Auberge Hanagoyomi

The meals were lovely both at night and in the morning, but the sesame tofu was the standout for me. Its texture was irresistible, and I can’t really describe how good it was. The inn sent me a batch, too. The spring water was lukewarm when I first got in, then warmed up after 3-4 minutes. It’s nice that it circulates to a comfortable temperature without being diluted. As I moved my arms in the bath, the water clung to me, much like it does at Dankoen in Ito. On my second visit in six years, on April 25, 2025, the wisteria was a brighter purple than before, with a lavender scent. The landlady said the nightingale scent had been around since the new year. From the second floor, I saw a kingfisher cross my view as soon as I arrived. It watched for prey from its favorite rock, then plunged in with a bang. It seemed to have caught something and swallowed it. It came from the right and returned that way several times. A black wagtail showed up too. The spring water started out lukewarm and got warmer after a few minutes. Ito Onsen, praised by great literary figures, is a hot spring. It was nice that the water circulated to a more comfortable temperature and wasn't diluted. The bath water clung to me when I moved my arms, like at Dankoen in Ito. The meals were beautiful, and the sesame tofu was wonderfully textured. They sent me a batch. In May, after the fireworks were canceled in Shimoda, black kites gathered around the black ships. I also remembered bringing the inn's cushions out in front of Tokaikan, watching Mansai's Kyogen performance, and eating at the buffet with 30 minutes left. In mid-May, blue rock thrushes and swallows were active around the bridge. It was cloudy but not raining. After checking in, I couldn't hear the campaign car. The lemon cake was delicious. A kingfisher came the next morning, but flew off while I was switching to my SX740. Even with the cloudy sky, hearing the blue rock thrush chirp by the window made me happy. Stoneflies looked as pretty as mayflies in the sunlight. Unlike mayflies, the adults live quite a while, so they don't have that same desperate, tragic air. They just sat still. At the end of June, the entry had been edited and disappeared, then came back. Day sedge. Mountain lilies are nice. Apparently, two kingfishers were active the next morning. I climbed the mountain, checked the bamboo forest, and then went to sleep. What a shame.

We enjoyed watching birds by the river in front of the inn in the morning. The view from our room wasn't especially notable, but the room itself had been renovated and was comfortable, including the in-room bath with hot spring water. This was my first stay here on a long-awaited trip to Izu. With only two groups staying each day, we had a peaceful visit. Dinner and breakfast were both carefully prepared and delicious. I’d like to come back in another season.

The kids were delighted with their food, served neatly on one plate, and the staff were so kind even when they were being busy. I really appreciated the warm hospitality. Thank you for looking after us, and I’d be happy to return. I came with a friend and our children, and we spent the whole visit relaxing at the inn, from check-in through check-out, without going sightseeing. Our room was bright, clean, spacious, and laid out comfortably. It was quiet and cozy, with a lovely river view from the window, and it felt like time was passing slowly. Having a hot spring in the room meant we could soak whenever we wanted without watching the clock. I’d been looking forward to the course meals since booking, and they were delicious and beautifully presented. There were lots of dishes, but the portions felt balanced, and the tableware was tasteful. I was impressed the whole way through, lol. It made me happy to enjoy local vegetables, seafood, and meat.

The breakfast and dinner were a treat to look at as well as eat. I also really enjoyed the natural hot spring bath in the room. This was my first stay here, and since it isn't cheap, I'd save another visit for an anniversary.