Shiki no Yado
Located at the base of Mt Mocchomu, Shiki no Yado is one of the most delightful minshuku I’ve experienced in my remote travels in Japan. A minshuku is essentially a family-run traditional Japanese B&B. Generally more simplistic and rustic than a luxurious ryokan, minshuku’s allow an opportunity to see how local people in the area live. Depending on the minshuku, you may have meals with the family or you may not (generally breakfast & dinner are included in the prices) In some areas of Japan, a minshuku or farmstay may be the only accommodation option available. .
Shiki no Yado has 6-8 rooms/condo house options to stay in, it is rated the #1 minshuku on the island by tripadvisor, so it is extremely popular. We were lucky that we were travelling off-peak time and I managed to secure a booking well in advance to be safe.
MT MOCCHOMU-DAKE
The mountain has been worshipped by the local people from ancient times and is considered a sacred mountain. Located in the south east of Yakushima, Mt Mocchomu is beloved by hikers for the wild formation of rocks and the view of the ocean from the summit. It’s about 980m in elevation, and is an imposing site. The hike is recommended for intermediate to advance hikers and you can find more information here (we didn’t hike it, too busy exploring elsewhere).
BBQ DINNERS AT SHIKI NO YADO
Dinner was an impressive hearty local fare, with the family sourcing animal produce from local fisherman, and meats from mainland Kagoshima. The majority of the vegetables, fruit & eggs are from their own garden patch on the premises. A truly delicious and impressive local feast.
SELF COOKING
If the weather is good, they organise dinner on one of their larger terraces, perfect for star gazing amidst clear night skies! However we generally had rain during the evenings so enjoyed bbq-ing our dinners in their undercover eating hall. Below was our simple but yummy Japanese style breakfast.
THE ACCOMMODATION
Unfortunately I didn’t take many photos of our room back then, as I was just too busy planning our days in Yakushima. We had a simple Japanaese tatami room, with a private bathroom and semi open-air bathtub. You can find the style of room we stayed in here. Perfect for 2 people, as some of their other accommodation is for families or larger groups.
from Shiki no Yado website
Shiki no Yado really was a wonderful first time Minshuku experience, and for me personally it set the bar for future minshuku experiences. I do hope one day you get to stay there, but book far in advance! They are very popular!
