Entrance to Ruokan Shioya. Just step in.
The ryokan is an experience and the hostess, Yukiko-san, is lovely, good spirited and a great cook. She speaks very little English, but is happy to try to communicate with you. I wish I could speak Japanese, because she would have a lot to tell. We were the first Finns to visit her, so we got to write in her guestbook a short story about us.
Shioya is located very close to Miyanoura Port. It takes 2 minutes to walk there from the ferry. The area is exciting with narrow alleys and small buildings. Ryokans and other similar establishments have beautiful door curtains.
Shioya is a traditional ryokan/guest house. Yukiko-san serves two meals: breakfast between 7:00-8:30 am and dinner 6:00 - 8:00 pm. The food is very good and beautifully presented. There were a lot of new tastes for us and we got to taste several fish we hadn't eaten before.
You can also take a traditional bath or a basic shower, but the best part is that you get to wear Yukata robes, which you will find in the rooms.
The rooms are spacious with tatami floors. The futon beds appear/disappear magically to/from your room during the meals. The pillows have a completely different filling (maybe some sort of grains) than usually, they are very firm and comfortable.
Yukio-san's brother is a photograph and has documented Japanese everyday life at least in the seventies and eighties. His photographs have been published as several books. His pictures of the Ama women are especially beautiful.
Thank you for your hospitality Yukiko-san!