Arai Ryokan: A hot spring inn steeped in tradition and history

Arai Ryokan is a long-established inn founded in 1872, located in the heart of Izu Shuzenji Onsen. Its beautiful wooden architecture, designated as a national tangible cultural property, and its charming garden continue to attract visitors.

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Izu City Inbound Promotion Project Team

The Izu City Inbound Promotion Project Team (commonly known as "IIP") is an organization established with the aim of promoting the attraction of foreign visitors tourists to Izu City and the development of a system for accepting them, with the aim of making Izu an attractive international tourist destination that makes use of Izu's tourism resources. Izu City is rich in nature and agriculture, and has a variety of tourist attractions, including hot springs, beaches, and mountainous areas. It is also easily accessible, about two hours by train from Tokyo, making it an ideal place for day trips or weekend getaways. [Notes regarding cover images] The cover image is a winning entry in a photo contest that colors Izu City. Photographer: Ojima Hiroki Title: "Coloring the Light Snow" Unauthorized use and duplication of the cover image is prohibited. For information on using the cover image, please check the Izu City Tourism Information Website.

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The history and characteristics of ryokan

Arai Ryokan has many buildings that were built between the Meiji and Taisho periods, and most of them are still in use as guest rooms. In particular, the elegant wooden architecture makes you feel as if time has stood still.

Registered Tangible Cultural Properties: Many of the buildings at this inn are designated as registered tangible cultural properties by the country, including the "Flower Building," built in the early Showa period, and the spacious "Tempyo Great Bath."

An inn beloved by literary figures : Many literary figures, including Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Kyoka Izumi, stayed at the inn and it was featured in their works. The rooms where they stayed can still be seen today.

Beautiful garden : The garden that surrounds the inn changes with the seasons, and just strolling through it is soothing to the soul.

Click here for Arai Ryokan's website!

Hot springs and cuisine

The waters of Shuzenji Onsen are gentle on the skin and warm the body from the inside out. At Arai Ryokan, you can enjoy bathing in three large public baths with different atmospheres, as well as private baths.

Tenpyo Large Bath : A spacious space made entirely of cypress, where you can feel the weight of history while soaking in the bath.

"Wooden Bath" and "White Wall Bath" : These two baths have different atmospheres and are alternated for men and women depending on the day.

In addition, the kaiseki cuisine, which makes generous use of Izu's fresh seafood and mountain produce, is one of the great pleasures of traveling. Enjoy to your heart's content the cuisine, which makes the most of seasonal ingredients and showcases the skill of our artisans.

Cultural property inn Arai Ryokan

970 Shuzenji, Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-2416

A wooden building standing along the Katsura River, an inn that is a registered tangible cultural property of Japan. Within a 5-minute walk from the famous temple Shuzenji and Shuzenji's representative tourist spots such as the bamboo grove. The proud cultural property bath "Tenpyo large bath" is made entirely of Japanese cypress and is the best in Japan. The inn's facilities include the open-air bath "Komorebi no Yu" surrounded by seasonal flowers, the open-air bath "Oribetsu no Yu/Sekka" newly established in May 2023, and two private baths where families and groups can take a relaxing bath. You can enjoy a tour of the hot springs inside. There are various views from the guest rooms, and the most popular rooms are those overlooking the Katsura River and the bamboo grove, and those standing on a pond and overlooking a large number of Nishikigoi. For meals, please enjoy Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine that makes the most of seasonal ingredients and allows you to feel the seasons.

Access and sightseeing in the surrounding area

By train : From Shuzenji Station on Izu Sunzu Line, it is about a 10-minute bus or taxi ride.

By car : From Numazu IC on the Tomei Expressway, take the Izu Jukan Expressway and then National Route 136 for approximately 40 minutes.

There are Toyotomi of walking spots in Shuzenji Onsen town around Arai Ryokan. Why not take a walk through history while enjoying the picturesque scenery of places like the Bamboo Forest Path and Tokko no Yu?

Shuzenji Hot Spring

Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-2416

Shuzenji Onsen, located in Shuzenji, Izu City , Shizuoka Shizuoka Prefecture , is the Izu Peninsula's oldest hot spring. It has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best hot springs. The Shuzenji River (commonly known as the Katsuragawa) flows through the center of the hot spring town, with hot spring inns and restaurants lining the riverbank. Along the riverbank is Tokko-no-Yu, a symbol of the hot spring resort. Nearby is Shuzenji Temple, from which the area takes its name, and is visited by many tourists. The temple holds the Autumn Kobo Daishi Festival every year on August 20th and 21st, with food stalls and fireworks. There are also walking paths, and the "Bamboo Forest Path" is a popular spot. There are many historical sites related to the Genji clan near the hot spring town, including the grave of Minamoto no Yoriie, the second shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, and Shigetsuden, which was built by his mother, Hojo Masako, to pray for the repose of his soul.