This is a review of our stay at Ochiairo.
We decided to stay at this ryokan with our two small children, a shining presence among excellent luxury ryokans in the historic Izu area. To get straight to the point, the long history, traditions, and rich nature were left intact, while the guest rooms, amenities, and hot springs had evolved into more comfortable spaces with modern advanced architectural techniques and sophisticated design. This is truly a five-star ryokan.
We took The Odoriko from Tokyo Station around noon and arrived at Shuzenji Station a little after 2:00 pm. As we exited the station’s ticket gate, a staff member with a plate saying “Ochiairo” was waiting for us. After about 20 minutes on the shuttle bus, we saw a dignified building. We got off the shuttle bus in front of the entrance, which had the elegant appearance of a long-established ryokan.
Upon being greeted by the kimono-clad staff, we entered a building of traditional sukiya-style architecture that exudes a sense of history and tradition, and the scent of sandalwood came out of nowhere. As I stood in front of the entrance, the elegance of the authentic Japanese architecture made my spine straighten involuntarily. As I looked around, I was pleasantly surprised to see the glazed pillars illuminated by orange light, the ceiling made of precious Japanese cedar, the wooden framed windows with braided work, the frosted glass, and everything else. We took off our shoes here and changed into slippers. The elegant kimono-clad landlady led us to the lounge. Walking along the quaint corridor along the way, we felt as if we had time-traveled back to the days when famous literary giants stayed here more than 100 years ago.
We were ushered into a spacious, fireplace-filled lounge with a serene ambience. The high-ceilinged lounge was furnished with sophisticated and cozy interior design and furniture. We were seated by the window and were offered sparkling wine for my husband and I and orange juice for the children. Here we completed check-in formalities. As we listened to the chirping of birds and the murmuring of the river, and gazed at the beautiful fresh green trees, the hustle and bustle of Tokyo seemed almost unreal. For those of us who live in a place surrounded by concrete, it was the most luxurious experience to be in such a beautiful natural and quaint space.
After a while, a staff member showed us to our room. This time, we stayed in a room called Ukibune. Children are only allowed to stay in the ground floor rooms. The ryokan has a total of 16 rooms, all with private onsens. Three of the rooms have private outdoor onsens. Once inside the room, we found a beautiful Japanese-style living room with soft sunlight, chairs and a table on the Japanese-style porch, and a window overlooking a well-kept garden. Next to the Japanese-style room was a bedroom with nostalgic stained glass windows, and on the other side of the bedroom was a private outdoor private onsen. The room was very spacious, large enough for a family of four. The sliding doors, pillars, shoji doors, windows, and everywhere else were beautifully decorated by craftsmen, giving the room a sense of its history.
We changed into yukatas and decided to visit communal onsen baths on the basement floor of the main building. There are two communal onsen baths and a private family onsen bath that can be used completely privately on the ryokan grounds, free of charge. Please make your booking when you check in. There were also three sophisticated and wonderful saunas. The saunas were constructed in such a way that hot spring water flowed into the saunas, and the structure was designed to löyly enjoy hot spring-derived water while being surrounded by the gentle scent of cypress wood. This is the best ryokan for sauna lovers.
After enjoying the communal baths, we again went to the lounge on the first floor of the main building, where we quenched our thirst with local beer while watching the fireplace in the center of the room quietly flickering. The children enjoyed eating matcha green tea ice cream. As we walked out onto the terrace of the lounge, the sun was setting and the air felt cooler than ever. The lounge was stocked with free draft beer, local beer, highballs, white wine, red wine, sparkling wine, cranberry juice, orange juice, cider, yuzu juice, guri tea, biwa tea, milk pudding, coffee, chocolate ice cream, green tea ice cream, strawberry ice cream, snacks, and more. and more were available. Sake, cocktails, whiskey, etc. were available for a fee. The opening hours are 7:00-11:00, 15:00-24:00.
After this, we headed to the dining area on the third floor of the main building. When we stayed, we had a choice of starting dinner at 17:30 or 19:00. When we arrived at the dining room, the staff showed us to a private dining room. Dinner was a kaiseki course, and although we felt that the quality of each dish was high, we were disappointed that the portions were generally small. After dinner, rice balls called onigiri were prepared for the night meal, and we requested a larger portion.
Then there are no restaurants near the ryokan. There is an option to call a cab and eat at a restaurant near Shuzenji Station, but it will be a hassle as it takes more than 20 minutes by car.
After that, we enjoyed the private hot spring bath in the room, the kids were tired and went to bed, and we took out the local beer prepared in the mini-bar and sat down in the chairs on the Japanese-style porch to quench our dry thirst. By the way, the mini-bar had free Asahi beer, local beer, whisky and soda, cranberry juice, orange juice, butter dorayaki, etc.
The next morning, before breakfast, we enjoyed morning coffee in the lounge on the first floor of the main building, and then decided to take a walk around the ryokan grounds surrounded by magnificent mountains while listening to the murmuring of the river. The Japanese garden pond with its graceful Nishiki-koi carp, moss-covered garden stones, fresh greenery and trees glistening in the morning sun, and a tasteful suspension bridge all helped to relax our bodies and minds as we strolled through the natural beauty of the ryokan’s grounds.
We then headed to the dining area on the third floor. When we arrived at the dining area, the staff showed us to a private dining room. From the window of the private dining room, we had a view of the tiled roofs of traditional buildings. Breakfast was Japanese only. The soufflé-like egg dish was especially delicious. However, as with dinner, the quantity was disappointingly small.
After breakfast, we decided to head to the private family onsen bath. After locking the door at the entrance to the private family onsen bath, we continued on to a garden with beautiful green moss bathed in soft sunlight and a spacious private outdoor onsen bath. We were surprised to find a very spacious private family onsen bath. Looking up, the clear blue sky, the fresh green trees and the sunlight filtering through the trees were too wonderful for words.
After enjoying the private family onsen bath, we headed back to the lounge where my husband and I enjoyed sparkling wine and the children enjoyed milk pudding. After this, we took a tour of the building, which is a registered tangible cultural heritage property, starting at 10:00. Tours of the building are held daily at 10:00 and 17:00. Guests may participate free of charge. We then checked out of the ryokan around 11:00 a.m. and had a shuttle take us to Shuzenji Station. Next time, we would like to visit in a different season.
Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Agoda
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Is the location easy to access?
From Tokyo Station, take the Shinkansen to Mishima Station, transfer to The Izu Hakone Sunzu Line, and get off at the last stop, Shuzenji Station. The time required is approximately 100 minutes.
Alternatively, from Tokyo Station, take The Odoriko to Shuzenji Station, which takes about 130 minutes. It is convenient because there are no transfers, but there are few trains.
Then free shuttle service is available from Shuzenji Station. Please make a reservation in advance. Alternatively, take a cab, 20 minutes, costing about 3,000 yen.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, yukatas, a coffee mill with coffee beans, sweets, tea bags, and a complimentary mini-bar including beer. Upon request, the staff will refill drinks for free. There are skincare products in the bathroom. You can travel light. Room service is available. The Free Wi-Fi reception was available. There is no convenience store nearby.
Then, this is child-friendly. If you request in advance, they will prepare yukatas, meals, and tableware for children.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are unique indoor and outdoor communal onsen baths with nice saunas. All of them are open from 15:00-24:00, 3:00-11:00.
Also, there is a wonderful, spacious private family outdoor onsen bath that can be locked up and used in complete privacy. Reservations are required upon check-in. The private family onsen bath can be used completely privately during the reserved time.
If you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to use the communal bathing areas.
Then Ochiairo is almost universal design. If you bring people with weak legs, you may want to book a room on 1F. Also, inform the staff in advance as they can arrange a room near the front desk. Wheelchairs are available for borrowing.
Then the free property tour is held from 10:00 and 17:00 every day.
Check Availability and Pricing for the property on Agoda
Info about Ochiairo
| Style | Traditional Onsen Ryokan |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 150,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact | info@ochiairou.com |
| Internet Connection | Free WiFi in the property |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Ochiairo‘s MAP |
| Access | 20min by free shuttle bus from Shuzenji Station |
| Address and TEL | 1887-1 Yugashima, Izu-shi, Shizuoka 410-3206 Tel +81 558-85-0014 |
| Official Homepage | Ochiairo’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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