Itoen Hotel Bekkan

Awesome!

I was very disappointed with my stay at Itoen Hotel Bekkan. The room looked considerably different from the photos and descriptions on the official website and booking page. I saw insect remains by the window, dirty bathroom areas, unpleasant smells, and very old facilities. The actual condition didn't match the impression given online. I know older hotels can have aging facilities, but guests should be shown a more accurate picture before they book. Arriving on a late-night flight as a foreign traveler with limited Japanese made the whole situation extremely stressful. After a long negotiation, the hotel offered only a 50% refund. Given the big difference between what was advertised and the environment I got, I didn't feel that was reasonable. I strongly hope the hotel and booking platforms improve transparency so future travelers can make informed choices.

The food is the familiar Itoen Hotel menu, as expected. The building and facilities are old, but the stay is inexpensive, with all-you-can-drink alcohol at dinner, so I think it's good value. This is a great hot spring inn for enjoying the good old Ito Onsen. I wouldn't pick it for a date with your boyfriend or girlfriend, but it's perfect for a fun day with work colleagues, followed by a long soak, plenty to eat and drink, and a good night's sleep.

The onsen is good, and all-you-can-eat with all-you-can-drink makes this good value. The facilities are old but clean. There are quite a few things that could be better: - The dinner menu has plenty of room to improve. They could serve fewer dishes and make the food more distinctively Izu Ito. Breakfast was okay. - At dinner, only hot sake was available, with no explanation. Local sake would be nice. - Two saunas were broken. Hopefully they get fixed soon. - The buffet required guests to clear things themselves, but there was no explanation. Why make people clean up while they're staggering around? It seems dangerous for anyone with mobility issues. Is everything self-service? - In the men's bathroom at night, the faucet at the far end, immediately to the right of the washing area, made a loud noise when used. It startled me. - There were two air conditioners in the room but only one remote, and the slippers were broken. - The reception staff didn't seem to understand the check-in process. Couldn't they use the reservation information? If not, I hope they make check-in smoother.