Family Pension Nova

We stayed at Pension Nova in Ito City with our three small dogs on the middle night of a long weekend in early to mid-January. There were several families with dogs staying, though the pension wasn't full. We first called with questions, then booked through Rakuten Travel. It can also be booked through Rurubu and JTB. Pension Nova, also called Family Pension Nova, is about 1 km south of Mt. Omuroyama. Nearby sights include Mt. Omuroyama, Izu Cactus Park, Izu Granpal Park, and Jogasaki Coast. Izukyu Izukogen Station is 3 km away, about a 10-minute taxi ride, though a car is more practical for exploring East Izu. It's a dog-friendly pension where you can enjoy seafood from Sagami Bay with your dog. The dog rules are listed on the official website and Rakuten Travel. Small and medium dogs are accepted, and you should ask about larger dogs. The usual limit is two small dogs and one medium dog; contact them if bringing more than two. It's 1,100 yen per dog per night. Dogs need to be potty trained, vaccinated, and able to stay home alone. Bring their supplies. They can stay in your room, but ordinarily must remain there during meals. The inn asks you to contact them outside peak periods about dining with your dog. We had an eight-tatami Japanese-style room plus a twin room with a bathroom and toilet. We didn't use the room bathroom, taking turns in the family bath instead. The indoor bath was open 24 hours. It isn't a hot spring, but the water was described as ultra-soft, gentle on skin, and good at keeping you warm. There was also an outdoor hot spring jacuzzi, but we skipped it because of the cold forecast. The building is older, but seemed clean overall. Meals were in the dining room, and since it wasn't peak season, we were allowed to bring our dog with us. We chose a two-meal Japanese-Western Deluxe plan. Dinner was a filling spread of local seafood and meat: a boat-shaped platter of local sashimi, turban shells, crab, grilled abalone, roast beef, stew, fried white fish, salad, and seafood appetizers. The fish from nearby waters was chewy and full of flavor. The abalone was tender with a gentle taste, and the roast beef was soft and went well with the daikon garnish on its boat-shaped platter. The clam soup wasn't the main dish, but was refreshing and richly flavored. Breakfast was Western-style, and I especially liked the crisp croissant. For two people sharing a room, the one-night, two-meal stay cost 14,000 yen per person including tax. There was also a cheaper option at 9,500 yen per person for two people in a room without a bathroom, with standard meals. Check the plans when booking. Pension Nova was good value, a comfortable base for exploring East Izu with your dog, and a place to enjoy Sagami Bay seafood and hot springs.

This was my second visit, and Nova's food was just as delicious as before. The menu changes with the seasons, and both dinner and breakfast are excellent. Those croissants are incredible, better than what I've had from bakeries. Everything tasted great, from the lemon in the dressing to the fresh local seafood and ingredients brought in specially from Hokkaido and France. We were very satisfied with the generous, high-quality food at such a reasonable price. The owner is kind, the atmosphere is gentle and relaxed, and the birdsong, greenery, and quiet made it easy to unwind. There are plenty of nearby hands-on activities, from cloisonne to pottery and accessories, and booking ahead makes it more fun. For an easier outing, a day trip to the hot springs is another option. Izukogen no Yu♨️ has several kinds of open-air baths and is great for extra relaxation. Owner, stay well! I hope Nova keeps going forever. *The photos are from two sessions.

The kids loved playing with the old-fashioned toys, like kendama and beanbags, and we could play together on older consoles such as PlayStation and Super Famicom in the playroom. The owners were all very kind, and the inn was comfortable. The food was delicious and plentiful too. We were really happy with the seafood feast, including crab and abalone.

We brought our six-month-old baby, and they thoughtfully had things like a baby chair ready for us. After dinner, we had a lovely chat about how the couple met and their backgrounds. Their kindness and the delicious meal made the stay feel truly special and luxurious.