Hotels With Pools in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

"Considering the price, especially compared to other private onsen (hot spring) options in Izu, getting two private baths – one indoor and one outdoor – is incredible! Plus, there's a little courtyard with koi fish and a free breakfast! You can even send postcards home for free! The lobby has seeds from the seasonal plants in their garden, some small crafts for sale, and a little bookshelf. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, there's a small stream lined with maple trees, which I imagine would be beautiful in autumn. It feels very lived-in, like staying in an old house from a classic Japanese drama. The building is old, but everything is spotlessly clean and tidy. The lobby doesn't have air conditioning, so it was quite hot from the entrance all the way to the room, and there were huge mosquitoes. AC is only in the rooms, and they provided an extra fan, which kept things pretty cool. If you open other doors in the room, it can cool down the adjacent room a bit (but not much). Most of the time, you can sit in front of the garden, zone out, and feed the fish. It's a bit of a walk to the station and convenience store, but over my two days there, I found the scenery along the way quite nice. Rural Japan isn't as convenient as commercial centers, offering a quiet, peaceful kind of inconvenience (said playfully, of course). Oh, and there was a large spider in the room. I tried to shoo it out but couldn't, so I called a staff member who kindly removed it for me. Also, remember to turn off the lights if you're not using the bathroom or the outdoor private bath, as outdoor lights attract a lot of bugs. Overall, it was great, and I'd definitely come back."

"It's a bit out of the way, a 10-minute walk from the bus. However, the owner was very friendly and proactively asked guests if they needed to go to the convenience store or attractions. The room was spacious, and there was a saltwater hot spring to soak in. The breakfast buffet offered both Japanese and Western options, but reservations were required. It was delicious and highly recommended!"