Yumotokan

Yasunari Kawabata's Nobel Prize-winning novel "The Izu Dancer" is set at this inn.

A nice little treat. I'll come back.

I'd stayed at a lot of onsen ryokans, including hitou, and wasn't expecting much from this hitou because it looked small and humble before I arrived. It really is small and humble, but every part of the experience was great. There were only three employees, and all of them were friendly and attentive. They spoke enough English, too. Dinner and breakfast were healthy and tasty, and the roll screens between tables made the dining area feel private and comfortable. I didn't check the Hot Spring Ingredients List, but the water felt refreshing and left my skin so soft, which made me happy. The outside private bath has a great river view. Some areas were a bit mossy, though that makes sense outdoors by the river. I was surprised to find a real fresh flower in the room, not a fake one. Such a thoughtful touch :) It was a traditional, worthwhile hitou visit, and I had a quiet, peaceful, lovely time.

Our guide showed us around Yugashima Onsen Yumotokan, and by the end it felt less like a simple inn and more like a literary place where different periods overlap. It's known as the place where Yasunari Kawabata wrote "The Izu Dancer." We first visited a room where he often stayed from 1918 to 1927. I was surprised to hear that he'd spent nearly a year here in total, around 1,000 days. The rooms are open for visitors to explore and photograph. The exhibits don't feel intrusive; they leave you room to take things in for yourself. The archives had the names of writers who visited in the same period, historical photos, and information about the six film adaptations of "The Izu Dancer." From the first in 1933 to the postwar version starring Misora ​​Hibari, it shows how the story was reinterpreted over time. Photos aren't allowed in the archives, and the quiet atmosphere invites reflection. I especially remember the staircase. There's a story about someone sitting on the seventh step for a photo, and the step is still there as it was. Many visitors take commemorative photos in that same spot, which gives it a slightly touristy feel that's interesting in its own way. Even after the building and exhibits were expanded and renovated, I got the sense that they carefully preserved what mattered. The approach felt sincere and unpretentious. You don't need to be a literature expert to appreciate the significance of where these words were born. I'd recommend a visit to anyone who wants to spend quiet time with history, especially readers of The Izu Dancer.