Shuzenji Onsen is the oldest hot spring resort village in Shizuoka. It’s located in the center of the Izu Peninsula at Shuzenji Station and next to the town of Izu. It’s a perfect place to enjoy a restful day or two away from Tokyo, or as a stopover when exploring different areas of the Izu area. Shuzenji onsen village itself is compact, and is centered around a few historic locations including Shuzenji temple, the Katsuragawa river, and the bright red Chitose bridge. It’s also home to a number of top-rated onsen ryokan, or traditional Japanese inns, that offer the full onsen experience.
Below are my recommendations for amazing onsen ryokan in Shuzenji, many of which offer private onsen in-room, or kashikiri (rentable) private onsen. These ryokan offer both Japanese-style tatami rooms with futon bedding, as well as Western-style raised beds, and often serve kaiseki (multi-course) meals on-site, which can be booked with the room. Most importantly, they all have beautiful indoor and outdoor onsen baths fed by the local hot spring waters too.
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Tips for booking a Shuzenji onsen ryokan
Before diving in, here are a few important tips to keep in mind:
- Hotels and ryokan in Japan sometimes don’t open their rooms for booking more than 3 months in advance. If it’s more than three months before your travel dates, be sure to bookmark this page so you can reserve your perfect Izu onsen ryokan at the right time!
- The price ranges (budget, mid-range, and luxury) are approximate rankings based on two people per room, including dinner and breakfast. Prices can vary significantly based on if the stay is for a weekday, weekend, or during Golden Week (the busiest travel period in Japan), so be sure to check the latest prices with the links provided.
- If you’re on a budget, you can book just the room and skip the meals. You’ll still get a great onsen experience! Just be sure to research restaurants in advance or bring your own cup noodle meals, because stores in these small onsen villages often close early.
Terminology overview – what is a ryokan? An onsen?
Ryokan – A traditional Japanese inn known for incredible hospitality, where guests can wear yukata (Japanese-style bathrobe) rentals and enjoy a soak in the onsen. They usually have Japanese-style, multi-course dinner and breakfast options you can book with the room. Traditionally, guests at ryokans sleep on futons on tatami floors, but many modern or renovated ryokans offer rooms with Western-style beds as well.
Onsen – Japanese hot springs which can be indoor or outdoor, public or private, and almost always enjoyed in the nude in gender-seggregated areas (which is why some prefer to have a private onsen!). Many ryokan offer kashikiri onsen, or onsen that are rentable or reservable for a designated period of time for private use.
Now, let’s get started on this list of amazing ryokan in Shuzenji onsen, Izu!
Budget Shuzenji Onsen Ryokan options
These budget onsen ryokan options are the cheapest onsen stays you’ll find in Shuzenji. They still provide a great onsen ryokan experience, without needing to splurge.
Unfortunately for our collective wallets, it’s rare to find truly budget-friendly onsen ryokan stays, simply because so much goes into making a ryokan experience special.
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa is a great, budget-friendly introduction to the onsen ryokan experience in Izu and Japan. It offers spacious indoor and scenic outdoor public onsens, a buffet breakfast, and double and family rooms with lush forest views.
Although the cheapest room option here is the budget double room, I recommend at least upgrading to a Japanese-style room to enjoy a more spacious and relaxed ryokan experience.
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa has a limited number of Japanese-style rooms with an outdoor private onsen on the terrace. It also offers several kashikiri onsen baths, including both stone and ceramic tub-style private onsen.
Shuzenji Onsen Hotel Takitei Izu
Shuzenji Onsen Hotel Takitei is an old-fashioned, traditional onsen ryokan in Izu. It evokes a rustic atmosphere, like stepping back into 1980’s Japan. It boasts the largest indoor public onsen in all of Shuzenji, but unfortunately does not offer private onsen on-site.
Both Japanese and Western-style rooms are available here for a budget-friendly price, and yukata bathrobes can be rented for free. Japanese-style breakfast and dinner are served at the property that highlight local Izu region ingredients.
Although some of the facilities are old, it’s a good value-for-money onsen hotel in Shuzenji. And don’t be scared off by the low rating on Booking.com – if a ryokan is mostly frequented by Japanese guests, scores in the 6-7 range are common.
Mid-Range Ryokan options
This bracket of onsen ryokan gives you plenty of comfort and a gorgeous traditional atmosphere. The prices you’ll see for these onsen ryokan are typical of many onsen villages and onsen ryokan around Japan.
For a classic onsen ryokan experience in Shuzenji and Izu, you can’t go wrong with any of these locations.
Marukyu Ryokan
Marukyu Ryokan is a recently renovated onsen ryokan that has over 100 years of history operating as an inn in Shuzenji. In addition to large indoor public onsen facilities, many rooms here also feature private, open-air onsen! On-site facilities also include an inner courtyard with a koi pond, a lounge area, a gift shop, restaurant, and an outdoor terrace with an ashi-yu, or foot onsen, and a firepit. Three different kashikiri, rentable private onsen are available on the property. Everything you need in one place!
The ryokan has five different room types to choose from, including both western-style and Japanese-style beds options. If you’re traveling in a large group or with families, most rooms here hold up to 6 people (if sleeping on futons). A presidential suite (which holds up to 8 people) is also available with a rooftop private onsen.
Akari et Kaori
Akari et Kaori is a recently renovated, small-scale onsen ryokan with only nine guestrooms, ensuring a personalized hospitality experience. Its name translates to “Light” and “Scent”, which are two elements highlighted through the property, from designer lighting fixtures to a lamp gallery, and calming sandalwood carvings and hinoki (Japanese cypress) bathtubs that encourage relaxation of both mind and body.
The public onsen facilities are modest in size to match the intimate nature of the ryokan, but they are beautifully finished with Mt. Fuji lava-stone walls and a semi-open-air bath overlooking a seasonal garden.
Guestrooms are spacious and blend both Japanese and Western comforts, with many featuring private onsen baths. There is even a two-story superior suite with its own private hot spring bath attached.
Goyokan
Goyokan is a stylish and boutique onsen ryokan in the heart of Shuzenji. It’s a little different from the classic or traditional Japanese ryokan, with its modern design choices like bold colored-walls and black tatami mats. With only eight guestrooms, Goyokan offers a personalized stay, where every guestroom is individually styled by designers to create a unique experience. Each room is Japanese-style with futon bedding, with layouts that accommodate 2-6 guests.
The spacious onsen facilities here are a highlight, including the spacious indoor ‘sanctuary’ onsen, the Japanese cypress bath tub, and semi-open air ceramic pot bath. This ryokan’s blend of contemporary design and traditional onsen elements makes it a great place for travelers looking for a unique onsen retreat.
Luxury Shuzenji Onsen Ryokan options
If you’re looking to splurge on an onsen ryokan during your time in Japan, these luxury Shuzenji ryokan are some great options. Perfect for special occasions like anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrating retirement, these high-end ryokan will have you relaxing in style and pure luxury.
Arai Ryokan
Arai Ryokan is a well-known and ryokan in Shuzenji onsen that has a history of over 150 years. The property is designated as a National Cultural Property, with its preserved architectural features include long wooden corridors, large inner courtyard garden and pond, and historic heritage onsen baths. Staying here feels like stepping back into old Japan. Paired with top-notch hospitality and comfort, staying here will be an experience you’ll never forget.
Arai ryokan has two public indoor onsen and one open-air onsen, each featuring traditional craftsmanship and a calming ambiance. It also has two kashikiri, reservable private onsen on-site, which are free for guests to use and perfect for couples. If that’s not enough onsen for you, the Japanese-style rooms here with attached bathrooms also come with a wooden, onsen-style tub, perfect for soaking in privacy.
Yukairo Kikuya
Yukairo Kikuya is another famous onsen ryokan in Shuzenji with a history of over 100 years as an established onsen inn. It has long been beloved by writers and artists, most famously Natsume Sōseki, a renowned Japanese author who lived from 1867 to 1916. Sōseki stayed here multiple times during the late Meiji period, and the ryokan preserves this legacy through small exhibitions and on-site displays that honour his connection to the property.
The ryokan has been thoughtfully renovated to blend its old-world charm with contemporary Japanese design. The guestrooms here feature classic elements like tatami floors and sliding shoji paper doors, but are fitted with Western comforts like raised beds, spacious living areas, and other modern comforts.
Yukairo Kikuya offers a number of public onsen facilities, including a large public indoor bath that’s designed to evoke a flowing river, an open-air stone onsen that overlooks a seasonal Japanese garden, and kashikiri private onsen that are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In summary
Shuzenji onsen offers some amazing onsen ryokan experiences in the Izu Peninsula. Those listed above are located in Shuzenji onsen village, walking distance (20 minutes or less) from Shuzenji Station.
If you’re arriving by car, there are other Shuzenji region onsen ryokans you could reach as well, like Laforet Shuzenji Sanshisuimei (on a country club with private onsen).
Whether you’re looking for a traditional stay, a boutique hideaway, or a luxury retreat, Shuzenji Onsen has a ryokan to match every style of traveller.
No matter where you choose, the slow pace of the village, the soothing hot springs, and the surrounding Izu nature make it the perfect place to unwind and reset!
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