I Looked Into Kamenoi Hotel Izu Kogen

Besides campsites, one of the hidden themes of this blog is that I also look into places for those "let's skip camping and do a hotel vacation today" kind of detours.

This time I looked into Kamenoi Hotel Izu Kogen. When I found out it apparently has a view overlooking the Izu Islands and two large communal baths that swap between men's and women's use in the morning and evening, I thought even an indoor type like me might find this interesting, so I started digging in.

What Kind of Place Is Kamenoi Hotel Izu Kogen?

It's apparently a hotel located in the Izu Kogen area of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Check-in seems to be 15:00 for all rooms, while check-out is either 10:00 or 11:00 depending on the room type. What stood out to me was that the official FAQ clearly states early check-in and late check-out are "not available."

Reservations can apparently be made through the official website's booking system as well as by phone. It also seems bookable through various travel booking sites like Jalan and Rakuten Travel, so the options look fairly broad. As for room rates, the "Stay Plans" page on the official site links directly out to an external booking system, and I couldn't find a fixed price table in the main text. It's probably best to assume rates vary by season and plan, and double-check at the time of booking.

Komorin

Since it's clearly stated that neither early nor late arrangements are available, I felt like it'd be easy to plan a schedule around those fixed times.

Two Large Communal Baths That Change Character Morning and Night

The hotel's biggest feature does seem to be its two large communal baths, called Manten no Yu and Gekko no Yu, which swap between men's and women's use every morning.

• Manten no Yu: features an indoor bath, a reclining bath, a dry sauna (average 90°C, 20-30% humidity), and a round open-air bath, and apparently offers a full view of the Izu Islands
• Gekko no Yu: features an indoor bath, a reclining bath, and a steam sauna (average 45°C, 90-100% humidity), and apparently lets you gaze at the starry sky at night
• Both baths reportedly have a cold plunge pool, with operating hours of 5:00-10:00 and 15:00-24:00 (the same hours apply to the saunas)
• The water quality is listed as sodium and calcium chloride/sulfate spring water (hypotonic, weakly alkaline, high-temperature spring)

Since staying one night means you'd get to use both baths thanks to the swap, you could enjoy the view in the morning and the starry sky at night for two quite different atmospheres. There's also a private open-air bath (with both an open-air and indoor bath included) that looks convenient for those who need assistance or families with small children, with slots available between 15:30 and 21:00 for 4,400 yen per hour (tax included, reservation required).

Facilities That Caught My Eye as an Indoor Type

Beyond the large communal baths, the in-house facilities also looked pretty solid for an indoor type like me.

• Wi-Fi: apparently free in all rooms (no separate details by room type)
• Parking: two lots on the premises with 67 spaces total (including 2 for accessible parking), free and no reservation needed, with EV charging also available for 2 vehicles (400 yen per hour, tax included)
• The Slow Lounge: open 15:00-24:00 (alcohol served until 21:00), with free beer, wine, whiskey, Shizuoka-grown tea, and herbal tea
• Yoga sessions: held 7:00-8:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays for 2,200 yen (tax included), apparently held on a water terrace and similar spots
• Karaoke room: 9:00-23:00, 2,200 yen per hour (tax included)
• Self-service laundry: apparently free to use 24 hours a day
• Massage: 17:00-24:00, reservation required, starting from 6,600 yen for 40 minutes

There also seem to be several room types with their own open-air hot spring baths, ranging from the Premium Luxury Suite (104 square meters) to the Premium Twin (52 square meters). On the other hand, the Japanese-style Superior and Superior Twin rooms have no mention of open-air baths, so this might be a hotel where the character varies quite a bit depending on room type. All rooms are non-smoking, with smoking limited to two designated rooms. The official FAQ also notes that guests with tattoos are asked to keep them "not visible to other guests" while using the large communal baths.

Checking Out Dining and Access

Dinner is served at Dining Shokai, where you can apparently choose from four kaiseki course options: the ultimate kaiseki "Kiwami," the special kaiseki "Takami," the regional blessings kaiseki "MEGUMI," and the seasonal kaiseki "Shokai." I got the impression the menu leans heavily on local ingredients, like simmered whole golden eye snapper (a local Izu specialty) and domestic beef steak. There's also a free late-night noodle service exclusively for guests, where you can enjoy a bowl of "Jigoku Meguri Yonaki Tantanmen" between 21:00 and 22:30, apparently offered in three rotating monthly varieties: red, black, and white.

As for access, there's apparently a free shuttle bus from Izu Kogen Station, with the official site listing departure times of 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, and 16:20 from the station, and 9:30, 10:20, and 11:20 from the hotel. However, I couldn't find a clear statement about whether reservations are required, so if you're thinking of using it, it might be worth checking in advance. Nearby sightseeing spots include Jogasaki Coast, Lake Ippeki, and Izu Granpal Park, all reportedly about 5-15 minutes away by car.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

Using the official "my Area Network Simulation" tool to check this hotel's location (the Yawatano area of Ito City), the overall rating came back as "C."

That's a somewhat modest rating, but since Wi-Fi is apparently free in all rooms, it seems like a good idea to plan on using Wi-Fi alongside it if you'll be spending a lot of time in the hotel. That said, signal strength can vary depending on the building's structure and where your room is located, so it's probably best to treat this rating as just a rough guide.

Komorin

Even though it got a C rating, I felt like it's probably not something to worry too much about while staying inside, as long as the free in-house Wi-Fi is available.

Wrapping Up

Putting it all together, Kamenoi Hotel Izu Kogen struck me as a hotel with a setup that hot spring lovers would appreciate, letting you enjoy two different large communal baths morning and night in a single stay. Being able to have such different experiences within the same building - a scenic bath overlooking the Izu Islands and a nighttime bath where you can gaze at the stars - looked appealing even to an indoor type like me.

On the other hand, Rakuten Mobile signal came back with a C rating. Planning around using the in-house Wi-Fi alongside it should make things easier to manage, but if it's a concern, it might be worth checking the rating for your own destination using Rakuten Mobile's official tool.

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Related Links

• Official Site