Ryokan Iwasawasou

The guests seem to be surfers, bikers, beach visitors, or people going to events at J Village or the neighboring park. This place suits people who aren't looking for especially polite or attentive service. Staff at the desk greet guests while keeping an eye on their work ledgers, which may not suit more sensitive guests. Maybe they want to give people plenty of freedom, or maybe they're short-staffed. Either way, the shared space and bathroom trash cans didn't seem to get changed regularly. Laundry is in the parking lot. There didn't seem to be much of it for the number of rooms. Washing is free, but the dryer costs money. I put in 300 yen and got just under two hours. I couldn't find a change machine, and the front desk closed early, so bring 100 yen coins if you plan to do laundry. For kids, the bath has a Swimava, bath chairs, and a Frois chair that looks like it might be too much for a 2-3 year old.

Maybe it's mainly used for training camps. As a business hotel, I wouldn't suggest it for a regular stay, though it should be fine if you're just there overnight. The room smelled a little moldy. There was no paper or spare paper in the women's restroom, even though the other restrooms had some. There's not much around 😮‍💨. Dinner was mapo udon and spring rolls.

I arrived at 11 pm, when everyone was already asleep. After getting my room, I switched on the lights myself to reach the hot springs, and it felt a bit like being at home. There's parking and a spacious shared area where people can relax and socialize, which seems suited to Western tastes. The room was very clean, and you can pick up whatever amenities you need yourself. I thought it was great value for money 😌

The bath is open around the clock, though it didn't look very clean. Water dripped from above and the drain seemed partly clogged. The shower pressure was strong enough to reach across the bathroom, and the water was hot, so I added cold water. It's inconvenient that you have to use an outdoor walkway to get to the bath or toilet. Apparently cats get in if you leave the walkway door open. The room I had was farthest from the front desk. The wallpaper and flooring had been replaced, which made it pleasant, and the refrigerator, TV, and air conditioner seemed fairly new. Wi-Fi connected much faster than I expected. The shared toilets felt like awkward conversions from Japanese style to Western style, and they were cramped. When I needed to use the toilet for a bowel movement, I discreetly went to the women's toilet. I booked through the Go To Travel campaign for around 2600 yen a night with breakfast, and also got a 1000 yen regional coupon. It seems mostly intended for employees of companies working at a nearby thermal power plant. People go to bed and get up early, so nights are quiet. There's a shared microwave and electric kettle, plus vending machines selling juice and alcohol. A 350ml can of Super Dry beer costs 350 yen. FamilyMart is about a 10-minute walk away, but the route is dark, has few streetlights, and the ground is uneven. The small parking area is in front of the inn, but there's a larger lot about a two-minute walk away if you look for it. Google Maps seems to direct you to the back of the inn, so checking Street View beforehand might help. Breakfast on Sundays is served at the hotel across the national highway. It's mostly side dishes like you'd see at a wholesale supermarket, with white rice, miso soup, raw and soft-boiled eggs, about three kinds of bread, and several pickles. There was a surprisingly decent choice of salads, orange juice, and milk. Since the only place to eat nearby is a convenience store, adding breakfast is a good idea. It's served from 5 AM on weekdays and 6 AM on Sundays. I stayed with the Go To Travel deal. It was good value, but if cleanliness is a dealbreaker for you, the same chain's hotel across the street is a better option.