Irumoteso — Attraction in Taketomi

I stayed at Irumoteso for six nights this past summer, and I cannot imagine staying in any other place on the island (unless, of course, you need to stay clear on the other side). ||The absolute highlight is the owner, Kiyoko. She knows the island like the back of her hand and can help you organize whatever you want. Almost my entire time in Ishigaki (3 nights alone and 3 nights with a friend) were planned by her. We simply told her what we wanted to do, or what kind of day we wanted to have (for example: ‘we want to take it easy on this day’, or ‘it might rain tomorrow, can you give us a plan B if it does?’) and she would outline everything for us. Her English is quite good, so don’t worry if you don’t speak Japanese. She’s very attentive and very easy to talk to. If you don’t have a car, she can help you plan your commute via the sparse Iriomote buses, and can even recommend places to eat. She can also arrange all your tours for you. Many of our tour runners knew her well and have even stayed in her guesthouse over the decades! ||It’s especially useful if you’ve been doing most of your research online. While the internet and reviews can give you a good idea of how to plan your day, there’s nothing like a local who can tell you the nitty-gritty details and intricacies, and give you an accurate idea of how long something will take. Plus, she has a near-encyclopedic knowledge of all the ferry and bus timetables.||Kiyoko cooks all the meals; breakfasts are hearty and great for powering you in the morning, and the dinners (should you choose to purchase them) are all satisfying home cooking. Be sure to let her know if you have any food allergies or restrictions (I don’t eat fish, for example), and she will accommodate you. ||While the restaurants in the area are nice, I highly recommend taking the meal on long or busy days, so that you don’t have to worry about getting food or choosing a place to eat. ||||I ended up staying in three different rooms (had to switch a couple of times for booking logistics reasons) and all three were clean, spacious, and comfortable. The larger suites are well-furnished, but you won’t find yourself wanting in the smaller suites, either. The default beds are futons on the floor, but there were fold-out beds in the rooms if you prefer a more western sleeping arrangement. The guesthouse has all the amenities you could need (though they do not give toothbrushes or paste if I remember correctly). You can even rent snorkeling gear or a bicycle to get around the island. We truly felt cared for; Kiyoko was like a guardian angel watching over our Iriomote trip. ||||As a side note: if you are going to Iriomote without a car (or even with a car), be sure to get a lot of cash beforehand. As far as I know, there are only two ATMs on the island and are nearly impossible to get to without wasting a day if you don’t have a car. No combines here, so make sure that you’re...

My boyfriend stayed here recently and while I don't normally submit reviews but both felt really compelled to share with people how magical our experience at Irumoteso was. Conveniently located, the hotel is spotlessly clean, spacious and light and the fresh ocean breeze that streams through the open windows is invigorating. The gardens are immaculate, the sea view beautiful and the whole place has an atmosphere of humble relaxation. But these are nothing without Irumoteso's host, Seki-san, or Kiyoko-san as she introduced herself. She built the entire hostel herself and has slowly added to it since the 1970s. On top of this, she has a really unique warmth and energy that is so rare to encounter. I was in awe of her relentless efficiency - it's impossible to comprehend how this spritely lady has run this hotel virtually single-handedly since its first incarnation as a youth hostel. She has so much to do she barely stands still for more than 5 seconds at a time! Homemade bread appears with breakfast, delicious bananas appeared that were grown on the Irumoteso farm, and everywhere is constantly cleaned and scrubbed. And if you go you MUST opt in for Kiyoko's dinners; a true expert on Japanese cooking, each night she produces a multitude of small traditional dishes that at once both delicious and unpretentious, made with care and love and which always leave you comfortably full. She's a constant font of knowledge and always helped us plan what we wanted to do, lending us bikes and snorkeling equipment. The bill was embarrassingly reasonable for the amount she offers (particularly the food and bikes), and as we left we felt really quite indebted to her, partly because she had so kindly come to our assistance when I was ill with a fever the morning after arriving, insisting on driving my boyfriend to the supermarket and helping him to buy medicine for me. Iriomoto is a beautiful island, but it's because of Kiyoko that we could consider returning - her hotel feels unparalleled in its authenticity compared to the other places we came across on our trip, and the warm manner in which she cared for us left us with many...

I've done a lot of traveling, often on a budget, and Irumoteso truly sits atop a large mountain of guesthouses around the world I've stayed at. Kyoko the proprietor is exceedingly lovely and hardworking, the grounds are unusually immaculate, the building offers so much character, and the site offers amazing proximity to many things to do, and the reputation of Kyoko and Irumoteso means that every tourist industry on the island knows specifically where to pick you up. There are a handful of all-inclusive resorts on Iriomote, but if you're planning to come to this island, you are presumably there for the outdoors, the nature, and the vibes, and hopefully have some understanding of what Japanese respect towards those things looks and sounds like. As well, you're aware that treating yourself to the best Iriomote experience doesn't rely on cabs--there aren't any--and you make the most of your own time on the overwhelmingly unspoilt terrain. Take that attitude to Irumoteso and it is impossible to think that you won't be giving yourself a uniquely peaceful and relaxing experience on the island, even if you spend every day burning thousands of calories cycling, hiking, snorkeling, and walking. Truly a hidden gem, I hope on your stay you'll be part of what makes it shine. Also have a plastic bag handy for going around the island to...