Sora Togetsusoukinryu

My stay here was truly amazing! The hotel's entrance and courtyard gardens exude a strong Japanese charm, exquisite and elegant. They are a picturesque sight in themselves, inviting you to pause and slowly take it all in. The hotel offers both indoor and outdoor public onsens. I booked a room with a private onsen, which provided excellent privacy, and the water was clean and clear. The guest room was a classic Japanese tatami style, spacious and comfortable. The bath amenities were Aesop, and the skincare products were local Japanese brands, which felt wonderful to use. The shop on the first floor also sells the same brand's toner and facial cleanser, which have a fresh and pleasant scent. I immediately bought them and highly recommend everyone to try them out!

The room was super spacious! The indoor hot spring was excellent and very relaxing! Both dinner and breakfast were delicious and well-balanced! A truly wonderful experience!

The garden view was great, and the restaurant service was top-notch. However, the private hot spring room was a letdown – too basic and felt unsafe.

The environment is tranquil and comfortable, everything is peaceful and beautiful. Nearby bamboo forest paths and Zen temples are all within walking distance. Both the public bath and the private hot spring in the rooms are quite good. Suitable for family trips; it won't be tiring for the elderly or children.

My 3-day, 2-night trip to Izu began with a stay at the Shuzenji Onsen-Sora Togetsou Kinryu Ryokan. The building itself was unassuming from the outside, but the interior was a hidden gem, with both the rooms and the garden being exceptional. Sitting on the large terrace of my room, I could admire the lush greenery of early summer; I could only imagine how breathtaking it would be during the autumn foliage season! The hotel was conveniently located near many restaurants and attractions. Besides Shuzenji Temple and Hie Shrine, there were various shops and fruit stalls nearby. I bought some large loquats and experienced the lively atmosphere of the onsen town. Even though it was the weekend, Shuzenji Onsen wasn't crowded during the off-season, making it a great place to explore. Walking down from the hotel entrance, you'll find the "Bamboo Grove Path," which leads to the Katsura Bridge. The vermilion bridge spans the Katsura River, which flows through the onsen town. A hundred meters further on is "Kawahara-yu," originally a popular public bathhouse, which reopened in 2010 as a foot bath. Stroll along the riverbank, listen to the gentle murmur of the flowing water, and enjoy a relaxing foot bath. Not far from Kawahara-yu is "Dokko-no-Yu," the symbol of Shuzenji Onsen. Legend has it that Kobo Daishi (Kukai) was deeply moved by a boy bathing his sick father in the Katsura River. He struck a stone in the river with a vajra (a Buddhist ritual implement), and miraculously, a hot spring emerged. He then taught the art of hot spring therapy. It is said to be the oldest hot spring in Izu. Uphill from the hotel is "Shigetsu-den," a historic wooden structure built by Hojo Masako to pray for the rest of her son, Minamoto no Yoriie. The temple houses a seated statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. The temple grounds also contain the tomb of Minamoto no Yoriie, the second shogun of Kamakura, and the Genji Park contains the tombs of thirteen samurai. Actually, there's no need to go out; simply enjoying the room, the hot spring, and the garden from within the hotel is already a wonderful experience. The hotel served two meals a night, utilizing high-quality local ingredients to create exquisite dishes—quite delicious! 😋

As soon as we stepped inside, the pond garden where koi fish were swimming immediately caught our eye, instantly lifting our spirits. Shall I say the first impression was excellent? While waiting for the check-in process to be completed, my friends and I sat on the sofa admiring the beautiful pond garden, exclaiming in awe repeatedly. The kind explanation of the facilities by the attendant who served us was also very pleasant. Passing through a hallway that exuded a distinctly Japanese atmosphere, we were guided to a lovely dining area where only the three of us could dine. The moment we entered, the appearance of the restaurant, the arrangement of the tableware, and the food itself felt like viewing a work of art. We listened to detailed explanations for each dish, and I was grateful for the kind answers to our questions. We spent a happy time admiring and savoring the food prepared with such care. We felt like we were being treated with the utmost hospitality at both breakfast and dinner. The room was clean and spacious, allowing us to enjoy a pleasant one-night stay. It was a memorable ryokan experience shared with my friends in their 60s. They expressed a desire to return sometime in the winter and regretted that we only stayed for one night. The neighborhood surrounding the ryokan was also tranquil and a beautiful village. Taking a stroll around the neighborhood while browsing the small shops is also part of the sightseeing. Shuzenji Temple is also close to the town, making it easily accessible. I was hesitant to book "Sora Toketsusou Kinryu" as a second-best option because I couldn't reserve a famous, historic ryokan in the area, but I think I made a really good choice.

Room: The room features a modern tatami style with a beautiful view of the courtyard through the window. The dining experience is lovely, with a lovely green view. Meals: The kaiseki dinner was decent but took a long time. Bath: The environment was okay, nothing particularly exciting, and the outdoor bath was rather small.

The hotel environment, dining, and service were all excellent.