But there's nothing nearby, and you won't have contact with hotel staff at all. We walked about 20 minutes to the village for dinner, where restaurant choices are limited, so check what's open and book ahead. The roads are dark with no streetlights, and I used my phone flashlight to get back. I didn't spot any taxis, so I'm not sure whether the island has them. There are no convenience stores, and the retail shops close early, so do your shopping before then.

The hotel is at the crossroads for Sonai, Hikawa, and Kubura, with a bus stop right outside. From our room, we could watch planes take off and land on the Yonaguni Airport runway. The bed sheets and covers were a smooth, comfortable mesh, and there was a microwave by the elevator on every floor. Although it's only a 17-minute walk from the airport, taxis on Yonaguni Island need to be reserved, and buses are infrequent, so I was very grateful for the shuttle we requested. The hotel also handled things courteously when a flight cancellation kept us from reaching the island that day. The place apparently opened in a hurry for the 2025 Yonaguni Island Marathon, at Japan's westernmost point, and construction is still underway. Rates feel a little high for a remote island. I hope things improve, including the possibility of breakfast. As of January 2026, rooms are available without meals only. A few things could be better. There are no window screens, so insects come in if you open the windows. Guests get just one room key, which makes it hard for a couple to go out separately if one person is sleeping. I wouldn't recommend taking the lock apart either. There was also nowhere to put clothes in the shower room, which made bathing inconvenient. I'd still rate it five stars, and I hope to see improvements. I'll be supporting you.

The front desk was usually unattended, which was inconvenient, and the place felt old and awkward to use. More troubling were the cleanliness problems during my stay. I saw a caterpillar crawling in the lobby, where guests are constantly coming and going. The light switch buttons in my room were visibly dirty, and dust came off on my hands. It seemed they hadn't been cleaned in a long time. Since those buttons get touched so often, hygiene needs more attention. I didn't feel I could stay safely in those conditions. Cleanliness is basic for a hotel. I strongly hope they improve their cleaning and hygiene practices. I'd suggest staying somewhere else if you want to avoid the same experience.

The restaurant meals were a highlight: both the dinner included in the accommodation plan and the a la carte options were tasty and used plenty of local ingredients. I especially liked the butter-grilled gurukun set meal. I stayed for two nights in July 2020, when this seemed to be the island's only hotel. I heard it has been closed since September 2021, which worries me. The rooms were spacious and clean, and upkeep and housekeeping seemed fine.