Which to choose
Asaba or Ochiairo?
Both are old Izu inns on hot springs, about two hours from Tokyo, but they suit different stays. Asaba, one family's inn since 1484, is set around a pond with a Noh stage and serves its kaiseki in the room; Ochiairo, where Kawabata wrote, at the meeting of two Amagi rivers, has more baths and saunas and serves dinner in its restaurant.
Where
Shuzenji, Izu
Amagi Yugashima Onsen, Izu
Kind
Ryokan
Ryokan
Rooms
10
16
In the room
Every room has its own hot-spring bath
Every room has its own hot-spring bath
Shared baths
Open-air and indoor baths, with a private one to hire
Two hot-spring baths that swap between men and women
Dinner and breakfast
Kaiseki dinner in your room, included
Dinner and breakfast included, in the restaurant
Children
From age 7, at the adult rate
Children welcome
MICHELIN Keys
3
1
Booking from abroad
Straightforward
Straightforward
Choose
Asaba Ryokan- A Noh stage over the pond, with Noh and Kyogen performances in spring
- One family's inn since 1484
- Spring water piped straight from the source at Shuzenji Onsen into koyamaki baths
Choose
Ochiairo- Seven of its buildings are Registered Tangible Cultural Properties
- Several large baths with saunas, one a tea-room sauna by Dai Matsuo
- Standard plans include the lounge bar as well as dinner and breakfast
The two
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Q&A
Asaba's open-air bath is being rebuilt as two outdoor baths, one for men and one for women, due to reopen in November 2026. Every room has its own hot-spring bath in the meantime.
Tengu no Yu, its open-air and cave bath with sauna, became a mixed bath in September 2025, where swimwear is worn. Its two other large baths swap between men and women.