Oyado Yurari

A hygienic, cozy pension with satisfactory service. There are five guest rooms, so I could use the private hot spring without feeling awkward. I'd like to visit again when I'm in Izu Kogen. I've stayed at all sorts of places, from luxury hotels to guesthouses.

The food was tasty and the portions were just right. The sea bream and wasabi were especially good. At breakfast, we could pick from around six kinds of dried fish, with no other menu options. The bath was kept hot by a 24-hour reheating system, and the water felt soft and lovely. We had an all-inclusive package. Check-in starts at 4 PM, and that's also when the entrance opens, so you can't get in early. Drinks are unlimited from 4 to 9 PM. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed, and I couldn't find vending machines or shops, so it may be hard for anyone wanting alcohol after 9. The lobby water dispenser had good water, and we made do with that or coffee and tea from the in-room maker. Zao ice cream by the front desk was all-you-can-eat, with vanilla, strawberry, matcha, and chocolate. Snacks were inexpensive candies like Umaibo and Baby Star Ramen, with no traditional sweets such as manju. The soundproofing isn't good. You can hear voices and footsteps in the hall, noise from other rooms, and motorcycles outside. Voices from rooms carry into the hallway, and sounds from the next room's open-air bath, from showers to coughing, are easy to hear. You may need to choose your bath time carefully if you want to relax. The bed's springs are strong, so anyone prone to motion sickness should be cautious. There's no headboard, bedside table, or nearby outlet, which is inconvenient. The blinds let in quite a bit of light, so bring an eye mask if you need a dark room to sleep. There's only one room key, and this might not suit people who want a 24-hour front desk for security. The view may depend on the room. From ours, the forest blocked the sunrise.

The price wasn't justified, and the place looked completely different from the photos. The view was terrible too. It was advertised as a panoramic ocean view, but that isn't what we got. There was a sign at the front desk saying ice cream was all-you-can-eat, but it cost extra. Even the cushions were from Cainz, and the TV picture quality was shockingly bad. The service didn't feel welcoming. The front desk was supposed to be staffed until 10 PM, but nobody was there. There was a sign telling us to call an extension, and I tried countless times before 9 PM without anyone answering. Drinks were all-you-can-drink until 9 PM. Water in the fridge had a tiny, hard-to-see paid notice and cost more than water from a vending machine. I wondered why water couldn't be free when there was a coffee maker in the room, especially since even love hotels provide it. Is this really all-inclusive? I don't mind paying extra, but they should have explained the charges from the start. The initial explanation only covered things that were already obvious, and it was tiring to sit through. Staff conversations made me uncomfortable; I wish they hadn't talked to me. If they're no longer interested, they should leave people alone or just give them written information. The ingredients seemed poor to begin with. We had dinner in our room, and each dish came so slowly and was so cold that I wondered if it had been prepared in advance. The rice seemed to be cooked in a clay pot on the spot, but it took 45 to 60 minutes. The wait staff were meant to serve it, but they were late, so it went cold. We served ourselves, and a staff member then said, "Wasn't it watery? I read in reviews that it was watery," as if we'd done something wrong by eating it ourselves. Maybe too much water had been used in the first place, and it was cold too. Breakfast was set out in a separate area, and I wondered when it had been made. The bananas were brown, like dirt, and the sashimi and fruit were very dry. Even the instant miso soup tasted better. The grilled fish was average, and the service felt unenthusiastic. I rarely leave food behind, but I had no appetite for either meal. I've always regretted choosing this hotel for such a special occasion. It wasn't cheap, which might have made some of this easier to accept. I rarely write reviews, and usually focus on ways a place could improve rather than the negative things. I'm writing this one in the hope that fewer customers have the same experience. Not even one star.

The room was roomy, clean, and really comfortable, and I loved having a hot spring bath right there to unwind in. The staff were helpful too. Check-in is at 4pm and checkout at 10am. I’d happily come back next time I’m in Izu Kogen.