Yagyu No Sho — Hotel in Izu

Never been to a hot springs hotel before so we have always wanted to try the experience. Out of the many choices we chose this one as the food stood out from the rest. We booked for a one day trial by phone for the suite, and online for two other rooms. I believe the owner who spoke fluent English took care of us personally on the phone. Per instruction, train from Tokyo was not packed, and very nice ride. At the train station in Izu, the hotel arranged a taxi to take us to the hotel. It was a surreal experience walking into the place, starting with low ceiling, traditional settings and all. Very comfortable, but very traditional Japanese. Now put on your Zen glasses and from here on the whole stay is very...Zen...is how I can put it (just insert Zen in every sentence). We were greeted in a room with some welcoming snacks, we were then taken individually to be shown the room, the facilities, the traditional robes which we can dress up in, the fancy toilet, the private hot spring in our suite, and the deck outside where you can feed the koi (we behaved very badly and overfed them), meditate and enjoy the well-arranged scenic view. We had our own hostess, who spoke little English, but we got by well. The room was comfortable by US standards, even for those who are used to staying at decent suites. Multiple light/AC switches, fridge stocked with local drinks, nice vanity for the females, to the flower arrangement on the wall. There was hot water in the room and tea set whenever you feel like. We took a dip in the private hot springs and the temp was a little hot, but very nice. On with the cold local spring water to cool off, then the hot tea, then the deck...etc. We were informed that dinner was ready. Our group requested to have dinner together, so they used another guest room and set it up for our private dining. The team made up of each individual caretaker of our room were there to care for us. The multi-course Kaiseki was remarkable, with fresh local ingredients and at least Michellin 1 Star quality, service and all. After the meal, we went to the upstairs bar and had some drinks. (Nope it might look like a big traditional one story shack, but it's a real hotel with elevators and all). The bed was ready when we got back to the room. On with another round of private bath, cool off, relax to the sound of nature and off to sleep. I do have to say for the quality of the hotel, the bedding was a bit subpar. I've only had it one other time at the JAL hotel in Narita due to a missed connection but JAL hotel had nicer bedding on their Tatami. The AC was a bit noisy so we turned it off for the sounds of nature from outside. Woke up early with the jetlag. Note we did not hit the town because a hurricane was passing by south of Izu, and it rained the entire time. But the hotel was excellent stay by itself. On with the traditional breakfast one can only dream of in the U.S. Then more bath, relaxation, feeding the fish in the rain..etc until it was time. The owner's wife also escorted us for a brief walk through the wonderful property. At checkout time, we bought our souvenirs at the hotel for honest prices and the taxi took us to the train stop with hotel team lining the driveway to bid farewell. You don't get that anywhere in the west. Yes, checkout was a bit early for the train, but there was a great souvenier store with noodle right at the train stop to make sure you don't miss the wasabi flavored kit kat, ice cream...etc of local origin. Return to Tokyo on another scenic train ride. ||||I believe the true feeling of a trip is how you remember it afterwards, and I will tell you it was a great experience. It was a very special dream even for someone like me who likes to claim been there done that. It is so special that I am grateful and satisfied for the one experience in life with no further expectations. Obviously I will try to return every...

Never been to a hot springs hotel before so we have always wanted to try the experience. Out of the many choices we chose this one as the food stood out from the rest. We booked for a one day trial by phone for the suite, and online for two other rooms. I believe the owner who spoke fluent English took care of us personally on the phone. Per instruction, train from Tokyo was not packed, and very nice ride. At the train station in Izu, the hotel arranged a taxi to take us to the hotel. It was a surreal experience walking into the place, starting with low ceiling, traditional settings and all. Very comfortable, but very traditional Japanese. Now put on your Zen glasses and from here on the whole stay is very...Zen...is how I can put it (just insert Zen in every sentence). We were greeted in a room with some welcoming snacks, we were then taken individually to be shown the room, the facilities, the traditional robes which we can dress up in, the fancy toilet, the private hot spring in our suite, and the deck outside where you can feed the koi (we behaved very badly and overfed them), meditate and enjoy the well-arranged scenic view. We had our own hostess, who spoke little English, but we got by well. The room was comfortable by US standards, even for those who are used to staying at decent suites. Multiple light/AC switches, fridge stocked with local drinks, nice vanity for the females, to the flower arrangement on the wall. There was hot water in the room and tea set whenever you feel like. We took a dip in the private hot springs and the temp was a little hot, but very nice. On with the cold local spring water to cool off, then the hot tea, then the deck...etc. We were informed that dinner was ready. Our group requested to have dinner together, so they used another guest room and set it up for our private dining. The team made up of each individual caretaker of our room were there to care for us. The multi-course Kaiseki was remarkable, with fresh local ingredients and at least Michellin 1 Star quality, service and all. After the meal, we went to the upstairs bar and had some drinks. (Nope it might look like a big traditional one story shack, but it's a real hotel with elevators and all). The bed was ready when we got back to the room. On with another round of private bath, cool off, relax to the sound of nature and off to sleep. I do have to say for the quality of the hotel, the bedding was a bit subpar. I've only had it one other time at the JAL hotel in Narita due to a missed connection but JAL hotel had nicer bedding on their Tatami. The AC was a bit noisy so we turned it off for the sounds of nature from outside. Woke up early with the jetlag. Note we did not hit the town because a hurricane was passing by south of Izu, and it rained the entire time. But the hotel was excellent stay by itself. On with the traditional breakfast one can only dream of in the U.S. Then more bath, relaxation, feeding the fish in the rain..etc until it was time. The owner's wife also escorted us for a brief walk through the wonderful property. At checkout time, we bought our souvenirs at the hotel for honest prices and the taxi took us to the train stop with hotel team lining the driveway to bid farewell. You don't get that anywhere in the west. Yes, checkout was a bit early for the train, but there was a great souvenier store with noodle right at the train stop to make sure you don't miss the wasabi flavored kit kat, ice cream...etc of local origin. Return to Tokyo on another scenic train ride. ||||I believe the true feeling of a trip is how you remember it afterwards, and I will tell you it was a great experience. It was a very special dream even for someone like me who likes to claim been there done that. It is so special that I am grateful and satisfied for the one experience in life with no further expectations. Obviously I will try to return every...

I DON’T recommend this ryokan! It fails to deliver the quality of service that matches its pricing.||Firstly, having a few bugs in the room might be tolerable, but finding them emerging continuously from the futon and mattress is unacceptable. Around midnight, bugs resembling termites started appearing from the bedding. We had no choice but to call front desk for assistance. Despite their efforts, the staff couldn't contain the infestation. Instead of offering a room change, they simply replaced the futon and mattress.||Having stayed at luxury hotels worldwide, I've never encountered such an issue with bugs in the bed. This is intolerable, and the hotel’s response was inadequate and disappointing. The quality provided does not justify the cost.||I have stayed at many onsen ryokans in Hakone and Izu, where the occasional insect might enter through the window, but the bedding has always been clean. Even at less expensive hotels, I've never experienced anything like this. It was extremely unpleasant.||We couldn't rest or relax here. Even after the bedding was changed, insects occasionally appeared on the floor, and we spent the night worried they might crawl back into the futon. This is not the standard I expect from a luxury establishment like Yanagi no Sho. I am deeply disappointed.||Telling someone that I had to call staff at midnight to deal with bed bugs would make it seem like I was staying at a roadside motel.||The next morning, I voiced my complaints to the hotel’s general manager, who offered apologies but no substantial compensation. I recorded videos and took photos of the bugs on the bed. I won’t be returning and will advise my family and friends to avoid this place.||Moreover, the onsen’s cleanliness was also a concern. The outdoor bath had leaves and insects floating in it, and the bottom was littered with dead bugs. I even took a photo of a large spider in the indoor rest area.||Finally, the dinner was underwhelming and not worth the price. Despite hearing high praises about the food at Yanagi no Sho, the meals at other ryokans in Hakone and Ito, which cost half as much, were far superior.||The only satisfactory aspect was the polite and attentive service from the dining staff. They were very courteous and meticulous in their service. The overall ambiance of the hotel was decent. I hope my unpleasant experience was an...