Just a little under 3 hours drive from Tokyo is the most gorgeous ryokan in a seaside town in Higashi-Izu called Inatori Ginsuiso Inn in Inatori. I am still blown away about our stay in the final days of summer in this seaside hot spring town – so much so that I now want to visit again in the colder months too.
Let me share with you exactly how to replicate this beautiful getaway (including the sightseeing and restaurants nearby) – and exactly what we did on the way and places we visited during our stay.
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The Higashi-Izu Peninsula is a family-friendly getaway for locals who live in Tokyo. I recommend renting a car and driving, as we did, but – if you decide to take the train, Inatori Ginsuiso Inn also provide shuttle buses from Inatori Station (the ride takes 5 mins and please reserve your spot on the bus in advance.) Here is the Inatori Ginsuiso Inn Shuttle Bus service timetable.
Things my kids loved most about our stay at Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
-feeding the koi in the lobby (they did this every single day of our 3 day stay! Every day!
-the fact that we had seperate sleeping areas so they would lay out on the couch or tatami and close their sliding doors for privacy if they wanted to
-the outdoor bath on the balcony of our room
-the public baths downstairs
-the easy access and proximity to the Izu Grandpal Dinosaur themed amusement park (they even did the zipline here!)
-the beautiful buffet breakfasts with the seaviews right there (oh and they loved that there was soft-serve ice-cream and french toast for brekkie!)
Things that I loved while staying at Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
-the outdoor bath attached to our room (I had more than 3 baths a day and finished a whole novel in two bath sessions too!)
-the spacious living area combined with two separate sleeping areas
-the public baths downstairs (I especially loved an early morning bath in the outdoor bath – was even more magical one morning when it was raining!)
-the kaiseki meal at dinner time. This was kaiseki fine-dining HEAVEN every single night of our stay (we stayed for 3 nights and every meal was using ingredients/produce of the season and every night was a different menu!)
-the fact that we were out on the water
-this is such a boring parent comment but I love how the drive was so easy from Tokyo and stopping in Atami for lunch on the way through (I include all of these details in this article – because you guys know I know how the parents need ALL the details – because that’s how my brain works too.)
This blog post contains some affiliate links. This means that I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using my link – at no additional charge to you.
How did we get to Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
I rented a car from Tokyo. I have a list of where I like to (and have) rented cars from while in Japan here.
Please remember to organise your international drivers licence documents before arriving in Japan (here is a list of other things to organise ahead of time for a Japan trip). I’m from Melbourne, Australia and I just go to my closest RACV store and it is sorted in 10 mins or so.
I have written in detail on how I find driving in Japan to be – right here.
Where did we stop for lunch along the way between Tokyo and Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
Pizza with a view
We stopped at the yummiest Italian restaurant along the way called Coda Rosa. We didn’t make a reservation as I wasn’t sure what time we would arrive. We were there around 1:30pm in the end. No wait time for us (it was a weekday.) There was coin parking out front (the staff validated our parking ticket so it ended up being free parking) and there was also a bathroom with a change table for babies inside the restaurant. They have high chairs and space for strollers. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They accept most major credit cards.
I recommend budgeting 3000 yen per adult at lunchtime and more like 5000 yen at dinner time.
They have a lunch buffet here on weekends (which I don’t know if my kids would have enjoyed quite as much so I’ll have to try it out another time.) See the Coda Rosa website here. Please note that, understandably, the restaurant asks that every diner order at least one food and one drink item.
Just next to Coda Rossa is the entrance to the Acao Forest. I haven’t been in there before but here is the info if you would like to explore after lunch.
If you are visiting this restaurant by public transport, there is a bus from Atami Station averaging once an hour between 11am-5pm. See the Shuttle timetable here.
Hawaiian food & Pancake Cafe
Another option for a lunch stop in Atami is a cafe called 88 Tees. Food options include Butter Garlic Shrimp and Rice, Loco Moco, Beef Hayashi Rice, Gyudon, Japanese curry, Omrice as well as pancakes. Budget 2000-3000 yen per adult to dine here. They accept most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They have some vegetarian menu options.
We also stopped at Ebina Service Area (roadside stops in Japan are next level) before that for food and a bathroom break. They have an incredible food court and also food truck style food out the front (skewers and fried chicken etc.). If you stop here – please be sure to try the limited edition Tokyo Banana soft serve ice-cream – it’s so good (there is also a Baskin Robbins if you’re more of an ice-cream traditionalist.
Which room do I recommend at Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
I was invited to stay with my two kids and I was delighted that I was lucky enough to stay in the Komurasaki room.
Next time I visit I plan on staying at the exact same room or another of these suites at Inatori Ginsuiso Inn (the open air bath on the balcony was the icing on the cake and I don’t think they stay would have been the same without it.)
This is a small thing that also made a difference to me – the suites are on the same floor as the restaurant and guest lounge area – this meant that if the kids wanted to return to the room and I wanted to linger longer – they could return to the room before me and I knew that they were less than 30 steps away.
Why do I recommend the suites with the open air baths over the other rooms?
The reasoning is mostly cultural. I was fortunate enough to take a tour of the other rooms (the rooms with just one living/sleeping space and no outdoor bath) and, yes, there is a stunning public bath for both genders for guests to use but the rooms are smaller and they feel older in a nostalgic way for Japanese people (evokes memories of summers and winters with grandparents etc) but for first time international visitors to Japan – the sentiment can get lost slightly and doesn’t feel as lush for a family getaway.
What else makes a stay at Inatori Ginsuiso Inn amazing for families?
The oh-so Japanese details! You could actually not leave the whole property the entire stay and still feel like you’ve had a relaxing and authentic Japanese experience.
My kids would have been happy with time in the room, the restaurant and just feeding the fish! haha (I made them do lots more though.)
Are there any convenience stores near Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
Yes.
Daily Yamazaki is 5 mins walk.
7-Eleven is just 6 mins walk.
Are there any supermarkets near Inatori Ginsuiso Inn?
Yes.
There is a big MaxValu Supermarket (open 10am-5pm) just 11 mins walk. Next to the supermarket is a McDonalds (open 10am-8:30pm) and a large 100 yen store.
