Ryokan Itaniya

A cozy traditional onsen hotel in Japan, just a five-minute walk from the famous temple.

The reunion was only three hours, but it meant a lot to me. We enjoyed catching up about old times, and the chef had clearly put care into the spring-like dishes. I was asked to play five pieces on tenor saxophone in the large hall with its stage. Itaniya is a 100-year-old inn, and we had the pleasure of gathering there with former coworkers. We’ll definitely stay overnight next time. Looking forward to it, and thank you! Ikoma, Inui

I joined the morning service at Hasedera Temple, and was grateful for the transportation. It was a really good experience. The public bath and hot springs are large, clean, and wonderful. The meals were just enough to fill me up, and the sashimi was fresh and delicious. Flowers are arranged beautifully around the hotel, even a single flower in a vase in the room, which was soothing. The rooms are spacious, clean, and relaxing. I booked through Jalan, but there was no mention of non-smoking. It would be nice to have a smoking area, but the garden area was locked. A waitress opened it for me, then it was locked again after dinner. It might be better to make the whole building non-smoking. I’ll keep this in mind when choosing a place to stay.

The counter lady was very friendly. Just tell her you want to soak in the hot spring (ofuro!). It costs 700 yen, and they’ll ask if you brought a towel. I brought my own, so I’m not sure whether renting one costs extra. The certified hot spring bath is on the second floor. Entry starts at 4:30 PM. I only saw two other guests in the women’s bath. There’s one large rectangular pool and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the mountains. The sun had already set, so I could only make out the mountain outlines. The view might be better if you go earlier. The water is very hot, but the temperature was comfortable, and I still lingered for a while. There’s just the one pool, no other types of baths to switch to. On the left there are bright, colorful decorations. The changing room has lotion, facial cleanser, and makeup remover (?). The hairdryer’s airflow is a bit weak, though it gets very hot. Bring your own comb. Shampoo and shower gel are provided, but the scents are a bit old-fashioned, and there’s no conditioner.