SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin

I had the most beautiful views of the islands from my balcony room. Such a treat to wake up to! I don’t usually eat at hotels but there wasn’t much else in the area and their very healthy and filling breakfast I was included in the price. Lots of delicious and affordable dinner options too! Staff were helpful and friendly.

The breakfast (included in price) was light, healthy and tasty. The restaurant overlooked the cycle race track: this professional sport is called 'keirin' in Japanese. There's a small, enlightening and fun museum off the corridor that connects the main hotel building with the restaurant and main stand of the stadium. Soon after I'd arrived, I could watch and hear the racing my room's balcony. This was a treat, as I didn't know much about keirin as a sport before and I even didn't know I would be staying at the hotel during days of racing. From the balcony there was also a fine view out to sea, So, I enjoyed being able to sleep with an open balcony door - a seldom experience at hotels in Japanese cities - waking up to the early morning light and the 'chug chug' of the first fishing boats going out. On the journey from Kobe to the Keirin Hotel 10 hotel I took the train from Okayama city to Uno (the local port). Someone at the tourist information at Uno train station - a volunteer from France or Belgium, I think - told me about the short cut to walk to the hotel: 20 minutes across a small (red) bridge over a canal-like river to a main road, turn right and follow the well-signposted road towards the hotel. (Next time, I would travel to Uno and so to the hotel using the Express bus that arrives and and leaves from a stop between the Uno's small railway station and the ferry ports). The ferries across to islands in the 'Inland Sea' (Seto Naikai) were what brought me to the region this time. The islands of Naoshima and Teshima are among my favourite places on earth. For my first ferry trip I took the small ferry to Honmura Port - less frequent than the ferries to the main port on Naoshima: Miyanoura. I visited the Ando House in Honmura and then walked across the island to Miyanoura. After two nights at Keirin Hotel 10 I travelled back to Kobe via ferry to Miyanoura Port, ferry to Takamatsu on Shikoku Island.

Great set up for the art islands, of there is a Keirin race meeting on the view from the room would be unbeatable, as it is the sea view rooms look out on to the bay which is pretty cool. 20 minutes walk to ferries and food options. Nice staff and a public baths…but the baths are not open 365 they have periods of closure too. On cycle race meet days there is an option to pay extra and spend time with the racers rest area between races…for a keirin fan or any cycling racing fan this is a proper privilege.

This is such a quirky hotel, it's very hard not to like it. The staff are very friendly and helpful. We liked the touches, like the lounge wear, the hanging bags for use, the alarm clock, the washing line, and even the kettle was a great. We weren't expecting a balcony, so were surprised when we had one. It was great sitting watching the cyclists training early in the morning. We ate breakfast which was plentiful and tasty. We also used the Public Bath which was good for relaxing in the evening and not busy. We also used the laundry which was another bonus. We hired bikes from the hotel, and took them on the ferry across to Naoshima. THis was very easy to do and we were able to cycle around the island.

Great beds, helpful staff, and a very quirky location … overlooking the velodrome. Was great to watch the races from our room and the restaurant.