Itsuura Kanko Hotel Bekkan Taikanso

The sea view was wonderful, and the facility was beautiful. The food was great, and the onsen and rotenburo were fantastic. The okakura tenshin museum, with its breathtaking Rokkakudo, is just a two-minute walk away. Hananuki gorge is about a 30-minute drive.

Great place for meetings, and the answer is absolutely astonishing. The hospitality is top-notch! I’d recommend this place to any of my colleagues!

The food was decent, the staff were friendly, and the hot springs were the highlight. I liked that the annex’s open-air bath has a different view from the main building’s, so even on a one-night stay I could enjoy a change of setting. The annex baths overlook the ocean. The buildings are only a five-minute walk apart, and the front desk can arrange a ride if you ask. I took a photo of the hot springs while I was there alone. If that causes any problems, I’ll take it down.

This was the only place I could find before the holidays, and I probably wouldn’t stay again. It’s a 100-year-old retro inn with lots of odd details. The floor is sloped enough for marbles to roll, and the old sound system carries footsteps and voices from the ceiling, hall, and neighboring rooms. It’s interesting, but it could make it harder to sleep. The koto music was unusually loud even though it wasn’t New Year’s. Maybe it was meant to cover the other noise. If you take it like camping, the place can feel like heaven, and the food was good thanks to the chef making clever use of inexpensive ingredients. I used to be a chef, so I know a little about freshness. The sashimi was served alongside the lean beef, and even though the raw fish seemed about four days old, it didn’t upset my stomach despite tasting sour. There are steep stairs to the second-floor dining room, though I think you can manage them carefully even with weak legs. The large public bath’s curtains were dirty and the changing room floor was dusty. My new clothes fell on it and got so dirty I was shocked. There are baskets but no lockers, so if you’re concerned about security, leave your things in your room and take your key to the front desk by the entrance. You can’t get water in the main building’s changing rooms, and the shop shuts early, with no vending machines. I had to fetch my own tea and water at dinner. That’s understandable if the banquet floor staff are tired after a long weekend, but it still felt like a place where you shouldn’t expect much service. Dinner ends at 7:00, and people leave the bath just before then. A middle-aged cleaner starts on the washing area, which made me uncomfortable being there alone, so I hurried out. I didn’t regret missing a long soak. The open-air bath is extremely hot, like a downtown public bath, and too hot for small children. The bath had quite a bit of what looked like scum. Maybe it’s a component of the ♨️, scale from washing people, or poor circulation because the water isn’t flowing properly. I’d like to think it wouldn’t bother me. Maybe the ♨️ is kept very hot to disinfect it, or maybe not. Parents and children were saying they should stay longer since they’d come all that way. I arrived in the evening and couldn’t use the annex ♨️, which apparently has a good reputation. Guests from the main building are taken there by bus, but I didn’t want to keep the driver waiting, so I skipped it. There are plenty of other strange attractions for overnight guests. I arrived by car after dark and couldn’t find the entrance. The phone signal was weak and the call was hard to hear. I called five times. The person answering seemed to think it was a prank and suddenly raised their voice, asking, “If you’re a guest, could you please state your name?” They told me just to explain where the entrance was. I waited in the freezing dark for a while, then they said, “Oh, Mr./Ms. X, we’ve been waiting for you.” Their attitude changed suddenly. I wasn’t angry, but the entrance was hard to find, the parking lot was far away, and I had to get out and look for it in the cold. It was my first real disappointment with the inn. There were several welcoming staff inside. I wish someone could stand by the dark entrance with a light to point out Goura Kanko Hotel. I understand this isn’t a place where you should expect that kind of service, but the room itself was wonderful. You could see right into the neighboring rooms, though I’m not someone who peeps, so don’t worry. I hope the inn, already over 100 years old, can reach 200 years despite inflation and its aging female staff. I’m giving it five stars, but please clean the indoor and outdoor baths properly. I can’t do the cleaning myself. It isn’t expensive, but it isn’t cheap either, so booking a more relaxing inn in advance might be better. Still, this inn has its charms. The shop closes early, so you can’t buy anything at night. I wondered whether the room might topple or collapse in a major earthquake, but there’s no need to worry about online incidents. After all, it’s the main building, not the annex. No need to worry. If you’re looking to cultivate a nurturing spirit and mental freedom, this is the place. It’s a wonderful inn that’ll give you a good workout.