Yukairo Kikuya is an old ryokan in Shuzenji Hot Springs in Shizuoka Prefecture, with a history of over 400 years.
This place is known to have been visited by famous people such as Soseki Natsume.
Located about a 10-minute drive from Shuzenji Station, the ryokan has a hot spring and restaurant.
Free parking is also available. Yukairo Kikuya is a special place that preserves the atmosphere of the Taisho Era (1912-1926) and allows visitors to relax in its historical setting.
Nearby is the town of Shuzenji, historic sites and shrines, where you can spend time experiencing Japanese history and culture!
This time, we visited Yukairo Kikuya in Shuzenji, Izu, which has such a long history.
Hot Spring Corridor Kikuya
Kikuya is a very atmospheric hot spring hotel as seen on its website.
I was really looking forward to it.
Room Rates for Yukairo Kikuya
On the day of the event, my wife and I went.
The room rate was 23,990 yen per person (including bath tax).
This price includes two meals per night.
After all, weekday spa trips are reasonable.
Shuzenji Onsen
Shuzenji Onsen is a fairly old hot spring, said to have been discovered by Kobo Daishi in 807.
In Shuzenji Onsen, we stayed at a long-established inn, Yukairo Kikuya.
History of Yukairo Kikuya
This inn also seems to be a hot spring resort with a long history.
Founded 380 years ago, this is one of the oldest hot spring resorts in Shuzenji Onsen, having been established in the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and Heisei eras.
Soseki Natsume, a famous writer, spent his rest and relaxation here in the Ume-no-Ma (Plum Room) of Yukairo Kikuya.
between the plum and sore rooms
I was told by the innkeeper that the Ume-no-Ma is now known as the "Soseki Room.
Access to Yukairo Kikuya
Access to Yukairo Kikuya is also very smooth.
It is located approximately 8 minutes from Shuzenji Onsen Station by Izu Hakone Bus.
Unfortunately, there is no shuttle bus service between the inn and the station, so it is better to use public buses or cabs.
The hot spring that Kobo Daishi found is said to be the hot spring of Tokko-no-yu.
Later, several hot springs could be found along the Katsura River flowing through Shuzenji.
Nowadays, there are a total of nine hot springs: Wakanoyu, Kawarayu, Hakoyu, Shinyu, Taki no Yu, Ishiyu, Teranoyu, and Sugi no Yu.
Hot water quality of Yukairo Kikuya
Alkaline simple hot spring
The hot spring at Yukairo Kikuya is an alkaline simple hot spring.
The benefits are wide-ranging, including neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, sensitivity to cold, relief from fatigue, and health promotion.
This is a great benefit for those who want to relieve their daily fatigue.
Hot spring facilities
In addition to the open-air baths, the inn has a large hot spring and private open-air baths.
Bathing hours are 24 hours a day, so it is recommended for those who want to take a leisurely soak in the hot spring.
Private open-air baths available without reservations
Reservations are not required for private open-air baths.
The system is that you are free to enter if available.
I basically took the private open-air baths and if they were not available, I took the regular open-air baths.
Private open-air bath with amenities
All baths are well-equipped with common amenities such as hair dryers, scales, fans, etc. in the changing rooms.
A mineral water server is also available in the private outdoor baths.
Yukairo Kikuya Meal Features
Meals are kaiseki cuisine.
The dishes are all delicious, making the most of local ingredients.
Sea bream and seafood are especially fresh
Izu's famous kinmedai (sea bream) and seafood are especially fresh.
Basically, it is a kaiseki meal, so the menu is fixed, but there are also dishes that you can choose for yourself along the way.
The beef stew is just superb!
The beef stew I had at this time was just superb, with the meat tenderized to the point of tenderness.
Amadai chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), for example, is really delicious.
It is a must-try dish.
Yonaki soba (buckwheat noodles) service
What was interesting was the nightly buckwheat noodle service from 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
You can get ramen noodles made with Japanese broth.
The quantity of ramen is about half that of regular ramen, which is not too much, due to the late hour.
Shuzenji, where we stayed in April, was still cold at night, so the warm yonaki soba (buckwheat noodles) was the most delicious dish we had ever had.
Freshly baked bread is all-you-can-eat at breakfast at Yukairo Kikuya.
Breakfast is a system where you can choose from Western or Japanese food. We had Western-style breakfast.
Freshly baked bread is all-you-can-eat.
Why is it that bread eaten at breakfast at a hot spring hotel tastes so good?
I ate too much.
The omelette you can get for breakfast is also really tasty and tender inside.
Features of Yukairo Kikuya
Yukairo Kikuya is an inn with a long history and was loved by the great writer Soseki Natsume.
Perhaps with this in mind, the staff at the inn are dressed in clothing reminiscent of the Meiji era.
The women, in particular, were dressed like Meiji-era schoolgirls,
What a way to travel!
Customer service is also excellent.
The inn itself is very atmospheric, but the customer service was very friendly.
This inn is quite prestigious because of its history in the Shuzenji hot spring area, but even so, the atmosphere of the inn and the staff are completely unpretentious, allowing you to enjoy the hot spring and delicious cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere.
Full range of amenities
Anyway, the best part was the amenities.
The spa is equipped with shampoo, treatment, and body soap, as well as a special soap for facial cleansing.
This soap produces a chewy lather that makes your skin smooth when you wash your face with it.
In addition, an all-in-one gel is also available, which is moisturizing when applied to the skin after the bath.
The provision of an all-in-one gel would be especially nice for women.
These amenities are also sold at the inn's store, so if you are interested, please check it out.
Each yukata comes in its own size and is provided in the room.
Of course, yukata are available for rent free of charge.
This yukata is loose-fitting and can be worn by both women and men.
You can also have dinner in a yukata, which is really relaxing.
Have coffee surrounded by antique furniture at Yukairo Kikuya
Yukairo Kikuya is a very spacious building with various facilities inside.
Among them, there is a room for coffee, where classical music is always playing.
The rooms are furnished with antique furniture and other furnishings with an old-fashioned atmosphere from the Meiji era.
Coffee can be taken freely.
You can get it already in a pot, but the coffee you grind and brew yourself from the beans is exceptional.
As I gulped down coffee beans with a manual mill while looking out over the garden, I felt like I had entered an extraordinary world,
Oh, I felt that we had a really good time.
On the second day, before checking out, I was in this room until the last minute writing a blog on the laptop I brought from home.
This inn is really suited for such a relaxing stay.
Interestingly, this room has milk in bottles and coffee milk, which can be freely consumed.
If you want to come by after a hot spring bath and enjoy a glass of bottled milk or coffee milk, this is the place for you.
Don't forget to put your hands on your hips when you do.
Yu-kairo Kikuya in Shuzenji.
This time, my wife and I went together.
For me, it was also a way of consoling my wife, who works hard at housework on a daily basis, and I am very glad that she was so pleased.
My wife says that this is an unforgettable inn, where women will be very happy to be cared for.
The dishes are not only delicious, but also visually beautiful.
This is the kind of place that women will appreciate.
He was taking a lot of pictures with his phone, so I am sure he was putting them on his Instagram.
In fact, I found the food to be very Instagram-worthy, which is sure to please the ladies.
Yukairo Kikuya did not have any specific events going on when we stayed there.
However, the most famous event in Shuzenji in spring is the "Manto-e" (lantern festival).
It is held every year on April 20, and refers to a memorial service in which offerings are made with many lanterns and many flowers.
On this day, monks, locals, and tourists walk from Tokko-no-yu Park to the main hall of Shuzenji Temple while lighting lanterns.
The scene is quite picturesque. The fantastic event is a must-see.
A fun two day and one night trip to Shuzenji, Izu.
Izu Nagaoka Strawberry Picking Center
After checking out of Yukairo Kikuya, we headed to the Izu Nagaoka Strawberry Picking Center in Nagaoka.
After all, spring in Izu is all about strawberry picking.
Here, you can eat all-you-can-eat "Akihime" strawberries, which are limited to Izu, for 30 minutes.
The fee is reasonable at 1,200 yen per person, so please give it a try.
How was it?
Shuzenji's Yu-Kairo Kikuya is an atmospheric hot spring hotel.
Time to get away from the busyness of daily life and take a relaxing soak in a hot spring while thinking back to the good old days of the Meiji Era.
This is a good way to spend a holiday once in a while.
