Petit Hotel Izu Shaboten Village

The food and service were real highlights. The BBQ dinner came in generous portions and was excellent, though you cook it yourself, so bring any seasonings you especially like. Breakfast is hot sandwiches, which some people may find a little small, but you can buy instant noodles and other extras on site. For what you get, I found it good value. Similar places I looked at were 40,000-50,000 yen per person, while this was around 23,000 yen. The rooms felt cleaner than a typical budget hotel, looked lovely at night, and stayed warm even in the middle of winter thanks to the air conditioning. We didn't see insects during our winter stay, though being in the forest means they can show up, as they can at any glamping site. If that kind of hygiene concern is a dealbreaker, glamping may not suit you. For a first try, I'd recommend a super-luxury place if you're set on going. The atmosphere is casual rather than hotel-like, and a friendly man with glasses was at reception. I left something behind, and they mailed it to me, thank you. Just remember reception and the shop close at 8 PM. It was a fantastic first glamping experience, and I think it's a great deal.

The setting is excellent if you want to be surrounded by nature, but for us the experience didn't feel worth the cost. Six of us shared one tent, and the per-person price was the same as it would have been for three. It was very hard for six adults to sleep there. We went with friends for our first glamping trip and expected more. There were many more bugs than we anticipated: centipedes, cockroaches, spiders, and slugs in our tent. Anyone who dislikes insects may want to steer clear in spring and summer. We brought our own BBQ ingredients. Utensils and dishes were provided, so that part was easy, but rubbish was collected at 8 PM. That could be inconvenient if you want to eat and drink late. There was a bath in the tent, and we chose to use the open-air one. It was fairly clean, though the washing area was small and might involve a wait, so timing your visit would help.

We were stranded near Mt. Omuro on May 3rd when there was no bus back, and the front desk staff helped us get moving again. We called to ask about borrowing a shuttle car, but even with such short notice, they kindly arranged a taxi. That meant we caught our train to Tokyo just in time. We're really grateful for their help. The hotel felt warm and welcoming, and we'd love to stay there again on our next trip to Izu.

The BBQ servings were really generous, and the private baths were spacious and spotless. It was my first glamping trip, and a staff member took the time to explain everything clearly. The rooms had a stylish look too.