This article contains advertisements
Ito, on the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula, is one of the region’s best-known hot spring towns — and tucked away on a hillside above the city sits Guesthouse Yamatosou, a small, easygoing lodge with a genuinely spectacular view.
It’s the kind of quietly excellent find that doesn’t try to be a grand ryokan, and doesn’t need to.
Why Guesthouse Yamatosou stands out:
- Hot spring baths that convert to private, lockable rooms after 7pm
- A hillside location with sweeping views over Ito city and Sagami Bay
- Genuinely good value, with rates that undercut most nearby ryokan
- A relaxed, guesthouse atmosphere — common areas, a shared kitchen, and free drinks
- Home-style dinners built around fresh Izu seafood
If you want a hillside room with an ocean view and a hot spring you can have to yourself, without paying full ryokan prices, Yamatosou is a genuinely good match.
Guesthouse Yamatosou, Ito Onsen
| Address | 1391-52 Oka, Ito-shi, Shizuoka 414-0055, Japan |
|---|---|
| Phone | +81-557-52-6430 |
| Official Website | 【Official】Guest House YAMATOSO |
| Day-use Bathing | Not available — overnight guests only |
| Check-in / Check-out | 15:00–21:00 / By 10:00 |
| Credit Cards | Accepted (VISA / JCB / American Express / Diners Club / MasterCard); IC cards and QR payments may also be accepted |
| Overnight Rate | Dormitory from approx. ¥8,500 per person / Private room with 2 meals from approx. ¥11,500 per person |
▼Book your stay▼
Getting There from Tokyo — Access Guide
Ito sits on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula, roughly two hours from central Tokyo by direct train — one of the more convenient hot spring towns on this list to reach.
🚄 By Train (Recommended)
Take the JR Limited Express “Odoriko” directly from Tokyo Station to Ito Station (approx. 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, no transfer). Alternatively, take the Tokaido Shinkansen “Kodama” from Tokyo to Atami Station (approx. 45 minutes), then transfer to the JR Ito Line to Ito Station (approx. 25 minutes) — a similar total journey time with more frequent departures. From Ito Station, the guesthouse is about a 10-minute taxi ride up a hillside; walking is possible but involves a steep, sustained climb, so a taxi is the practical choice.
🚗 By Car
From Tokyo, take the Tomei Expressway to Odawara-Atsugi Road, then Route 135 south along the coast to Ito (approx. 2–2.5 hours depending on traffic). Free on-site parking is available.
| Route | Tokyo Station → Ito Station → Guesthouse Yamatosou (taxi) |
|---|---|
| Train | JR Ltd. Express “Odoriko” direct (~1h45–2h), or Shinkansen “Kodama” + JR Ito Line via Atami (~2h) |
| From Ito Station | Taxi, approx. 10 minutes (steep hillside road; walking not practical) |
| JR Pass | ✅ Both the Odoriko and the Shinkansen/Ito Line route are covered |
A Relaxed Hillside Guesthouse
Left: A flight of stairs leads up to the guesthouse from the road. Right: The parking area, marked by a charmingly handmade sign.
Guesthouse Yamatosou has more in common with a well-run hostel than a traditional ryokan — and that’s very much the appeal.
The building has a clean, functional, almost business-hotel feel, softened by a relaxed atmosphere throughout the common areas.
Left: A relaxed lounge that doubles as a co-working space. Right: A shared kitchen, useful for guests on the self-catering (room-only) plan.
A free drinks corner and a shared refrigerator round out the guesthouse’s easygoing, help-yourself atmosphere.
🍸 A Happy Hour Before Dinner
Yamatosou runs a short happy hour before the dinner service, when guests can relax with a drink in the common area — a nice, low-key way to unwind before the meal.
The Rooms — Simple, With an Exceptional View
| Toilet | En suite (Western-style) |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Shared |
| Air Conditioning / Heating | Available |
| Wi-Fi | Available |
| Television | Available |
| Towels & Yukata | Rental (bath towel ¥100, yukata ¥150) |
Left: A simple living area with a sofa and TV — closer to a small apartment than a typical ryokan room. Right: An adjoining tatami room used as the bedroom, a nice touch for guests who like sleeping on futon.
Rooms are simple but comfortable, pairing a small Western-style living area with an adjoining tatami room for sleeping.
The private en-suite Western toilet is a welcome convenience, though the refrigerator is shared.
None of this matters much once you step onto the balcony: the view over Ito and Sagami Bay is genuinely one of the best you’ll find at this price point anywhere in the region.
The Hot Springs — Hot, Gentle, and Bookable as Your Own
Yamatosou keeps a handful of indoor baths, each designed with large windows that make the most of the hillside setting — not quite outdoor baths, but close to it in feel.
From 7pm onward, guests can lock any of the baths for private, family-style use, a simple system that works well for a guesthouse this size.
Bath ① — The “Western-Style” Bath
Left: A simple, unadorned tub — no frills, but the water does the talking. Right: The window view stretches out to the sea and surrounding hills, giving this indoor bath a semi-outdoor feel.
The first bath is plain by design, but its large window looking out toward the ocean and hills gives it a pleasant, semi-outdoor atmosphere despite being fully indoors.
The water runs on the hot side, though separate taps for spring water and cold water make it easy to adjust to a comfortable temperature.
Bath ② — The Retro-Tiled Bath
Left: A second indoor bath with distinctly retro tiling and an old-fashioned charm. Right: The spring-water tap here shows a heavy buildup of white mineral deposits — a good sign of a genuine source-fed bath.
This second bath leans into an older, more nostalgic style of tiling, and the tap’s thick white mineral crust is a satisfying detail for anyone who appreciates a properly source-fed spring. Each bath comes with its own shower and basic amenities, so there’s no need to move between rooms to wash.
Bath ③ — Closest to the Window
Another retro-style tub, positioned closest to the window, with the same dual taps for adjusting temperature.
The third bath shares the same old-fashioned tiling and dual-tap setup as the second, positioned slightly closer to the window.
The mildly alkaline water is essentially odorless and easy on the skin — a gentle, no-fuss soak that suits the guesthouse’s relaxed character well.
Dining — Home-Style Cooking With Fresh Izu Seafood
Meals are served in a small dining room and lean toward home-style cooking rather than a formal multi-course spread — closer to what you’d find at a family-run minshuku than a large ryokan, and served in portions that felt just right rather than overwhelming.
Dinner
The sashimi is the standout — genuinely fresh, as you’d hope for from a coastal town like Ito — backed up by simple sides like grilled mackerel, a small salad, and fried dishes that pair well with rice.
Portions are modest rather than generous, which some travelers used to a full ryokan spread might find on the lighter side, but for a guesthouse at this price point, it struck a good balance.
Breakfast
Breakfast arrives on one generously sized plate with a genuinely varied spread of small dishes — a nice touch that makes the meal feel more substantial than it is.
A properly dried fish, true to Ito’s coastal character, pairs well with a soft-cooked onsen egg and natto for a satisfying start to the day.
Final Thoughts
Guesthouse Yamatosou doesn’t try to be a grand ryokan, and that’s exactly why it works so well.
A hot spring you can lock to yourself after dark, a view over Ito and the bay that easily rivals rooms costing twice as much, and honest, home-style meals — all at a price that leaves room in the budget for the rest of your Izu trip.
Guesthouse Yamatosou is ideal for visitors who:
- Want a room with a genuinely outstanding ocean and city view
- Enjoy a hot soak but would rather bathe privately than in a shared bath
- Are looking for a well-priced base for exploring Ito and the Izu coast
- Prefer a relaxed, guesthouse atmosphere over a formal ryokan experience
It won’t suit anyone chasing a five-star ryokan experience, but for the price, the view alone makes it worth booking.
▼Book your stay▼