Keiun

The breakfast was especially generous and delicious, and I still remember it. The hotel is very close to Izumo Taisha, with pretty gardens on the grounds, and there’s a 24-hour 7-Eleven right across the street. The staff service was excellent, the rooms comfortable, and the hot spring pools have an appealing, distinctive design. Our train schedule meant we checked in close to dinner. I suspect rooms are assigned from best to worst on a first-come basis, because we got the last standard room, on the second floor. Once inside, we found the air-conditioning units right outside were noisy, and we could feel the vibration even with the windows shut. We ended up paying extra to move to a superior room at the far end toward the garden from the lobby.

I’ve stayed here twice and had a fantastic time both times. The staff were great, and the food was delicious. It’s a short walk to Izumo Taisha and the surrounding town, with its museum and plenty of places to eat. Worth every penny. We’re a bilingual family, so translation wasn’t an issue for us, but hotel services might be a little hard to navigate if you don’t know Japanese.

The private onsen was a nice touch, and the staff were really kind to us. I liked the hotel apart from the temperature control. It was very hot, and I couldn’t adjust the air-conditioning to make it colder. Opening the window made air coming through the door create a loud noise, and I was worried it would disturb other guests.

Izumo is beautiful and full of history. We came in late December, when there were hardly any crowds, and this inn was amazing. Its two onsens were top quality. Definitely one of the better places I’ve stayed in Japan.