I Looked Into Yawatano Onsen Village Mori no Yu Kirano Sato

Besides campgrounds, I've also been slowly researching places that could work for those days when I think, 'Let's skip the campsite and go for a hokans instead' — a hotel-based relaxation getaway. I keep these under a category on Komorin's Fantasy Trip blog called Hokans Detours.

This time, I looked into Yawatano Onsen Village Mori no Yu Kirano Sato, a property in the Kyoritsu Resort group. I came across a description mentioning that its main bathhouse has as many as 10 different types of baths, and that caught my attention enough to want to jot it down. The fact that there are apparently 3 free private baths was also a pretty appealing point for someone like me who's more of an indoor type.

What Kind of Place Is Mori no Yu Kirano Sato?

It's a hot spring resort located in the Yawatano area of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and apparently one of the brands operated by Kyoritsu Resort. Check-in is listed as starting at 3:00 PM, with check-out by 11:00 AM.

Reservations seem to be mainly handled through the online form on the official website, though phone bookings are apparently accepted as well. The official site also mentions a best-rate guarantee, saying that booking directly through the official site is the best deal, and since specific rates vary by plan, it seems safest to check directly on the official website. There also appear to be package plans that bundle flights, JR train tickets, and rental cars, which made me feel like even someone like me, who doesn't drive, would have plenty of flexibility in how to put a trip together.

Apparently there's a free shuttle bus running from the nearest station, Izu-Kogen Station on the Izukyu Line. From the station, it seems to run from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, and from Kirano Sato back to the station from 9:15 AM to 11:15 AM, both on roughly 30-minute intervals with a trip taking about 7 minutes. No advance reservation is needed, but depending on traffic conditions, it might not always run exactly on schedule, so it could be a good idea to build in a little extra time on the day. As someone who barely drives, just knowing this shuttle bus exists was a huge relief.

Komorin

Just having a free shuttle bus from the station really lowers the hurdle when it comes to figuring out how to get there. That's a really nice point for someone like me who doesn't drive.

Bath-Hopping and Four Types of Guest Rooms Across a 6,600-Tsubo Property

The main highlight of this property seems to be the large communal bathhouse called Mori no Yu. It offers 10 different types of baths, and among them, the hinoki (cypress) open-air bath fed by a continuously flowing hot spring source was introduced as the signature bath. On top of that, a renovation in December 2025 apparently added a self-service sauna with a löyly steam feature and a wooden tub bath, so this could be an interesting spot for sauna fans too.

Beyond the main bathhouse, another point I couldn't overlook is that there are 3 free private open-air baths available. I couldn't find details about the available time slots or how to reserve them in the main text of the official site, so it seems best to check when making a reservation.

• Hatago Yawatano: 35㎡, 2-4 guests, 20 rooms, a standard type with a shower room
• Bettei Yamano Oto: 50-58㎡, 2-4 or 2-5 guests, 20 rooms, with a terrace and massage chair
• Hanare Takebue: 44㎡, 2-4 guests, 20 rooms, with an in-room open-air bath fed directly from the hot spring source
• Kokyo Umi Hotaru: 22㎡, 1-2 guests, 5 rooms, rooms with a double bed overlooking Sagami Bay

The guest rooms are divided into four types, and it seems some of them even have their own open-air bath right in the room. Dinner apparently comes in a format where you can choose between seafood shabu-shabu or lava-rock grilling, and since May 2025, a low-allergen menu has also reportedly been available. Free Wi-Fi seems to be included in the rooms too, which made me feel like, as an indoor type, spending quiet time in the room would also be pretty satisfying.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official My Area Connectivity Simulation tool, the overall rating came back as a 'C'. This is the result I got by actually running the tool myself, and I'm sharing it here as is.

Since free Wi-Fi is apparently available in the guest rooms, there probably aren't too many situations where you'd be seriously stuck for connectivity during your stay. That said, signal conditions could change while traveling to and from the property or in outdoor areas on the grounds, so it seems like a good idea to keep that in mind ahead of time.

Komorin

Seeing a C rating does make me a little wary, but if the place has Wi-Fi, maybe I don't need to brace myself too much. Still, I think it's reassuring to double-check just in case.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, my impression of Yawatano Onsen Village Mori no Yu Kirano Sato is that it's a resort on a 6,600-tsubo property with 10 different types of baths and 3 free private open-air baths, and it seems well suited for anyone who wants to enjoy bath-hopping. Each of the four guest room buildings has its own character, and the fact that some room types even come with their own open-air bath means you can really soak in that hokans feeling. The free shuttle bus from the station was also a welcome feature for someone like me who doesn't drive.

The Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a C rating, so if connectivity is a concern for you, it might be reassuring to check with the official tool ahead of time.

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.

Related Links

• Official Site