Itoyanagi Koyado Yuwa

The rock formations all around the property are a big part of the ryokan’s character. It was founded in 1963, and although the facilities have been updated, everything feels clean and modern. We also noticed plenty of local guests and got a real sense of the place’s atmosphere, which brought Japan’s golden era to mind. For the price, it’s great value: the rooms are very spacious, the public baths are large and include a sauna, and the kaiseki made with fresh ingredients was excellent. The staff were kind as well. This is the best ryokan I’ve stayed at near Tokyo. Highly recommend it!

Getting back to the city felt easy after a relaxing morning. We soaked in the private hot spring early, then had a delicious traditional breakfast before the inn dropped us at the train station. It was wonderful after all the walking in Tokyo. Our room looked out over the pond and was incredibly beautiful. After the busy pace of Tokyo, we spent some time unwinding there, then ordered local Yamanashi wine they recommended. It was delicious. We relaxed with our friend, who had another room, and the innkeepers kindly kept more bottles chilled in case we wanted them. Dinner was delicious kaiseki in the dining room. We may have been louder than their usual guests, but they served us graciously throughout. Afterwards, we wandered the grounds and took pictures. The room and grounds took my breath away, and the service was impeccable. They welcomed us with tea and explained the room and amenities. We paid about 40,000 per person per night, around 266 USD, with dinner and breakfast included. That was phenomenal value, and I personally would have paid up to twice as much. Room and amenities: 5/5. Service: 5/5. Location: 3/5, since it’s not close to a Shinkansen line. I’d recommend this place again and again!

Update: the hotel found my wife’s ring and held onto it until we arranged safe transport. The staff were amazing, and we’re so grateful for their help and honesty. We vow to visit again. 100% recommend this place! We stayed on May 5th and had a wonderful time, but my wife lost her ring. At first, hotel employees said they hadn’t found anything. If anyone had come across a ring, I asked them to let me know because it meant a lot to us. Thank you.

The dinner menu was delicious, and the garden, our traditional Japanese room, and the onsen gave us room to slow down after some busy days in Tokyo. We only stayed two nights, but it was just what we needed to unwind. A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff. They made us feel welcome and at home, and helped us whenever we needed it. Arigato!