Full of charm of the remote islands of Setouchi! "GLAMPROOK Shimanami" accommodation report (hotel building)

Hotel on a small island in Setouchi

"Setouchi". If you like traveling to Japan, you may have heard of this place name more often recently.

The Seto Inland Sea, which stretches between Hiroshima, Osaka, Shikoku, and Kyushu, is known for the cycling road " Shimanami Kaido " and the "art island" Naoshima .

The Seto Inland Sea, made up of multiple islands, is a scenic spot that German geographer Richthofen called "the most beautiful in the world." There are many hotels in the area where you can enjoy beautiful scenery, but in 2020, another hotel has opened that is attracting attention.

GLAMPROOK Shimanami is a hotel and glamping facility on Umashima, a small island with a population of about 10 people. A quiet beach resort located in the middle of the Shimanami Kaido.

MATCHA writer Mizzoch i stayed here in October 2023.

*This article contains the writer's personal impressions. Please note that the content does not reflect the official views of Gramprook Shimanami.

Click here to make a reservation for GLAMPROOK Shimanami

Transfer

Umashima, where GLAMPROOK Shimanami is located, is a special island that cannot be accessed by regular cars.

Therefore, if you are going to GLAMPROOK Shimanami, you will need to be picked up by boat or car from Imabari Port.

Near the parking lot for guests at Imabari Port.

On the day of our stay, it was raining. I had originally requested a boat transfer, but due to strong winds I had to change to a car transfer.

However, this may have been a blessing in disguise. Along the way, the hotel staff who served as our driver told us about Imabari City's highlights and famous dishes.

``In Imabari, a dish called senzangi, which is fried chicken, is famous.'' ``This restaurant is popular with locals.''

Listening to such a guide, Imabari, a town I had never known before, began to feel closer to me (*).

*The driver may only speak Japanese.

The car passed through the city, drove along the Shimanami Kaido, and finally entered Umashima.

For access to Umashima, please also see the article below.

Stay on an island in the Seto Inland Sea! How to get to GLAMPROOK Shimanami's "Umashima"

Various experience programs

Approximately 20 minutes by car from Imabari Port. We have arrived at GLAMPROOK Shimanami.

While waiting for the staff to check in, we were welcomed with mandarin orange juice, a specialty of Ehime Prefecture, and lemon peel, a specialty of Setouchi.

One of the characteristics of GLAMPROOK Shimanami is that there are many experiences that can only be had at an island hotel .

After the reception, I attended a welcome party . You can enjoy drinks and snacks at the beach, which is about a 2-minute walk from the hotel. It is held every day from 16:00 to 17:00.

When I went there, other guests were enjoying chatting while looking out at the ocean.

After relaxing by the seaside for a while, we took a " Skywalk Tour ". This is a guided tour of Umashima Island by our staff. We will walk to the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge while learning about the history and highlights of Umashima.

Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge is the collective name for three suspension bridges with a total length of 4.1km that connect Oshima and Imabari. It opened in 1999 after about 10 years of construction. Considering the safety of ships passing through the strait, it was the world's first triple suspension bridge that connects three suspension bridges in a straight line.

During the tour, you will take an elevator up to the top of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, where you can also take a commemorative photo.

*Although the event is basically held only in Japanese, there may be cases where explanations are provided in simple English.

room with sunset view

GLAMPROOK Shimanami has a glamping building and a hotel building.

There are several types of rooms in the hotel building, but the one I stayed in this time was "JUNIOR SUITE type B" on the 2nd floor. Although it has 4 beds, it is very spacious.

And the biggest feature of all is that you can see the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and the setting sun beyond it!

GLAMPROOK Shimanami has a large public bath that you can enjoy while looking out at the sea, but there are also plenty of in-room baths.

It is much more spacious than the unit baths found in typical business hotels, and even large people can stretch out comfortably.

luxurious dinner

One of the highlights of this hotel is the dinner.

Dinner is Kaiseki, a traditional Japanese course meal. It is a full course meal, starting with an aperitif, followed by sashimi, meat, rice, and finally dessert.

The menu is decided by the head chef who goes to the market on the morning of the day to purchase ingredients, and then decides on the menu accordingly.

On the day I stayed, dishes mainly using sea bream were served.

Of course it was luxurious, but what particularly impressed me was the artistic presentation.

For example, the soup was made with a thin piece of winter melon wrapped around a dumpling made from ground sea bream, making it look like a hazy moon covered in clouds.

During dinner, you can also enjoy a variety of local sake.

One of the features of ``GLAMPROOK Shimanami'' is that it is ``All Inclusive'', which means that the cost of experiences and drinks are already included in the accommodation fee, so you can enjoy it without worrying about additional charges.

This time I tried the local sake "Yamatan Masamune" from Imabari City. It had a clear spiciness, and I could enjoy the meal while drinking it.

After dinner, go for an evening walk. On this day, the moon was shining beautifully above the sea, and a gentle night breeze was blowing.

In our daily lives, we don't have time to take a close look at the moon or feel the wind. However, being on an island surrounded by beautiful nature seems to give you peace of mind.

enjoy a morning exploration

When I woke up in the morning, I could see the calm sea at sunrise outside my window.

It is said that as many as 700 ships pass through the Kurushima Strait every day, and even this morning, a number of ships were moving slowly through the sea. I enjoyed looking at them quietly for a while.

Well, there are several attractions near the beach where the welcome party was held yesterday. While I was out for a walk, I decided to check them out.

First up is Umashima Shrine, which has been cherished in the area since ancient times. The precincts are surrounded by beautiful trees, and it's a place that makes you feel good just by being there.

Then, go to the "cave".

This area is submerged under the sea at high tide, so you can only enter during low tide.

In everyday life, there is no chance to enter a cave. I was a little nervous as I entered the cave, and when I looked back, I saw a beautiful view of the ocean illuminated by the morning sun.

From the end of the cave, you can clearly see the Kurushima Strait.

The Kurushima Strait is one of Japan's three major rapid currents, along with the Naruto Strait and the Kanmon Strait. At its fastest speeds, the ocean currents can reach up to 10 knots (approximately 18 km/h), creating whirlpools.

The way the whirlpools swirled over the ocean gave me a sense of the mystery of nature, and I wanted to watch it forever.

When we returned from our morning exploration, breakfast was waiting for us.

At GLAMPROOK Shimanami, you can choose between Japanese and Western food for breakfast. This time, I chose Western food, and it was very filling and delicious.

``GLAMPROOK Shimanami'' where you can enjoy consecutive nights

This time I stayed for 2 nights and 3 days, and for the other day I rented an E-bike at GLAMPROOK Shimanami and enjoyed cycling.

I will tell you about that situation in another article.

For reservations for staying at GLAMPROOK Shimanami, please check here.

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