Rakuzan Yasuda

Dinner was served in a private room at 6 p.m. The delicate appetizers had plenty of flavor, and the hot pot came with a tasty broth and tender meat. The roast pork on the Western-style plate was generous, with fried potatoes on the side. The waitresses were always smiling and gave us useful tips about Izu. Breakfast had a nice mix of small dishes, and we ended up eating too much rice. I stayed in a spacious Japanese-style room with a cypress bath, set beyond a four-tatami anteroom. The calming, traditional layout had a washroom just inside the entrance, with the bath beyond it. Shoes came off at the entrance, and the tatami felt easy on my feet. The staff put our shoes away and wiped our suitcase wheels, which was helpful. The room’s hot spring water was a bit warm, so I cooled it with a little water. Filling the bath took around 20 to 30 minutes. The public bath was also somewhat warm, but it wasn’t crowded in the evening or the next morning, so I could relax. The building shows some wear, but it’s historic. If you’re okay with that, it’s a really nice hotel, with every staff member smiling.

The meals were generous. Dinner in the third-floor dining room started with mushroom buns and sweet potato tempura, followed by roast chicken and potatoes that I found very satisfying. I had breakfast in the same room the next day, and the yogurt really stuck in my mind. Many staff members are from overseas, and I wondered whether their sensibilities influenced some of the more unusual flavors at breakfast. There are three baths: public baths on the fifth and sixth floors that alternate between men and women, plus two private open-air baths on the seventh floor, up the stairs from the sixth. The private baths are available when free. They seemed spaced out enough that I wasn’t inconvenienced. The service felt attentive from the start. I got a confirmation call shortly after booking online, and on arrival I was greeted with a smile. Amenities are available for guests to pick up at the back of the first floor. Yukatas are in front of the elevator, so remember to take one. The obi sashes are in the rooms.

The semi-private dining room had a stylish interior, and the food and service were wonderful again. For what I paid, the hospitality and meals felt like especially good value. I’ve stayed at plenty of inns and hotels, but this one stands out as a hidden gem, and I’d like to return. This was my second visit. My first was in summer, before the coronavirus pandemic, and I never forgot how good the food and service were. Thanks for another great stay.

The tatami throughout the hotel is beautiful, and the staff were courteous, attentive, and always smiling. I checked in a little early and got a warm welcome, a detailed explanation, and then an escort to my room. Mine was at the far end of the upper floor. Beyond the Japanese-style room was a spacious bedroom, and past that a charming semi-open-air bath. A lovely treat. It’s small, but having two toilets was very handy. Parking was easy to use. The room only had a kettle, and the refrigerator was empty. I would have liked two bottles. I’d just stayed in a suite at Kitanomaru, so I probably shouldn’t compare them. My three-star rating for service reflects the room amenities, not the staff.