Minato Ryokan

I finally got to try the spiny lobster full course for lunch at this ryokan. Every lobster was served live, and the meat was plump, firm, and sweet. The owner couple were gentle, kind, and easy to talk to, and I was really pleased with the service, food quality, and price. They even added some Kinki University-grown grouper to the extra sashimi, which was delicious. Thanks so much, I’ll definitely come back.

The inn is right by a beach, but there isn't much else nearby, so it was very quiet. I came for the first time through Wakayama Prefecture's 2022 COVID-19 recovery initiative, the "Wakayama Refresh Plan S," and chose the "Full Stomach Special Course." The food was very Japanese, with lots of carefully made small dishes and a good range of flavors you don't often get to try. It felt better suited to a slow, relaxed meal than to hearty meat dishes for sporty types. Still, because the place is run more like a guesthouse, it was hard to fully unwind. The rooms don't have fridges, so bringing a cooler with large ice packs could be useful. There are vending machines if you have coins, and people who drink a lot could bring things that keep at room temperature. The bath isn't available whenever you like. You need to tell the inn in advance when you want to use it, and they get it ready for then. I'd never seen that arrangement before, though it might be customary in the area. They seemed quite flexible if you were happy with just a shower.

The ocean here feels like a secret spot, it’s so lovely I almost want to keep it to myself. My room was mountain-facing, but they switched me to one facing the ocean. I got hurt in the water, and the landlady even put a Band-Aid on it for me. Thanks! 🥰 The building’s from the Showa era, but the food was amazing. 🎵

I’ve stayed at Minato Ryokan on fishing trips to Yura, going raft fishing around Kuroshima for bigfin reef squid. I tend to get lucky there, so staying at Minato Ryokan has become part of the routine. The food is easily the best part. I’ve tried all the courses, and the grouper one was my favorite. They showed me the head of a huge grouper they’d just caught, and I was so excited I forgot to take a photo. It tasted amazing. They also cooked the bigfin reef squid I caught and served it that evening, one of the nice things about a fishing inn. The bath is only a bit bigger than a regular one, probably comfortable for three adults, but not a large group. There’s no refrigerator in the room, and the toilet is shared. The rooms are divided by one corridor and sliding doors, so you can hear people next door quite clearly. But it’s a fishing inn, where people go to bed early for morning fishing, so that’s the sort of place it is. I’ll stay here again next time I’m in Yura.