Sen Guesthouse
Rooms
Japanese-style family room
Our largest room with sweeping views over the Uchinomi Bay of the Seto Inland Sea. Tatami floors and super-comfortable memory foam mattresses make this room one of our favorites.
2–3 people. Kids welcome – please contact us for a quote
2 people: ¥12,000 ～ per room per night
3 people: ¥13,800 ～ per room per night
＊Kids under 6 is free to share a futon,
more than 2 kids, extra ￥1500
Towels included
Showers and toilets shared by all guests
Japanese-style private room
Bright and uplifting, simple and modern Japanese style rooms are perfect for friends or couples looking for a slice of tranquility with gorgeous ocean views. They also feature tatami floors and memory-foam mattresses.
1–2 people. Kids welcome – please contact us for a quote
1 person: ¥6,000 ～ per room per night
2 people: ¥9,200 ～ per room per night
Towels included
Showers and toilets shared by all guests
Modern capsule dorm
From our light and airy, mixed-gender, four-bed "capsule" dorm room, the view overlooking the Seto Inland Sea towards Shodoshima's famous olive park will take your breath away. Our innovative handcrafted bunk beds are private, strong and comfortable, ensuring you will be ready and refreshed to explore our beautiful island.
1 person: ¥3,500 ～ per night
Each bunk includes a private locker, light and charging plugs
Towels included
Showers and toilets shared by all guests
Sorry, children under 12 can't stay in the dormitory room
facilities
The property
Nestled in the forest, abutting the beach, Sen Guesthouse is your retreat from the world at large.
On one hand, we are remote and a bit hard to access; on the other hand, we have no neighbors so the waves from the ocean and sounds of birds are all there is to disturb you.
The Beach
Our beach is just across the road. With snorkel gear, hammocks and sarongs – it's the perfect place to chill or have an adventure!
*Please enjoy beach after check in.
The Balcony
Breakfast with a view? Sunset drinks with sweeping views of the bay? Our balcony is a great place to meet fellow travelers or find a bit of calm in your trip.
The Kitchen & Common room
We have a spacious, well-stocked guest kitchen for you to whip up a tasty dinner or breakfast. Seasonings, oil and appliances, coffee and tea, Japanese tea are all free to use.
Our small pantry is filled with ready-made meals, ingredients, drinks etc. for purchase. We have a strong preference for local ingredients.
Home made bread and rice balls are available for breakfast, please order when you check in.
BBQ
How about some Japanese barbeque, a hamburger or freshly grilled fish? We boast a large, bricked outdoor space where you can let your inner cook shine...
Please let us know in advance if you wish to use our BBQ area. We have charcoal available to purchase, but please bring your own food, sauces, etc... We have plates and cups for you to use.
・BBQ grill for a big group: 2000 yen include charcoal
・BBQ grill for a small group: 1000 yen include charcoal
・BBQ grill only (charcoal is not included) : 500 yen
・Additional charcoal: 600 yen
*Please book in advance.
Others
Washing machine : 200 yen Dryer : 100 yen for 20 mins
*24 hours available / Free laundry detergent
Toothbrush: 100 yen Razor: 100 yen
… and lots of information about things to do in the area !
ECO Friendly Guesthouse
Living in nature, we can directly feel our impact on the environment. Because of this, we use only organic linen and natural soap, shampoo and conditioner.
Egao no Chikara (soap): made from rice hulls, palm and pine oil- used for body and hand soap, dish wash and general cleaning.
Shabon dama Sekken shampoo & conditioner: additive and fragrance free.
We hope you can use this products, feel the difference and make think about how our choices effect the world.
Access
Find us
Address: 687-15, Tanoura Otsu,
Shodoshima-cho, Shozu-gun
Kagawa, Japan, 761-4424
Phone: 0879-61-9980 (7:00-12:00, 15:00-20:00)
International: +81879-61-9980
Things to note
Sen Guesthouse is located up a steep staircase (60 steps) from the road, if you have trouble walking up stairs, our guesthouse may not be right for you.
We are located in the forest, and in the forest, there are all types of bugs and creatures from early summer to Autumn. If you are squeamish, our guesthouse may not be right for you.
Because of our remote location, there are only 5 buses a day that go directly to our guesthouse. There are no supermarkets or convenience stores nearby, so if you want to cook for yourself, please shop before you come, or make use of our well-stocked guest kitchen
Getting to Shodoshima
Shodoshima is easily accessible from Takamatsu, Okayama, Himeji and Kobe by ferry.
If you're bringing a car on the ferry, it can be a good idea to book in advance, especially in busy seasons.
There are six ports on Shodoshima. The closest ports to Sen Guesthouse is Sakate port.
Getting around Shodoshima
By car
The easiest way to see Shodoshima is by car. You can bring your own over on the ferries, or rent a car once you get here. For information on car rental companies, See here. Free parking is available at Sen.
By bus
There is a good and cheap bus system in Shodoshima that goes around the island between the ports and some of the tourist destinations. They run about 1 bus an hour with a maximum cost of Y300. There are less frequent buses that access the more hard to get to areas of the island and the current bus schedule is available in English here (Shodoshima Olive bus time table).
BY BIKE
There are rental bicycles available at all the major ports, the most convenient option is Hello Cycling (only available in Japanese, and for users of Japanese cell phones for the moment).
Getting to Sen Guesthouse
The entrance
The sign #1 at our parking.lot
The sign #2 at our parking lot
There are five buses a day that go directly to Sen Guesthouse, starting from Tonosho Port and passing Ikeda, and Sakate Ports on the way, “Tanoura Eigamura line”
*From Fukuda port, take a bus “Minami mawari Fukuda line” and get off at Yasuda, then change to “Tanoura Eigamura line” or Sakate line, bound for Sakate higashi.
The current bus schedule is available in English here.
Sen Guesthouse is between the Horikoshi and Kiritani bus stops - just ask the driver to stop at Sen Guesthouse in Tanoura!
If coming to us by bus, please try to take one of these buses to get here. (Please show the photo on the left to the driver) .
Taxi
It is possible to get a taxi from Sakate port to Sen Guesthouse. But please book in advance.
Kankake taxi 0120-180-700
Shodoshima Kotsu 0120-419-604
Contact us
For bookings, please use our booking form, here.
If you would like to contact us for any other reason, please fill in this form, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Phone: +81 879-61-9980 (from overseas) 0879-61-9980 (Japan)
Open 7:00-10:00/ 15:00-20:00
About us
We are an international couple who met in a guesthouse in Osaka in 2009 over a love of pilgrimage. Our passion for Shikoku and the 88 temple pilgrimage led us to start a guesthouse in the Dogo area of Matsuyama. After running Sen Guesthouse for 6 1\2 years, we decided that we wanted to live and raise our daughter in a more rural environment while still holding a connection to both Shikoku and pilgrimage. Shodoshima checked all the boxes for us, and though it took many years to find the perfect spot on the island, it was well worth the wait because we have indeed found our new home. We are now super excited to host both old friends and new faces here and are happy to help people really experience this wonderful island.
Nori
Hi, I’m Nori. I’m from a small town in Kagawa, but I lived in Osaka for more than 10 years before we moved to Matsuyama in 2012. Since I went to New Zealand and worked in hostels, I’ve been thinking to have my own guesthouse such as everyone feel “their own home”, so I worked in a guesthouse in Osaka for 4 years. I walked the 88 temple pilgrimage because I wanted to know about my hometown Shikoku more. Every time when I walked as “Ohenro-san (people is called like it when they walk the 88 temple pilgrimage)”, always I was surprised and impressed that such a great culture has been kept, not only temples but also people’s thought. So, we were so happy to introduce everyone about 88 temple pilgrimage and all guests who walked it came back also loved it and Shikoku. Now we are in Shodoshima, a part of Shikoku, ready to make more lover of Shodoshima and Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage, enjoying our life in such a beautiful island.
Matt
My name is Matthew and I’m an American from the southern border of Texas and Mexico. All through life I always had a passion for religion and and different cultures and when I went to university, that’s exactly what I studied. Another passion of mine is traveling and I spent a good portion of my 20′s seeing the world, teaching English, lying on beaches and trampling on ruins. Where these 2 interests combine is pilgrimage. After completing some of the world's most important walks, I want to help others get a glimpse of this part of life. Our 6 years in Matsuyama were partly devoted to giving advice and instruction on how to walk the 88 temple pilgrimage in Shikoku. Now that we've made the move to Shodoshima, we would like to spread the word of Shodoshima's own 88 temple pilgrimage.
Common Questions
AROUND OUR GUESTHOUSE
Are there any places to eat nearby?
There are not. The closest restaurant is Kaina, about 20 mins by foot, 5 mins by bicycle, 3 mins by car.
There is Sakurai サクラヰ, famous for “roasted beef don” next to twenty-four eyes village, open till 5pm.
If you have a car, there are some restaurants about 10-15 mins away from our guesthouse. Please feel free to ask for our recommendations.
*There are not many restaurants open in the evening, so we recommend you book in advance if you want to go out, especially on the weekends.
Are there any shops or supermarkets nearby?
There are two supermarkets about 10-15 mins away by car, Maruyoshi center and Marunaka. There are two convenience stores near there also.
Are there any restaurants that have a take-out service?
Sakurai サクラヰ
Kitchen Kuishinbo
Do you have a curfew?
We don’t. We lock the front door at 9pm, but we give you a code to unlock it when you check in, so you can go out / come back anytime.
Are there taxis in Shodoshima?
Yes, there are. But sometimes there is no service after 8pm or in the early morning, so please be careful when you want to use them.
How many buses in day to go to the town?
There are 6 buses in a day. They leave here around 7：05、9：45、12：03、14：28、16：03、17：48, you raise your hand, and they will stop for you.
Do we make a good base for visiting art islands, Naoshima and Teshima?
We recommend staying on either Naoshima, Teshima or in Takamatsu if your goal is visiting the art islands. Because we are pretty remote in Shodoshima and we do not make a good base for day trips to other islands in our area.
That being said, Shodoshima is a very interesting place- hiking, culture, food, landscape, pilgrimage, etc...and from our guesthouse it is pretty easy to get around (there is a very good and cheap bus system on Shodoshima).
Our advice: split up the trip, 2 days for the art islands, 2 days for Shodoshima- best of both worlds!
ABOUT OUR FACILITIES
Can we swim at your beach? How about fishing?
Yes, you can swim or go fishing. But it’s a sand beach and not so easy for fishing. There are a couple of better spots between us and twenty-four eyes village.
Can we use your beach before check-in or after check-out?
You can not. Please use after check-in, 3pm and till check out, 10am.
Can we camp or do bonfire, or BBQ on your beach?
We are sorry but you can not. Please use our BBQ area behind of our house. (Please read “Facility” page for more details)
Can we stay with a pet?
We are sorry, but you cannot. Also, please do not bring your pet without asking us and keep them in your car all night.
Things to do in shodoshima
There's plenty to keep you busy in Shodoshima, from art galleries to hiking, film sets to stand-up paddle boarding...
Twenty-four Eyes Movie Village
Less than two kilometers from our front door is the Twenty-four Eyes Movie Village.
You can also access by boat from Olive beach.
Kankakei Gorge
Kankakei Gorge has been voted one of Japan's three most spectacular gorges. It's particularly beautiful during fall, when the leaves change color.
Kankakei is great for hiking, but there is also a ropeway to take you to the top.
Soy Sauce Village
One of Shodoshima's most famous products is soy sauce. Visit the soy sauce village and different breweries to find out how it's made, discover the history of production on Shodoshima and enjoy delicious shoyu ice cream.
Hiking
There is a ton of great hiking to be had in Shodoshima- from the 88 temple pilgrimage to shorter nature and cultural hikes. Beautiful coastline, rugged mountains and valleys and amazing views are waiting to be found by hikers of all levels.
We are happy to provide advice on where to walk and how to get there.
Shodoshima 88 temple map covers both the pilgrimage and other hiking trails to enjoy.
Cycling
Shodoshima is a cyclist’s dream. From beautiful seaside stretches to some spectacular mountain roads, Shodoshima is a compact, yet varied destination for both the beginner and the more advanced cyclist.
*Shodoshima Cycling map
Climbing
Shodoshima is a well known climbing spot in Japan and climbers come from all over the world.
It is about 15 mins to Oyayubidake and 30 mins to the famous Yoshida area by car from Sen Guesthouse.
There is a bouldering gym in Shodoshima where the owner speaks English.
Art island
There are art galleries and museums on islands all through the Seto Inland Sea, and Shodoshima is no different.
shodoshima 88 temple pilgrimage
The view of Goishi zan, temple #2
The 88 temple pilgrimage in Shikoku is experiencing an influx of walkers, both Japanese and foreign. Lessor known but following the same tradition is the 88 temple pilgrimage on the island of Shodoshima located in the Seto Inland Sea.
This 140km walk brings participants up to mountain top temples, through sweeping rice terraces and past traditional soy sauce factories. The monks that take care of these temples are known for their enthusiasm for the pilgrimage and will often encourage Ohenro - walkers of the pilgrimage - to have a chat or participate in a fire ritual.
Though it is quite a challenging 7-10 day hike, it is a truly unique place in the world and for those brave enough to attempt the hike, it will surly be a amazing experience. Because Shodoshima has such a rich and varied landscape, everyday is a different environment with different challenges. There are no large urban areas, no long tunnels and there are no long stretches without temples -as is the case with Shikoku proper- so one always feels both connected to nature and to the temples that one visits and worships at each day.
Shodoshima 88 temple pilgrimage official site (Japanese)
Shodoshima
88 temple pilgrimage map is on sale
Contents
1. About the Shodoshima Pilgrimage
2. Access to Shodoshima, culture and local infomation
3. List of temples
4. 1/27,500 scale map, 1/10,000 scale map
5. Walking elevation profiles
6. Bus route map and time tables (Japanese & English) QR code link included
7. Supplementary materials: Worshipping at the temples and chanting the sutras
8. Made with water resistant synthetic paper.
The price is 1200 yen (plus tax and shipping)
Please email us if interested in purchasing a map with 1. your email address, 2. postal address, and 3. how many you want to buy,
You can pay by credit card.
email: info@senguesthouse.com
How to make your walking plan
If walking about 20km per day, from 8 am to 5 pm, praying in temples and having lunch and break times, it takes most walkers 1 week to complete the pilgrimage. Of course, this depends on how fast you walk and if you wish to take in any of the sightseeing spots around the island.
There is a real possibility that there will be no accommodation at the end of a day of walking, so it may be necessary to take a bus to accommodation for that evening. In these cases, it is important to check the bus schedule - for example, at the end of the 6th day of walking (on the sample model course map). Most walkers will then take a bus to an area that has accommodation.
Also, Shodoshima is a small enough that many ohenro will make a base at one accommodation and go back and forth by bus each day. One advantage of this system is that you can walk with minimum stuff.
1-week long model courses
1. Start from Sen, 3 accommodation base plan
2. Stay at Sen every night plan
3. Start from Tonosho plan *different accommodation
4. Start from Sen plan *different accommodation
We can give you advice on completing the entire pilgrimage or seeing just a few temples on a day hike. Please feel free to contact us for the details !
Beer House Opened!
Beer! Sen Beer House has finally opened in Spring, 2020. We will be serving craft beer, house roasted coffee, Kombucha, craft soda and tasty, homemade snacks. Of course our best offering is the view, the private beach and the conversations to be had.
The beer is a special collaboration between Sen Guesthouse and Mamemame beer with guest taps to be introduced on a seasonal basis.
Craft Draft beer above the beach!
Chips and Salsa, Guacamole set
Home-roasted coffee
Days and hours of operation:
For staying guests:
Our special collaboration beer, Sunset Pale Ale, and our healthy, delicious Kombucha is available from 3pm-8pm everyday.
For No -staying guests:
★Opening day in May 2024★
The beer house is closed till spring, 2025
We will initially be opening 1 day a week for non-guests, mainly on Sunday from 3pm-8pm (last order 7:30 pm).
ACCESS
BY BUS
Bus is a great way to come to the beer house! There is a bus (from Tonosho that passes all major ports/population centers) that arrives here at 3pm and leaves at 6pm back towards Tonosho.
There is a bus stop directly in front of the beer house, just ask the driver to leave you off at Sen Guesthouse. Olive bus Tanoura Eigamura line
BY CAR
There is limited parking at Sen Beer House, so please park near us along the road or at the property right after us on the left if our car park is full. The road is quite narrow here so please make sure to make room for other drivers. We are a 45-min drive from Tonosho, 12-min drive from Yasuda.
We have non-alcoholic options for drivers: Coffee (pour over and cold brew), Kombucha and craft soda.
OTHERS
Bike, Kayak, SUP, boat, all are welcome … with beach access, the most fun way to get here is on the water!
NOTE
We do not take responsibility for injury or accident that may occur on our property or beach.
Our property is up a cliff, so there are a lot of stairs, both from the parking lot to the Beer House and from the Beer House to the beach; if stairs are a problem, our Beer House might not be the right place for you.
Our Beer House wood deck and private beach are ONLY available when during opening days/hours to paying customers. There is a 1 order per hour or so per person rule in effect.
We reserve the right to ask customers to leave that are a danger or nuisance to other guests.
It’s open when you see this beer sign
Book NOW
Please read before you book
Policies
Check-in is from 3pm to 8pm. If you wish to check in later than 8pm, please let us know when you book.
Check-out is until 10am.
Smoking: No smoking in building (there are smoking areas outside the building.
Children: 1 child under 6 is free (no extra futon). More than 1 child in private room, ¥1500 (extra futon). Please let us know how many children and their ages in comments section.
Children 6-12 in private room only. Same price as adults.
Group booking: we only accept group bookings of fewer than 7 people, if interested in a private house, please email
Things to note
Sen Guesthouse is located up a steep staircase (50 steps) from the road, if you have trouble walking up stairs, our guesthouse may not be right for you.
We are located in the forest, and in the forest, there are all types of bugs and creatures from spring to autumn. If you are squeamish, our guesthouse may not be right for you.
Because of our remote location, there are only 4 buses a day that go directly to our guesthouse. There are no supermarkets or convenience stores nearby, so if you want to cook for yourself, please shop before you come, or make use of our well-stocked guest kitchen.
Cancellation Policy
2 days before arrival date/time: No charge
1–2 days before arrival date/time: 50% of first night
Less than 24 hours before arrival date/time: Full price of first night
No show: Full price of total stay
＊If you stay with children under 6, please let us know how many children and their ages in comments section. We will contact you later to tell the total price.
＊If you have any questions about booking, please feel free to contact us!
Email : info@senguesthouse.com
Phone (81) 879-61-9980 (8:00-12:00/ 15:00-20:00)