RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX ASABA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1VKAOfMLhg
About Asaba Ryokan
Asaba Ryokan is a historic, 346-year-old ryokan, known as the first “Japanese-style hot spring hotel” and as the birthplace of “one berth and two food.”
This 15th-century, family-run ryokan is defined by timelessly minimal décor, impeccable service, and an intimate atmosphere. With a beautiful outdoor Noh theatre, an open-air bath surrounded by a bamboo grove and pond, and exquisite Japanese cuisine prepared with carefully selected local ingredients, Asaba Ryokan is more than simply a place to sleep. Many travellers come solely to unwind in the hot springs and enjoy a traditional multi-course dinner—making a ryokan stay an experience in itself.
Asaba Ryokan will undoubtedly be a top choice for relaxing and experiencing the delights of an authentic Japanese ryokan.
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General Information
- Address: 3450-1 Shuzenji, Izu-shi, Shizuoka 410-2416
- Telephone: 0558-72-7000
- Website: https://www.asaba-ryokan.com/
- Instagram: @asaba_ryokan
Location
Set in Izu and surrounded by greenery, Asaba Ryokan is in Shuzenji, a charming inland onsen town at the heart of the picturesque, mountainous Izu Peninsula—an ideal setting for a serene overnight escape from the capital.
It’s only a few hours south of Tokyo by train, and about an 8-minute walk from Shuzenji Onsen Station.
Staying Information
- Style: Luxurious ryokan
- Price per person: ¥50,000–¥70,000
- Check-in: after 14:30
- Check-out: before 11:00
Rooms
Asaba Ryokan offers 19 Japanese-style rooms and 4 deluxe rooms. All rooms are designed in a classic, high-quality ryokan style. Relax on comfortable tatami flooring with sliding paper screens, futon beds, elegant flower arrangements, and calligraphy scrolls. Large windows frame haiku-worthy views over the garden, lake, and stage. Select rooms also feature a deep wooden bathtub.
Hot Spring (Onsen)
Asaba Ryokan has shared indoor and outdoor hot spring baths. The indoor baths, made from koyamaki timber, are separated into men’s and women’s baths, while the outdoor bath looks out onto the pond and surrounding gardens.
A soothing indoor hot spring bath can also be reserved for private use. Families can hang a sign outside and enjoy the “family bath” in privacy.
Dining
Seasonal cuisine is the highlight at Asaba Ryokan. Traditional kaiseki features a variety of beautifully presented seasonal delicacies, ranging from a hotpot of sea eel and matsutake mushrooms to delicate sashimi, served in dishes that delight both palate and eye.
All meals are served in-room at a low table while kneeling. Guests are invited to change into cotton kimono-style yukata before dining. The experience follows traditional ryokan customs—sensibilities derived from royalty.
Amenities
- Banquet
- Facilities
- Concierge
- Garden
- Multilingual staff
- Sauna
- Spa
- Wi‑Fi in public areas
Popular Attractions Nearby
- Chikurin no Komichi (140 m) — Also known as the Bamboo Forest Path. A short, easy trail through bamboo beside a river, surrounded by tall, beautiful bamboo.
- Katsura Bridge (200 m) — One of five “love bridges” over the Katsura River; it is said love grows when you cross all five while making a wish.
- Shuzenji Temple (380 m) — A Zen Buddhist temple, said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 807. The present buildings are about 100 years old.
- Shuzenji Nijino Sato (1.5 km) — An amusement park themed on people, nature, and culture, with workshops, a Japanese garden, and a mini steam locomotive running through the park. Surrounded by flowers with an exotic mood; popular with families and cosplayers.
- Izunokuni Panorama Park (8 km) — Located at the gateway to the Izu Peninsula in Izu Nagaoka, known for hot springs and the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces (registered as a World Cultural Heritage site). Ride the cable car for panoramic views of Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, and Hakone amid flowers and trees.
- Kawazu Nanadaru Waterfalls (18.9 km) — Seven waterfalls in the mountains above Kawazu Town in southeastern Izu, ranging from the 30 m Odaru (large waterfall) to the 2 m Kanidaru (crab waterfall). A pleasant forest walking trail runs about one kilometer past the falls.
- Mishima Taisha Shrine (19 km) — The first shrine in Izu. Its main festival is held annually on August 16 and features yabusame performances.
- Mount Omuro (24 km) — A 580 m mountain and one of the largest volcanoes in the Izu region; it was active about 4,000 years ago.
- Kamiike Pond (25 km) — One of the seven wonders of Izu: a mysterious pond surrounded by the sea, yet filled with freshwater carp.
- Atami Sun Beach (29 km) — One of Shizuoka’s most popular resort beaches, 400 m wide with resort hotels and palm trees. Illuminated at night as a fantastical “Moon Light Beach,” especially popular with couples.
