Minshuku Iori

The food was just as delicious as ever when I stayed here again recently after quite a while. I hope they can keep going forever. Just remember it’s a minshuku, or guest house, rather than a ryokan or hotel, so each place has its own unwritten rules.

The chef’s kindness came through all over the place, and the air conditioning was set just right. We had a very comfortable family trip and will definitely come again. Both dinner and breakfast were delicious, and we ate and drank more than we meant to. The dinner risotto was great, and the namero at breakfast was superb. Even foods I usually don’t like were enjoyable. They give you tickets for the bath at a nearby hot spring facility, which was a kind gesture because they want guests to enjoy the hot springs. Bring your own face wash, makeup remover, shampoo, conditioner, and towels if you can. The provided products are okay if you don’t mind your hair feeling a bit stiff. As others have said, the chef recommends sweet potato shochu. “Iori” was delicious and easy to drink, and you could tell they care about quality. Someone mentioned there’s a charge for water, but that’s bottled water, so it makes sense. Even though we drank a lot, it didn’t add up to much. It’s very reasonable. Thank you!

If you’re looking for an exciting trip and don’t mind chatting with locals, I’d definitely recommend staying at Iori in West Izu. It’s probably not for anyone who wants a quiet stay without talking to people. I came away with a really memorable experience, and I’m someone who likes meeting people while traveling. The owner is the lively 80-year-old grandfather people mention in other reviews. He talks a lot and seems to have a great personality. His manner can be a bit forceful, but if you smile back, there’s no problem and he’ll chat with you cheerfully. I’d been worried after reading mixed reviews on the way there, since I’d left the booking to a 29-year-old male friend. At check-in, he shows you to your room and explains the next day’s schedule. It’s very much “sit there and listen” (laughs). You can’t use the bath, so you’re directed to the public bath at a nearby roadside station. It didn’t feel like something you could refuse, which might be tough if you don’t like baths. I usually check in just before the deadline and bathe after dinner, but this setup was fine too, almost like a club training camp. Dinner starts at 5:30 PM. I’d read that someone got scolded for being late despite arriving 10 minutes early, so I asked when to come. They said they’d call for me, which was a relief. The food is a delicious Japanese and Western mix with lots of vegetables, and it’s more than you’d expect for the lodging price. They’ll offer alcohol by asking “Beer?”, so order some if you drink. The group beside us got oolong tea, so non-drinkers are fine too. Apparently it was their fourth visit. They offer shochu at the start, but only then, and I was too full for it anyway. The portions are huge. When I finished everything, they said it had been a while since anyone had, so maybe many guests leave food. Back in the room, I snuggled into the futon and loved the blanket. I wonder where they sell it. We were allowed to drink alcohol in the room, so my friend and I had a drink before bed. Breakfast at 7:30 the next morning was delicious too, and I felt great. I thought I’d go back for another nap, but check-out was by 9:00, so I ended up being quite healthy (laughs). Since it was a special occasion, I took a photo with the owner at checkout. He was really friendly and saw me off with “Come back with your wife next time!” (laughs).

The only thing I didn’t like was that the sink had no hot water, so my face got cold washing up in the morning. The inn is down a narrow alley, and it can feel pretty scary driving in the dark. We arrived at 4am as planned and got a free hot spring voucher so we could bathe first. Dinner was at 5:30pm. The room was a wood-paneled Japanese-style room, and I think they renovated it by covering the whole wall with wood. The owner seemed to really enjoy looking after guests and told me lots about his cooking and other specialties. The meals he carefully prepared were amazing, very filling, and included plenty of vegetables along with Western-style dishes, unlike typical guesthouse food. We ate while American music played in the background.