About this Stay
Ushimado, located in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, is known for its mild climate and beautiful scenery overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, dotted with numerous islands of various sizes. Because of its landscape, the area is often referred to as the “Aegean Sea of Japan.” I stayed at the resort hotel Hotel Limani, which stands in this picturesque setting.
The hotel is designed in a white-and-blue color scheme, creating a relaxed resort atmosphere. From the balcony of the room, you can enjoy beautiful views of the sea and the surrounding islands.
Ushimado itself is an interesting town, home to various historic buildings as well as a beach. In particular, visiting Ushimado Shrine was a memorable experience. Climbing the more than 360 stone steps up to the shrine’s main hall, I felt an incredible sense of spiritual energy.
The greatest highlight of this hotel was the dining experience on the seaside terrace, where meals are enjoyed while feeling the sea breeze. The cuisine features Greek dishes made with fresh local ingredients such as squid and octopus.The freshly baked bread at breakfast and the free-flow champagne, which you can enjoy as much as you like, were also wonderful. It was truly a blissful stay.
Table of Contents
Hotel Exterior & Interior
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Hotel Exterior
The front view of the hotel. The white building features semicircular windows and an arched entrance, with palm trees rising both inside and outside the property. It instantly creates a resort-like atmosphere.
Front Lobby
The hotel lobby.
Check-in
I checked in at the front desk. The interior is also finished in white, giving the hotel a clean and pleasant feel.
Guest Room (1)
This is the guest room. The contrast between the white beds and the blue bedspread and sofa creates a design inspired by the sea. All rooms feature ocean-view balconies.
Guest Room (2)
A view of the guest room from the window side.
Pool
The pool located at the center of the hotel. With two palm trees standing by, it has a tropical atmosphere.
Morning Pool
The following morning was sunny, and the pool looked beautiful under the clear blue sky.
Hotel Exterior (1)
The exterior of the hotel as seen from the pool area.White and blue are the dominant colors.
Hotel Exterior (2)
Another view of the hotel from the pool area. The building has a sense of depth in its design.
Lounge
The lounge area.It is a comfortable place to sit and chat while enjoying views of the sea and the islands through the windows.
Souvenirs
The hotel’s original souvenir corner.
- • Pound cake (cheese flavor and lemon flavor)
- • Olive oil marinade
- Made with olives harvested this year from olive trees on the hotel grounds
- • Kona coffee beans from the Big Island of Hawaii
- Kona coffee is considered one of the world’s three finest coffees, alongside Blue Mountain and Kilimanjaro
Wine Cellar
The hotel’s wine cellar.
“Our pride and joy wine cellar features a carefully selected collection of fine wines from around the world, with a particular focus on Greek wines. The sommeliers at The Terrace are happy to recommend wines that pair perfectly with your meal, helping you enjoy a truly memorable moment.” (From the official website of Ushimado Hotel Limani)
Views from the Hotel
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View from the Guest Room
The view from the room’s balcony. The calm sea stretches out right in front of you, with many islands visible in the distance.
Sea View
A view of the sea in Ushimado.
Pool and Sea View
A view of the pool with the sea beyond.
View from the Corridor Window
The view outside as seen from a window in the hotel corridor.
View from the Gym
The view outside from the hotel’s gym.
Sea View
Another view of the sea in Ushimado.
Sea and Islands
The next morning was clear and sunny. This is the view of the calm blue sea and islands as seen from the room’s balcony.
Sea on a Clear Morning
Morning time. The sea looks incredibly blue and beautiful.
Ushimado Town
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Kaiyu Cultural Museum
Before dinner, I went out to explore the town of Ushimado.
This is the Ushimado Kaiyu Cultural Museum. It is a museum housed in a former police station dating back to the Meiji period. Inside, there are exhibits about Ushimado’s autumn tradition of danjiri festival floats, as well as materials related to the Korean diplomatic missions (Joseon Tongsinsa) that stayed in Ushimado during the Edo period. These envoys traveled from Bakan (present-day Shimonoseki) through the Seto Inland Sea on their way to Edo, stopping in Ushimado along the route.
Used Boat Shop
I came across Nasuport Ushimado Marina, a shop dealing in Yamaha used boats, pre-owned vessels, and new boats.
Local Restaurant
Ushimado Chaya Shiosai. A local eatery that serves dishes made with fresh seafood and vegetables from the area. It is open from late morning until the early evening.
Vacant Seaside Lot
I went jogging around town, and this is a vacant lot by the sea that I passed along the way.
Atago Shrine
I found Atago Shrine. The torii gate bears the inscription “Meiji 26” (1893).
Beach
This is the local swimming beach. If you look closely, you can see designs drawn on the rocks along the sandy shore.
Ushimado Shrine
This is Ushimado Shrine. The torii gate stands near the beach. From here, you climb more than 360 stone steps to reach the main shrine building. As I climbed higher and ventured deeper along the path, I strongly felt a powerful spiritual presence.
Ushimado Shrine (Stone Steps)
There are over 360 steps leading up to the shrine, and halfway up, there is a landing where stone monuments engraved with haiku by disciples of poets Yoshijo Itaya and Hyakuraku Kitaura can be found.
The view of the Seto Inland Sea from here is also magnificent.
Kabusaki Park – Observation Deck
Kabusaki Park (Kameyama Park) lies along the approach to Ushimado Shrine. There is an observation deck here offering wonderful views of the Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Ushimado.
Ushimado Shrine – Purification Fountain
This is the purification fountain (temizuya) at Ushimado Shrine. Instead of a dragon spout, it features a Ushioni (a mythical ox-demon), which is quite rare. According to the sign, this water is said not only to purify the hands but also to grant energy and motivation—it is called “Ushioni-kun’s Power Water.”
Seaside
After descending from Ushimado Shrine, this is a seaside view I saw while running through town.
Fishing Boats
Many fishing boats are moored here.
Sake Brewery Warehouse
This is the original brewery warehouse of Bitchuya Koso Sake Brewery, founded in 1830 (Tenpō 7). The building is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
Oyster Shells
Oysters are also a specialty of Okayama Prefecture. Large quantities of oyster shells were neatly stacked together—perhaps waiting to be reused for something.
Sea in the Evening
The view of the sea in the evening.
Dinner
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Heading to the Dinner Venue
After returning from an afternoon jog, I headed to the dinner venue. Dinner was served at the Greek restaurant The Terras, located on the first floor.
Dinner on the Terrace
The greatest appeal of this hotel is being able to enjoy dinner on the terrace while feeling the sea breeze. Soft lighting on the tables creates a lovely atmosphere. This restaurant is the Greek dining venue, The Terras.
Feeling the Sea Breeze
Beyond the warmly colored table lights, I gazed out at the calm sea of Ushimado, enjoying the gentle sea breeze for a while.
Sparkling Wine
Before long, a bottle of sparkling wine was brought to the table.
Wine in the Glass
The wine was poured into my glass, and the bottle was placed in a wine cooler.
Table Setting
The table was set for dinner.
Bread and Olive Oil
Roll bread served with olive oil.
Appetizer
An appetizer of squid and vegetables dressed in olive oil. The squid was likely locally caught—very fresh and delicious. It may have been spear squid. The vegetables included leafy greens such as lettuce, along with locally produced olives.
Greek-Style Octopus Dish
A Greek dish made with locally caught octopus.
(Editor’s note: This appears to be the Greek specialty “Octapodi Stifado,” a slow-simmered dish of octopus and onions.)
Greek-Style Grilled Chicken
Chicken skewered on metal rods—this is the Greek dish Souvlaki. It is enjoyed with a white Greek-style sauce* and a squeeze of lemon juice.
* (Editor’s note: The sauce is likely Tzatziki, made with yogurt, cucumber, and garlic.)
After the Meal
By the time I finished dinner, the other guests had already left, and I was able to enjoy my meal at a relaxed pace on my own.
Tomorrow’s Breakfast Venue
After finishing dinner on the outdoor terrace of The Terras, I walked through the indoor seating area on my way back to my room.
Breakfast will be served in this indoor area the next morning. I chose a plan that includes free-flow champagne at breakfast.
Breakfast
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Guardrail
The next morning, I went for a jog around the hotel before breakfast. I noticed the name and emblem of Ushimado Town on a roadside guardrail.
Table Setting
I took my seat at the breakfast table. This is how the table was set.
Champagne and Fresh Juice
This plan includes free-flow champagne, meaning unlimited drinks within a set time.
I believe the champagne served was Moët & Chandon, and many other guests were enjoying it as well.
The fresh juice is made using fruit from Okayama Prefecture, known as the “Land of Fruit.”
Bread Basket
At breakfast, the hotel serves freshly baked bread. Having a basket brought to the table and being able to choose your favorite bread is a real delight.
Bread Warmer
I had one of each type of bread.They were placed in this fabric bread warmer so they could be enjoyed while still fresh and warm.
Steak and Scrambled Eggs
At this hotel, you can choose from five different breakfast options:
- • Fisherman’s Breakfast (steamed seafood)
- • Ushimado mushroom omelet
- • Continental breakfast
- • Steak breakfast
- • Fresh cheese pancakes
I chose the steak breakfast.
After-Dinner Coffee
Coffee served after the meal. This was Kona coffee from Hawaii.
