Prior to this, pre-orders will begin at 10:00 a.m. on September 29 through the support purchase service “Makuake” (details to follow). We will report on a preview showing its current state, where we were able to see “Ochiairow” in operation and “Shakunage” undergoing renewal work.
Ochiairo, a retro-modern hot spring ryokan, was selected for the 2024 Michelin Key. A total of 14 rooms with different atmospheres, some with indoor hot spring baths with free-flowing hot-spring water!
Ochiairo is a hot spring accommodation facility that reopened in September 2019 after renovating its water supply, hot springs, and other facilities while keeping the building used for Ochiairo, a long-established ryokan founded in 1874. The building is one of the “PDS HOTELS” hotel brands of Plan・Do・See, which operates hotels and restaurants in 46 locations in Japan and abroad, and the building is a registered tangible cultural property.
It also received the “1 Michelin Key” in the Michelin Guide Hotel category for 2024* and the Michelin “Saunasuran” in the sauna world for 2019 and 2020.
The nearest station is Shuzenji Station on the Sunzu Line of the Izu Hakone Railway, which can be reached from Tokyo Station to Shuzenji Station without changing trains by using the JR East “Odoriko” limited express train. Another option is to transfer from Mishima Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line to the Sunzu Line of the Izu Hakone Railway. In any case, please note that you cannot use a transportation IC card at Shuzenji Station, and must settle your fare in cash at Mishima Station. From Shuzenji Station, the inn’s courtesy car is available.
*Michelin Keys are awarded to accommodations that offer a particularly outstanding experience, similar to Michelin Guide starred restaurants. 6 3-Michelin Key hotels, 17 2-Michelin Key hotels, and 85 1-Michelin Key hotels were selected for the first time in Japan on July 4.
The grounds are lush and green, and the Kano River flows nearby. Upon arrival, one can hear the murmur of the river in the tranquility and feel a sense of elegance. The old suspension bridge, which is no longer in use, remains intact on the river, and it is fun to take a short walk in the surrounding area, which is rich in nature. At the entrance, guests take off their shoes and change into slippers in the traditional style of onsen ryokan.
From the lobby to the lounge, the atmosphere is retro-modern and relaxed. The accommodation plan is all-inclusive for drinks and snacks, including alcohol. Guests are welcome to eat and drink whatever is available in the refrigerators in their rooms and at the counters in each rest area without concern. In the lounge, there were soft drinks such as coffee and juice, as well as beer, wine, pudding, and ice cream.
There are 14 guest rooms, all with different atmospheres. This time, we were able to see two types of larger rooms, one with a living room and the other with two separate bedrooms. Aofuji” is 82.63m2 with a capacity of 2 to 4 persons, and is a type of two Japanese-style rooms with futon bedding. Kiritsubo” is a 69.02m2 room with a capacity of 2 to 4 persons, and is a Japanese/Western style room with a bed. Both rooms have good views from the windows and feature indoor hot spring baths with free-flowing hot-spring water.
There are three types of hot spring baths and two types of saunas, and a tent sauna by the river is available if requested as an option when making a reservation. The “Tengu no Yu,” which has an open-air bath, cave bath, and tengu sauna, and the “Tsuki no Yu,” which is an indoor bath with a tea house sauna, can be switched between men and women at different times of the day so that both can be enjoyed. The other, “Hoshi-no-yu,” is a separate open-air bath that can be rented out in 50-minute increments. The hot spring is a clear, colorless calcium and sodium sulfate spring.
Evening and morning meals are included in the plan price. Meals are not served in the room, but in a private room in the restaurant. The kitchen is open, allowing guests to observe the cooking process. On some days of the week, teppan-yaki is available, and a dedicated space is set aside for this purpose. All the ingredients are carefully selected with an emphasis on Shizuoka Prefecture products. For consecutive nights, they offer different menus.
A small store is located between the entrance and the lobby. It sells original amenities used in the guest rooms, bathtubs, bath chairs, sauna hats, sauna ponchos, and souvenirs.
Almost exactly as it was built in 1874, the inn is filled with retro motifs. If you like the atmosphere of a good old ryokan, you will enjoy just walking around the museum looking at the characteristic details. If you are interested, we invite you to experience the real thing.
© Source travel watch
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