Minshuku Miki Oshima

Minshuku Miki Oshima, in Okata on Izu Oshima, is a homey minshuku (a family-run guesthouse) that earns high ratings in guest reviews. Its appeal lies in the at-home hospitality and the handmade dishes that make the most of island ingredients, and it gives families a warm welcome on an island trip.

The location is a real plus with children. Nodahama Beach, popular for playing among the rocks and for skin diving and scuba diving, is only about a 15-minute walk away (about 1 km), so in summer you can hunt for creatures in the tide pools and play in the sea together. Ringed by rocks, Nodahama has relatively gentle waves, which makes it a good place for a first try at snorkeling.

The meals are home cooking made with fresh island vegetables and seafood, and they are well regarded. The whole family can sit down together to the heartfelt, handmade flavors that only a minshuku offers. The Japanese-style tatami rooms make it easy to take things slowly, so even families with young children can relax without feeling self-conscious.

The guesthouse is in the Okata district in the north of the island, about 10 minutes by car from Okata Port and about 15 minutes by car from Motomachi Port. On Izu Oshima the arrival port changes with the season and the weather, so easy access to both ports is reassuring. Getting around the island is easiest by bicycle or rental car, which puts family-friendly spots within reach: hiking on Mount Mihara, Tsubaki Hana Garden, where you can meet squirrels, and Oshima Park Zoo, which is free to enter.

Please note that the guesthouse does not accept stays for the purpose of fishing. There is no children's play equipment, no pool and no onsen on the property, so please confirm the room facilities and what can be arranged for babies directly with the guesthouse when you book.