As a travel and lifestyle blogger who loves all things resort @owncolorstravel, I love sharing tips on how to fully enjoy beach resort getaways. Today, I’m continuing my series on the remote islands of Kagoshima—this time, I’ll be sharing about where I stayed during my trip to Yoron Island.
・Solo Trip to Yoron Island – Day 2: Staying at Shiomisou, a Guesthouse in the Chabana Area
After checking out of my hotel—where I only stayed for one night—the rental car company picked me up right on time, and I headed toward the Chabana area of Yoron Island.
The weather was still pretty gloomy and overcast. I had originally planned to enjoy driving around the island, but I decided to just go with the flow and see what the weather would allow.
Chabana is the island’s main downtown area, located about a 7–8 minute drive from Yoron Airport. It’s where you’ll find the town hall, local restaurants, and small shops. Even though it’s considered the center of the island, there aren’t many traffic lights, and the vibe is super calm and laid-back. Nearby, you’ll find Chabana Seaside, the crystal-clear Udonosu Beach, and a fishing port—making this a great area to explore, especially for first-time visitors to Yoron Island.
・Guesthouse Shiomisou
Shiomiso 2229-3 Chahana, Yoron-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, 891-9301
For the second night, I stayed at Shiomisou, located in the Chabana area.
Since I had a rental car, I was able to park right in front of the guesthouse.
This time, I rented a small car from Yoron Ocean Rent-a-Car, which was recommended by Shiomisou. If you’re planning to stay here, it’s worth asking about this when you book—booking through their referral can get you a discount.
The island itself is pretty small, so a compact car is great for getting around easily.
I’d actually stayed at Shiomisou once before—about 10 years ago!
As soon as I arrived, memories came flooding back—the big hibiscus flowers blooming in the garden and the simple, cozy atmosphere of the place.
Last time, I came with a friend. We swam at Udonosu Beach, rented bikes to go grab shaved ice, went out to an izakaya at night, and watched a sky full of stars by the ocean. So many great memories.
But what really makes this place special is the hospitality of the owner. She’s just wonderful.
Most of the rooms at Shiomisou are private rooms with shared bathrooms and toilets, but they’ve recently added a few special rooms—about three, I think—that come with a private bath and toilet.
This time, I stayed in one of those special rooms. The smell of the tatami was so calming, and it felt great to just lie down and relax—it honestly felt like being back at my parents’ house.
The owner told me she carefully picked out the beds herself, and I have to say, it was super comfortable.
Smoking isn’t allowed in the rooms, but there are two designated smoking areas on the property.
This is the garden area. There’s even a clothesline for drying laundry, which adds to the down-to-earth, homey vibe. Maybe it’s because I’ve stayed here before, but being here really feels like coming home.
One unique thing about this guesthouse is that when mealtime comes around, instead of making an announcement, a song starts playing through the house as a kind of signal that the food is ready.
In the evening, I heard that familiar song start playing.
“Oh! This is the same song they played during my last stay!”
The song is by Juri, an artist from Yoron Island (you can find her music on Amazon Music and other platforms). It turns out she’s actually the daughter of the owner of Shiomisou.
That moment hit me with a wave of nostalgia—it really made me feel like I’d come back to Yoron Island.
This was breakfast at Shiomisou. Just like with dinner, the morning meal is announced with a song, and then the food is brought out to the table.
While I was eating, the owner came by to chat, and thanks to her warm personality, we ended up talking the whole time. It made for such a fun and heartwarming morning.
Isn’t this kind of experience something you can only get at a traditional guesthouse like this?
Solo travel is great for enjoying your own time, but connecting with people, learning about the local culture, and feeling genuine kindness—that’s what really makes a trip memorable.
Udonosu Beach is just a 3-minute walk from the guesthouse, and one of the island’s most popular izakayas, Izakaya Hyokin, is only 2 minutes away on foot. There’s also a supermarket within walking distance, so the location is really convenient.
・Izakaya Tida
Just a short walk from Shiomisou is Izakaya Tida.
A friend of mine who’s been to Yoron Island many times recommended it, so I made a reservation and went there for dinner.
Be careful on the way there—the road gets pretty dark at night, and after a certain point, there aren’t many streetlights.
The izakaya has a circular counter seating area, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The food also came out quickly, so even if you’re traveling solo, it’s a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy your meal.
My friend had recommended the garlic butter yakougai (a type of luminous shellfish), but it wasn’t on the menu that night. Instead, I had grilled hakofugu (boxfish) with butter, salt-grilled yakitori, and deep-fried eggplant with grated daikon.
Being able to try hakofugu feels like one of those unique experiences you can only have on Yoron Island. They also serve local specialties like horohoro-dori (Guinea fowl) from Yoron.
Summary
One of the best things about Minshuku Shiomisou is that, being a traditional guesthouse, it offers a local, down-to-earth vibe that you just don’t get at resort hotels.
There’s something nostalgic about spending time in the garden, where hibiscus flowers bloom and butterflies flutter by, feeling the island breeze drift through the air—it all brings back a sense of familiarity.
It reminded me of summer breaks as a kid—when relatives and cousins would all gather, playing near rice fields and shrines, doing morning radio calisthenics, splashing around in the river…
Another charming thing about this island is how the local kids greet you with a cheerful “Konnichiwa” on their way home from school.
If you’re not used to being greeted by strangers, it might catch you off guard at first—but it’s just one of those lovely quirks of small island life.