Mare Kamekichi

The room and the noise made it impossible to rest. The door was so thin I could see people passing in the hallway, and after lights out the other guests were loud enough to keep us awake. It was hot in the hallway too, with the air conditioning off and the windows open. The parking area was tiny, with almost no room between spaces. We booked for three, including our child, but found only two beds. The hostel said they’d check and provide a cot if needed, which left me confused. At meals we waited half an hour, then watched a group who arrived later get served first. Worse, little insects crawled out of the lid of the small pot used to light the solid fuel. My child spotted them and had the pot replaced, but after that he didn’t want to eat. The bath water was so hot that even after diluting it as much as I could, it never got cool enough to use, so I couldn’t bathe there once. We stayed two nights during summer vacation and had to put up with it, but I wouldn’t return or recommend this place. I’ve stayed at many accommodations, and this was unbelievable.

They were thoughtful about my sore knee and gave me a compress. I also arrived by bike, and they let me store it inside, which I appreciated. The staff were friendly. The inn sits on a hill, and even though I was traveling alone, I got a room with a lovely sunset view. It’s reasonably priced and clean. Meals are generous, so anyone with a small appetite should mention that ahead of time. Given the portions and the size of the building, it seems well suited to junior high or high school training camps.

The food was just an average breakfast, neither especially good nor bad in taste or quantity. It came with fried eggs, sausages, natto, and a palate cleanser. There’s no separate sink, so you wash up beside the toilet. The building is old, but that doesn’t excuse the lack of cleanliness. My companion has a house dust allergy and developed symptoms. Even those of us without allergies had sore throats and nasal symptoms. We’d booked multiple nights and had no choice but to endure the stay, though we really didn’t want to be there. Dust covered the floor, windows, refrigerator, shelves, and even the toilet paper holder. The room wall was damaged. The pillows, sheets, and bath towels had stains, and the changing room was just as dirty the next day, with the previous day’s items and visible marks still there. There was no hot water in the public bath. I could list plenty more. I’ll never stay here again and can’t recommend it. If someone is going to Izu, I’d tell them to avoid this inn. It was the worst.

The inn has a hot spring bath in the Izu style, and there’s karaoke too. The sea is just down the hill, which makes the stay feel exciting. They’ll even take you between the station and the inn if you don’t have a driver’s license, which is a huge help. I’ve stayed many times, often for girls’ nights out, and the staff are incredibly kind. The meals have a nostalgic Showa-era feel, with generous, almost luxurious servings for such an affordable place. Fish comes in several styles at once, including stewed, tempura, grilled, and sashimi. There’s always more than I can eat, and I love that.