It has been an adventure staying in this older hotel with a killer view and locale. We came for the experience of staying at this “island like”location and we gained so much more. We often spend too much time looking for the ideal accommodation and price, but we were reminded that the hotel is but a small part of the experience.
One could never take this view from our room for granted. It is beautiful. The weather conditions can change very quickly with the open seas and wind. We are very lucky that the weather is good.
Our room has this wonderful view but the interior has seen better days. The mattress was worn out, so an inflatable thermarest helped. It wouldn’t take much..an update of the carpets, mattresses and walls. However, what really perplexed us was the miniature art piece on the wall.
This wee kettle with a built in burner on the desk is a blast from the past, yet it does function…. 8 oz of water at a time. I guess we have become spoiled with the Japanese small appliance which provides hot water on demand.
Despite our grumbling about the tired state of the hotel room, we appreciated the unique opportunity we had in staying here. We have ridden by this peninsula on previous trips and never come over. From the other end of the peninsula, the hotel is a visible beacon. in staying here, we discovered a tight knit community that felt like an island community to us.The staff at the hotel are exceptional and we had a memorable time here.
As we were about to leave, we saw groups of people standing by the road which was temporarily closed to traffic. The local village school was having a special day with road races by age group. The loudest fans were the youngest class who were a very excited cheering section. Of course we stayed to add our cheers to that of the community.
We liked that each class had a teacher who ran with those who were keen but perhaps not as athletic. These determined runners got the loudest cheers from their community. This stirred memories for us akin to our time living and Barry teaching on the outer Gulf Islands of Galiano and Saltspring.
The entry is quite grand. All of the rooms have water views. These rear facing windows are on the corridor of each floor. Our trikes had a good parking space, and were under cover at the entrance. 👍
Forgot to mention an important detail about the hotel. There is an onsen on the top floor. The window with the semi circular balcony top right is where you can step outside to cool down…separated areas for men and women.
Well fed, wild cats have free run here. We have read that the owner supports cat rescue and these grounds are their home. They are very leery of us, so we keep our distance.
Having returned to the “mainland” via the 2 km peninsula, we are reflecting on what a distinct community we have just visited and stayed in. Like our existence at home on an island accessible by ferry, we felt that where we have been has a similar feel to island living. We experienced a strong sense of community in this small place accessible by a 2 km peninsula.
Another shrine. We are intrigued by the significance of the addition of bamboo to the two side of the Torii gate.
It’s Conbini time, but this one, the Daily Yamazaki is unique and not as frequently found as Lawson’s, Family Mart etc. The difference is that they have a large kitchen onsite where they create freshly made pastries, bread, bento boxes, etc. These pastries with strawberry and blueberry fillings are divine.
We have made it back to one of our favourite places from a previous trip. The village is called Shimoda and it is an Onsen town. This small village has over 30 Onsens and the hot spring water is incredible. We will stay here tonight in a Ryokan run by a family.
First stop is the incredible foot bath. The water is hot and steaming, with a continuous supply of therapeutic waters coming from its natural source.
A shrine in the village of Shimoda.This Shinto shrine is right next to the largest public hot springs bath. The facility was amazing with many different types of pools. Before we had our bath we had some instant noodles in the relaxing lounge. A group of local women were relaxing and visiting. They were very intrigued by us and wanted to know what we were doing at a onsen in their small town. When we told them about our trip one of the women gave us a handful of candies.
Last year when we stayed in Shimoda, the Christmas lights had just been put up. The lights are done in the footbath park. This time the lights are already up and waiting for us. Everyone comes out for a stroll to enjoy the spectacle.
