LAMER・BON

The BBQ on the balcony was great, and we liked the atmosphere inside too. It’s a shame the cleaning was so poor. We found a used toothbrush left by the previous guests in the first-floor master bedroom. The bathroom tub was dirty, with what looked like leftover grime, or possibly it hadn’t been washed at all. The kids also found lots of trash under a bed in the second-floor bedroom while playing hide-and-seek. The inside has been renovated and was clean in general, though the outside still looks like an older house. We stayed with friends and their families over Obon during a trip to Izu. Finding the place was tricky, and the road is so narrow that two cars can’t pass. The parking was full with a VOXY and two Hiaces, so fitting more than three cars could be hard unless they’re kei cars. They really need to pay more attention to cleaning.

The ocean view from the terrace is beautiful, but rain kept us from having a BBQ out there. We tried the hot plate indoors and couldn’t use it because it was broken and wouldn’t heat up at all. The room seemed clean overall, but there was used toothpaste from the amenities in the bathroom and used tissues rolled up on a shelf. It felt like the cleaning hadn’t been done properly, which was quite a shock during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I wanted to share what I learned about arriving by car, since that was what I most wanted to know. From Route 135 it’s about five minutes, and the coastal approach gets you there smoothly. Our navigation glitched from Tokyo and took us over a mountain road from the other side of the prefecture. Daylight is best. At the entrance, there’s no sign, and you go up a gravel road wide enough for one car, then turn right. I got lost once. The gravel meets the paved section with some ruts that could damage aluminum wheels, so I gave up on backing in. The road angle is awkward because it’s on a curve. The parking area is a steep concrete slope. It says four cars can fit, but four passenger cars would be a very tight squeeze, and getting out afterward seems difficult. I went in nose first with just my standard-height 80 VOXY, then made a few small turns at the top to face the road. It climbed in D mode without trouble. A 60 VOXY would definitely need a hill start, and a car without much horsepower may need one too. Smaller than a VOXY should make backing in easier, but if you’re unsure about your driving, take care. Stay on the concrete so you don’t go off the road. I put large stones behind the tires at the top as chocks. If you’re parking several cars, bringing wheel chocks would be reassuring. Watch out when reversing down, too, since vegetation makes the poles at the entrance hard to see. I’d planned to come with several Mercedes and American cars to escape the summer heat, but taking just the VOXY was the right call for this mountain area. Cars with low clearance may scrape their wheels. The living room is open and spacious, with access to the balcony and a gas grill for BBQs. The balcony chairs are folding chairs kept in the indoor storage room, and the sofa cushions have been removed, so that sofa can’t be used. There are lots of mosquitoes in summer: use coils on the balcony, one-push repellent indoors, and Skin Guard on your body. There’s just one toilet, on the first floor, with an air freshener. Its bidet seat is badly slumped and crooked, with half of it fallen into the bowl, so it’s uncomfortable to sit on. It seems to be a common problem with aftermarket seats that don’t fit the bowl well. After years, one fastener has slipped inward. It would be helpful if they fixed it. The staff were polite and kind. The lock took a few tries to turn, and I wondered if I had the wrong key (laughs), so give it a few attempts. Payment is in advance by credit card. They said a bank transfer is possible if you pay more than a week ahead. I’d read another review saying the hot plate didn’t work, so I brought my own (laughs). We all slept in separate rooms. It’s a place where you can enjoy your own private space.

We had a really comfortable stay. The room was clean and roomy, and we loved the view from the terrace. My kids were especially happy with the manga room. I’d recommend this place for a family trip.