Ikaho × Highly-rated Hotel·Ryokan

The cuisine, Room, Onsen, and service were all excellent. It truly made us want to come back! At the end of our summer vacation, we made wonderful memories here and felt motivated to work hard again. We have stayed at other Accommodations in Ikaho several times, but Kogure is the best. Please continue your warm hospitality and bring comfort to many more guests.

Everything—from the meals and the Room to the amenities and hospitality—was outstanding, and we were completely satisfied with our stay! The open-air Onsen bath in the Room was incredibly convenient, as we could soak anytime we liked, and it felt wonderfully luxurious. Also, because this Accommodation has only 10 Rooms, we rarely crossed paths with other guests at “Owl no Yu,” so we could relax and enjoy the Onsen as if it were private. The kaiseki dinner was exquisite across the board. In particular, the miso-glazed eggplant (dengaku) and steamed eel rice left a lasting impression—they were truly delicious. You could really tell each dish was prepared with great care, and we enjoyed every bite to the very end. Breakfast was also excellent. It was my first time trying Nanban natto, and I liked it so much I wished I could take some home. The rolled omelet was fluffy and delicious as well. From the cuisine and Onsen to the Room—and above all, the heartfelt service from all of the staff—this was a wonderful Accommodation that satisfied us in every way. If you’d like to unwind in an Onsen while enjoying a drink and spend a relaxing holiday forgetting everyday fatigue, this is exactly the right place. We would love to visit again!

On the day of my stay, I decided on a whim, got the Accommodation’s approval, and arrived after 8:00 p.m. When I told a man at the front desk that I was heading to a nearby izakaya for dinner, he cheerfully said, “Then please take this,” and gave me drink coupons for the place, lent me an umbrella, and even showed me a shortcut—always with a smile. It really put me at ease. The private bath was available until 11:00 p.m., so even though I arrived late I could relax and enjoy it. I also appreciated having a beer vending machine in the building. The property is old, but clean in an unpretentious way. The Room, futon bedding, and amenities all felt safe and comfortable to use. The other guests also seemed very considerate. Breakfast was great too—the main dish (grilled pork? hot pot?) went perfectly with rice and egg over rice. These days it’s rare, but everyone on staff I met appeared to be Japanese—maybe just by chance? Everyone provided such wonderful service that more than made up for the age of the building, and it was very comfortable throughout my stay. To be honest (and no offense meant), I only made a Reservation because there happened to be availability and didn’t expect much—maybe that’s why it felt even better. Next time I’d like to visit with dinner included. Thank you very much.

This time, we booked a Multiple Night Stay again in the same guest room we stayed in previously: a garden open-air Onsen bath room (15-tatami main room + 4.5-tatami tea room). For impressions of the Room itself, please refer to my comments from last year. First, I’d like to share how wonderful a Multiple Night Stay is. 1) The cuisine is outstanding. As introduced on the website, the monthly menu is crafted into a course using seasonal ingredients of that month, with careful attention to presentation and tableware. That alone is excellent, but the Multiple Night Stay menus are an even more diverse lineup—an explosion of the head chef’s creativity using seasonal ingredients. Both dinner and breakfast feature menus that are almost entirely different from the monthly offerings. Truly worthy of a master artisan. 2) You can enjoy the open-air Onsen freely. Although it’s an in-room open-air Onsen bath, with only one night your time to enjoy it feels limited. With a Multiple Night Stay—especially on the second day—you have much more time for the open-air Onsen and can fully relax and enjoy it. 3) Perfect for sightseeing in Ikaho. With a Multiple Night Stay you need to leave your Room during cleaning, but if you go sightseeing in Ikaho there’s no issue at all. If you head out toward the stone steps street from Fukuichi’s side, you’ll be right below Ikaho Shrine. The shrine is close by, and from there it’s easy to find your way for a round trip to Kajika Bridge as well. The Ikaho Ropeway is also comfortable to reach—it feels like going slightly downhill from the shrine area—and on your way back you can rejoin the stone steps around the middle and enjoy various shops as you walk back up toward Fukuichi. Next, I’d like to express my gratitude for the wonderful service during our stay. The attendant who served us at dinner on our first night was someone who had also taken care of us during our previous visit. In addition to being surprised with having a Multiple Night Stay menu served on day one, she carefully explained each dish as well as three coordinated alcoholic beverages selected for pairing. I’m truly grateful, and I would love to request her again next time. From breakfast on day two onward, our attendant was also serving as Kayokoro’s sommelier. At dinner on day two, when I asked on the spot for sake that would pair well with large turban shell caught off Ito off Izu Peninsula (Daesazae), he recommended Isojiman—an excellent match for the food. He told me he studied hard and earned his sommelier qualification; very impressive indeed. I was also surprised that his name is almost identical to mine; I hope he continues thriving as Kayokoro’s sommelier. We requested Shuttle Service both ways this time, and both drivers provided calm driving along with courteous assistance when getting in and out of the vehicle—thank you very much. After checkout as well, thank you sincerely to staff who continued carrying our heavy luggage and guided us on our way out. This has gotten long, but our Multiple Night Stay at Kayokoro was simply superb—we definitely want another Multiple Night Stay next time too.

Thank you for upgrading us to a Room with a sauna, which made our stay very comfortable. The Room was clean and we were able to relax at ease. The staff were also kind and attentive, which we truly appreciated. However, it was disappointing that the drainage in the private bath was clogged and water had pooled. Other than that, everything was wonderful, and it is an Accommodation we would like to stay at again. Thank you for a lovely time.

I stay here every year when I’m in town for work. The food is delicious, and the staff are always welcoming, so I keep coming back every time. I look forward to staying again next time. (I’ll be sure to visit even when it’s not for work!)

We stayed for one night with our dog. The dog’s name tag was adorable. We were very satisfied with the meals, the Room, the bath, and the complimentary drink service—it was so comfortable that it made us want to stay another night. Since it was raining, we didn’t go to Matsumotoro’s baths, but we’re already talking about going next time.

It was a lovely, relaxing Accommodation. When my shoes got soaked in the heavy rain and I didn’t know what to do, you kindly took care of them separately, so I was able to go sightseeing the next day without any discomfort. Thank you very much. The food was also delicious, and for just the two of us (my daughter and me) it was quite a lot—but it was so good that we ate it all. Just one thing… Since the forecast low temperature was in the low 20s °C, I turned off the air conditioner before going to sleep, but I ended up drenched in sweat. I turned it back on and got back into bed, but because the yukata fabric was fairly thick, it still felt hot. Thinking about it calmly afterward, this is a cold area in winter, so I completely forgot that the Room would be well insulated. Still, it’s an Accommodation I’d love to visit again.

I have been living overseas for 18 years and return to Japan temporarily about twice a year. Whenever I come back, I always visit an Onsen with my wife... We’ve been to many different Onsens, but... we eventually found Oyado Tamaki, and this is about our sixth stay... Now we choose Oyado Tamaki every time. We are extremely satisfied with the Onsen, the Facility, the meals, and the hospitality of the staff.

The front desk staff were very kind, courteous, and helpful. I was also surprised by the cable car from the parking lot—it was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed both the private family bath and the large public bath, and felt truly refreshed. Although our stay was No Meals Included, we took a stroll around Ikaho’s Onsen town and had a relaxing time. The Room was spacious enough, and we had no inconvenience with the Facility amenities. This is an Accommodation we would love to stay at again if we have the chance to visit Ikaho. Thank you very much.

Close to the stone steps, we were able to leave our luggage before check-in and enjoy exploring the area. The bath water temperature was just right, so we could relax and soak for a long time. Of course, the hot spring quality was excellent. The changing Room was also very clean and comfortable. The meals were filling, and we were very satisfied. I forgot to mention this to the staff when checking out, but the TV remote in the Room didn’t work—possibly due to dead batteries—so we operated it using the buttons on the TV itself.

On a whim during the Obon holidays, I made a Reservation for one night starting August 15, booking on August 13. I have a shellfish allergy, and since it was such short notice I thought it might be difficult, but they replied right away, “No problem.” The Hotel does feel a bit old, but it is well kept and clean, so my stay was very comfortable. The meals were generous and delicious. Above all, what makes this Hotel special is how kind everyone is. They don’t say unnecessary things, but if you ask something they think it through as if it were their own matter and respond sincerely. It left me feeling warm inside. It really shows that you don’t need a luxury Hotel to have a great stay. I highly recommend staying here at least once.\nI do not recommend climbing the 365 steps of the Ikaho Onsen stone staircase in midsummer—I was drenched in sweat and completely out of breath.

I have visited Ikaho several times for Onsen-hopping, and this time I stayed at Kishigon, which I had wanted to try for a while.\n\nI really enjoyed visiting the three different baths. In particular, Gonzaemon-no-Yu had a wonderful atmosphere and became my favorite.\n\nWhen I visited Ikaho last time, I stayed at another Onsen Accommodation with the same Golden Hot Spring water, but it was disappointingly lukewarm, so I was a bit worried. However, at Kishigon the temperature was just right for me and it was excellent.\n\nThe view from the Room was great as well. At the post-bath lounge area (available only during certain hours), we could enjoy alcoholic drinks, and in the lounge we could have coffee.\n\nSince the stone steps are right in front of the Accommodation, it was easy to take a stroll after check-in or after dinner.\n\nOverall, it was great value—there were so many things to enjoy at a reasonable price.

From parking assistance at check-in through to check-out, the service was exceptionally courteous. The meals were delicious, and the portions were very satisfying. Our child really wanted to play table tennis, and even though we asked outside of regular hours, you kindly opened the Facility for us. We truly appreciate it. Thank you very much.

It would be great if guests could check the availability of the private bath from their Room. Personally, I was hoping for delicious sashimi, and it was served in beautifully crafted dishes and tasted excellent. Haruna Shrine has a wonderful atmosphere and is highly recommended.

My first time at Ikaho Onsen. It was wonderful!! The staff were welcoming from the parking area, and in the lobby we were greeted by the robots Udon-chan and Komugi-chan. Check-in was relaxed, and starting off with the amenity buffet—where we could try a variety of items—was a fun touch. After enjoying the private bath, we had a leisurely meal. I had noted that this stay also served as an appreciation gathering, and after dinner they kindly showed consideration for us—my friend was truly delighted. Thank you very much! The Onsen offered two different types of baths to enjoy, and having towels available in the bathing area made it very convenient. The Facility has a bit of a Showa-retro feel, but it was spacious and comfortable to relax in. We stayed with an IKYU limited Plan, which included services such as colorful yukata rentals, and my friend said it was genuinely great!! Everyone said they’d like to stay again, and we agreed it’s an Accommodation we’d love to recommend. The staff were attentive, and guests of all ages seemed to be enjoying themselves. Thank you for taking such good care of us.

Due to my mistake, I thought I had made a Reservation for a Plan with dinner and breakfast, but it turned out to be without breakfast. At check-in, you confirmed it with me and added breakfast—thank you for noticing. Everyone was cheerful and kind throughout my stay, and I had a comfortable, enjoyable time. I was also happy to buy the Hotel’s original daifuku as souvenirs, and they were well received. The Onsen was wonderful, of course, and the meals were excellent as well. It was my first stay here, but it was reasonably priced and exceeded my expectations. With fewer smoking-friendly Hotels these days, I really appreciate it. I’ll be back again.

I stayed in a Room with an open-air bath, and the Room was simply outstanding. The spaciousness, cleanliness, design, and the in-room Onsen were all excellent. Since we didn’t order meals this time, we had limited interaction with the staff, but we didn’t experience any inconvenience. I’d love to visit again.

I’ve enjoyed buffet meals at many Hotels, but this Hotel’s buffet was outstanding in both taste and variety. The kids kept going back for their favorites, while I happily refilled my glass with delicious beer poured from the beer server—absolutely the best. The Onsen facilities include a scenic view bath and a large public bath, and both were uncrowded so we could truly relax. We didn’t have time to try it, but there are also two table tennis tables available for free use. It’s just a short walk to the Stone Steps Street, and there’s a convenience store right in front, so the location was excellent. Some parking areas are down a steep slope, but Shuttle Service by microbus is basically provided, so it wasn’t inconvenient at all. This is a Hotel I’d definitely like to stay at again when visiting Ikaho Onsen.

The sunrise view from the panoramic bath, delicious dinner and breakfast—this was a wonderful Accommodation.