What kind of onsen ryokan is Hotel Iya Onsen?
This is an onsen ryokan in rich nature. If you are looking for unique onsen ryokans in Tokushima, you should stay here. Perhaps, if you are looking for modern tatami rooms with outdoor private hot springs, I would recommend it. The property is located deep in the mountains. This is one of the best unexplored regions in Japan. Actually, the property wouldn’t be luxurious, but this is a spectacular place to stay in beautiful nature. The ambiance would be friendly, cozy, and family-oriented. The property would be for family, small groups, or couples, but not romantic couples.
Is the location easy to access?
Free shuttle service is available from Oboke Station at 15:10 only. You need to book it in advance. It takes 30min from the station. You may want to use the shuttle service as much as possible unless you are a local. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Oboke Station. It costs around JPY4,000. It would be hard if you drive a car as there are many narrow mountain roads on the way to the property.
Rooms I would recommend?
If you are going to stay here, I would recommend rooms with private hot springs and mountain views. Others wouldn’t be special. We fully enjoyed viewing a superb view while soaking in our private bath. That’s precious time. Facilities tend to be not the latest, but well-maintained. The building tends to be outdated, but the housekeeping was good.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, yukatas, Japanese sweets, and a Japanese tea set. A CD player, an air cleaner, and a robotic massage chair were placed in our room. Room service is not available. Complimentary loquat tea is available around the public baths. There are vending machines for drinks including beer. There is no convenience store around here. You may want to buy your necessities before coming here. Free Wifi reception was patchy in our room.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are amazing indoor and outdoor communal hot springs. The spring quality is amazingly wonderful, thick, creamy, and moist. The water temperature tends to be lukewarm. A cable car takes guests down to the outdoor hot springs at the bottom of the valley. That’s an extraordinary experience. You should try it. The indoor communal ones are open for 24H. The outdoor communal ones are open from 7:00-21:00. Then there is a private family hot spring. You need to book in advance if you want to use it. It costs JPY3,000 for 60min. The private family one is open from 8:00-21:00. *If you have tattoos and want to use the communal hot springs, use the reserved private family one instead. Then the property is not a universal design. There is no lift in the building. If you bring people with weak feet, I wouldn’t recommend this property.
Then there are some complimentary tours organized by the staff. You may want to ask the staff about tours when you check in. They would depend on the season and weather. We enjoyed the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge tour at night. It started at 20:00. If you join it, you may want to have dinner earlier. If you are lucky, you can see wild monkeys, Japanese serow, and raccoon dogs, etc. The night sky was full of stars and a moon that seemed like I could reach out and grab them with my hand.
How about meals?
The local food experience was good. The ingredients wouldn’t be high-end, but they were so fresh. The portion tends to be average. All meals are served in a dining area. You can order meals for small kids too in advance. *Please note that inform the staff when you book a room with meals if you have any food allergies. They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare alternative food if you request on that day. Then there is no restaurant around here. You may want to book a room including meals.
My impressions
The staff tends to be not sophisticated, but friendly, warm, and helpful. They are very informative. If you want to experience a unique mountain life in Japan, absolutory it’s well worth staying here. Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about the property from the below space. Check Availability and Pricing for the ryokan on Agoda
Info about Hotel Iya Onsen
| Style | Mountain hut style Ryokan |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out times |
15:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 40,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact | Fill the form in |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the hotel |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are not available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Hotel Iya Onsen’s MAP |
| Access | Free Shuttle bus from JR Oboke station Need to book in advance upon request. |
| Address and TEL | 367-2 Matsumoto Ikeda-cho Matsuo Miyoshi-shi Tokushima Tel +81 883-75-2311 |
| Official Homepage | Hotel Iya Onsen’s HP |
*All information is as of the date that I posted on my blog.