Ito Onsen Yokikan Guest House

The surrounding nature is beautiful, but the hotel feels dated. The lobby and hallways could use renovating, as could the bathroom facilities. We had a special room on the top floor. On arrival, our bags were quickly taken to the room, and the woman at reception spoke English and explained the Ryokan and Onsen rules. Other staff didn't speak English, but kept asking us questions in Japanese. The funicular was very shaky, and the indoor onsen wasn't anything special. Some of the food at dinner and breakfast really wasn't to my taste, even though I enjoy trying different foods. My partner is a picky eater and could barely find anything to eat. We asked for breakfast at 8:30 and were told it would take 10 minutes to set up, but someone called and knocked at our door at 8:00, which felt intrusive. As Westerners, we're not used to wearing slippers indoors, which was fine, but each time we wanted to leave, we had to wait for our shoes to be brought over and leave our room key behind. That got annoying. They offer a free taxi to the station, but when we checked out at 10:00 and came back from a short walk, we were told the service stops at 10:00. That limit wasn't stated anywhere, so it was disappointing.

The staff were attentive and fantastic without being intrusive. It's in a great spot, with wonderful natural onsen water and a view over Ito. This is traditional accommodation run by a friendly, upbeat, efficient team, rather than a place geared toward foreigners as another reviewer put it. We wanted a gentle, relaxing stay while exploring Ito, and that's exactly what we got. We'd return in a heartbeat.

The food is exquisite, and I recommend paying extra for the pricier dinner. They can accommodate allergies if you let them know in advance. Our group had a shellfish allergy to consider during crab season, and we didn't have to worry about it. The front desk staff and owner speak fluent English, so it felt foreigner-friendly. Service was top notch, and the upper floors have a beautiful view of Ito.

There are two public baths, separated by gender, and the open-air one is a must. They served a great dinner and breakfast with lots of dishes, and even drove us for free to the subway station, which was great since it's a 20-minute walk. The staff speak English. We stayed one night and had a great time. This hotel was unique and different from the other places we stayed in Japan. Definitely recommend it!