Izumiya Ryokan

We are a couple in our 60s who stayed here. We visit once or twice a year. The senior course offers a special deal, allowing entry from 2:00 PM, but we didn't expect to be able to arrive earlier and wanted to try the teppanyaki grill, so we opted for the regular course. Our room was a 10-tatami Japanese-style room. We sat in a kotatsu table and toasted with Asahi Super Dry beer purchased from the vending machine inside the building. The room was comfortable, with a clean toilet and sink. The futon was laid out on top of a 15cm-thick bedspring, making it very comfortable. The food served in our private dining room was delicious and substantial, and we ended up drinking way too much. Needless to say, the hot springs are truly unparalleled, as everyone has said in their reviews. The management is young, so we're sure we'll enjoy this wonderful hot spring inn for years to come.

The water springs up at your feet, which is nice. Shikanoyu is about 38°C, while Hachimanoyu is about 40°C, so you can soak for a long time. It's a little more expensive than the other popular baths, but the interior of this one feels cleaner. There's no need to go outside. The only downside is that there's only one washing area in each bath, so it doesn't get very hot and doesn't get very hot. The food was delicious, and not too much. They also have a selection of local Fukushima sake, and the recommended Hirotogawa was delicious.

This inn is far from the city center and has a real sense of being in a hidden gem. The parking lot and exterior look like they've been around for a while, but the inside has been renovated and is very clean. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, and the portions weren't too large, which was perfect for someone nearing sixty like me. It was unfortunately raining, but I wonder what the starry sky would have been like if it had been sunny? It's such a quiet place.

The hot springs were absolutely amazing. I can't stand hot water, so this was perfect for me. The food and service are all managed by the couple and their grandmother, which is great! 😄 This is a historic inn where Toko Fujita is said to have cured an illness, and it also seems to have been connected to the lord of Tanagura, Tachibana Muneshige. His ancestors were known as Izumi no Kami and are the head family of the nearby family!

I went about three years ago, but here are my belated impressions. I went into Shika no Yu during the women-only hours, and it was so relaxing, like having the bath all to myself. It felt like a swimming pool. The partitioned bath at Hachiman no Yu was a type I had never seen before. I was oddly nervous. Sea squirts were served in a small dish at dinner, and as a sea squirt lover, I was delighted!