Kagetsu Ryokan - Vacation STAY 04023v

There are cats here, and there’s a neighborhood guide by reception, which makes the hotel worth considering as a traveler too. It’s inexpensive, so you might assume it’s just for business guests, but that isn’t the case. The place is old-fashioned, yet the building, rooms, toilets, and baths are kept clean and tidy. The iron room doors slam noisily, and you have to take your key when you go out. Its large, old-fashioned key chain is a bit of a hassle. The hotel is also a little far from downtown.

The room was dirty from the start, with hair everywhere and plenty of dust under the counter table. It looked like nobody had vacuumed. The bath is booked by groups for set times and is filled fresh without circulation, but by the time we were the third group, the water was already a little cloudy. For two adults, one child with breakfast, and another child without meals or bedding, we paid just under 20,000 yen for four people on a Saturday. Everywhere was expensive that day, so it was cheap compared with nearby places. Still, for that price I’d pay a bit more to stay somewhere else, and I don’t think I’d return even if it were cheaper. Also, Google Maps says to turn right on the road before the station, but the place is actually straight ahead without a turn.

The Japanese breakfast was absolutely delicious, which is why my family prioritizes breakfast when choosing a place. I’d recommend this inn to anyone who mainly wants a place to sleep but still wants a good breakfast. We stayed at Kagetsu Ryokan for one night in Shizuoka during Golden Week, though I’d originally planned a quiet holiday at home. It was our first visit, on May 5, 2023. The shared bathroom and the room felt a little old, but that didn’t bother me. The walls were a bit thin, which concerned me with my five-year-old son. The bath has two showers, but two adults have to bend their knees to soak. That’s fine with family, though it could feel awkward with strangers.

The breakfast was tasty, and the inn costs under ¥5,000 per person with breakfast included. The bath is on the fourth floor, and although the room has no toilet or washbasin, they’re on the same floor, so it wasn’t an issue for me. There’s also a shared refrigerator on the third floor that guests can use freely. It has a distinct Showa-era feel, which I personally like. Just think of it as a simple inn rather than a typical one. A personal bonus is that my favorite healthy izakaya, "Shizuoka Uo to Hatake" (Ekimae Ginza branch), is a two-to-three-minute walk away. It’s sugar-free, gluten-free, and additive-free, pays close attention to oils and seasonings, and fries with 100% rice germ oil. They buy fish each morning at the Yui Fishing Port auction and grow organic vegetables on their own farm. Their ingredient sourcing is creative, and they serve healthy food at reasonable prices, so I recommend it. I’d stay at Kagetsu Ryokan again when I’m back in Shizuoka.