Alfred & Makoto Yamaguchi

Makoto is a member of the hospitality team at Kurayado Iroha ryokan on the ‘island of the gods’, Miyajima. Her job title is ‘nakai-san’, a traditional role for which there’s no direct translation but which is a key aspect of the Japanese concept of omotenashi, meaning ‘to look after guests wholeheartedly’.

Things to do

• Kurayado Iroha: the inn with a World Heritage view