New Kankai Honkan Tenku Hotel Kairo

This is a splendid little hotel for not very much money. Came here as a part of a tour from Taiwan and was pleasantly surprised by the service, food, and SPECTACULAR views. The room was very, very nice. I got a room that afforded a really good view of the sea and a few islands in the distance. I like a firmer bed so I slept way better than I did in the previous accommodations with western style beds in the Kagawa region. The bathroom was quite small but that is not a major issue if you plan to soak in the hot spring. I myself did not try the hot springs out here but my fiance said good things about it. The hot spring (second floor) does take some walking to access. The food was probably the highlight. I had dinner, dessert outside the dining room (right after dinner), and breakfast. The dinner and breakfast were set course meals, which includes vegetables (steamed, pickled, and cold), protein (mostly fish), and rice and (dinner only) noodles. The courses are elaborately prepared and very visually appealing. If you're Taiwanese, you might think everything is oversalted or under seasoned, but that's typical of Japanese inn fare. The dessert bar had about 6-7 varieties of puddings, cakes, and other desserts. I quite liked the cake with mousse on top. The mango pudding was so so. I am a baker myself and thought some of the desserts were exceptional considering the price we paid. A thought: I read a previous review where the reviewer complained about not receiving a (make-up) meal because they arrived late. I'm actually baffled by the entitlement. If you arrive late, how are they going to serve you a set course meal and put it in a to-go box for you? Do meals just materialize out of thin air? I mean, they're not microwaved meals, and I doubt the chefs live on the premises. Also, I'm sure there are liability issues involved if guests take food with them. Not trying to be mean, but I have a gripe with entitled folks. Right besides the front desk, there's an area where drinks (including alcohol) and popsicles are available for guests, free of charge. One thing to be aware of is that the hotel is on a hill and it does take some walking to access convenience stores or local restaurants. When we stayed, there weren't that many guests, which made the visit very charming. Stayed only one night but I am very impressed. While I doubt I'll be returning to Shodoshima anytime soon, I'll treasure the time I spent here. Consider this hotel if you want a place with nice views, good inn food, and not too many guests.

Located overlooking Angel Road, this is an excellent hotel for anyone visiting Tonosho / Shodoshima wanting a higher class Japanese or Western experience! The hotel has many large rooms accommodating for either style of rooms. The Japanese rooms have tatami mats and excellent shikifutons that make for a unique experience for anyone unfamiliar with Japanese traditional sleeping. The views from the rooms and hotel are excellent! You can easily see Angel Road from most rooms, and its south facing view allows you to enjoy both sunrises and sunsets without too much sun glare. From the hotel, you can make it to Angel Road in under 10 minutes via the staircase that leads from the front entrance down to the main road, or take the winding road the shuttle bus will take. The staircase is a bit steep and rusty in some spots, but is very doable. The hotel offers free shuttle pickup to and from the Port. The local spa/onsen for the hotel is located near the top of the hotel, and offers an impressive view of the local area. It is a smaller and more simple onsen, but still a relaxing area for anyone trying to enjoy the hot water while enjoying the ocean views! Their balconies and chaired terrance is also a very relaxing spot to enjoy the view and wonderful weather. The hotel offers traditional Japanese dinners and meals, with multiple courses and many local deliciaties and items worth enjoying! As Shodoshima is known for its olive production, many items include the local olive oils and olives in the meals. Overall, the staff was incredibly friendly, helpful, polite, and engaged! They spoke and understood enough English for foreign travelers, and the attention to detail was excellent! A great value and great experience for anyone enjoying this wonderful island!

When this hotel says they have pick-up service from/to the port, don’t believe that…… Cuz when we call from the port, they said they don’t have service between 10:00-14:00 and we have to call for a taxi. The following day when I requested for the service to the port, they answered technically there’s no service provided to the port unless there’s other guests waiting at the port…. Totally a confusion since on their promotion page, there’s only one sentence telling the customers that they have pick-up service for free. In addition, the breakfast is so and so. Very little portion that you can only access the exact amount that was prepared by the hotel. No coffee provided inside the restaurant. Anyway, it’s an old hotel with old infrastructure. Lower your expectations if you come. They might also insist to talk Japanese with you while they know English and they know you can’t speak Japanese.