Overview

Yoritomo-no-Yu Honjin brings more than 850 years of history to the quiet hot spring district of Kona in Izu Nagaoka. Surrounded by Mount Genji, bamboo, and traces of the area’s samurai past, this intimate 15-room ryokan offers a deeper connection to traditional Japan.

The story of Honjin is closely linked to Minamoto no Yoritomo. According to local history, he used the property as a lodging place and bathed in the hot spring around 1187. The open-air bath still preserves the stone where he is said to have rested.

Warm wooden interiors, tatami-covered floors, seasonal cuisine, and four distinctive baths create an unhurried escape. You can spend the day exploring Izu, then return for a long soak, dinner, and quiet views of the bamboo-covered mountains.

Accommodation

All 15 rooms follow a traditional Japanese style and look toward Mount Genji and the surrounding bamboo. Tatami flooring, futon bedding, and soft natural tones create a comfortable setting for slowing down after sightseeing.

The largest option combines a 14-tatami room with a separate 6-tatami room. With 20 tatami mats in total, a private bathroom, separate washlet toilet, and individual air conditioning, it works especially well when you want extra space with family or friends.

The 10-tatami room with a wide window-side seating area offers a more intimate choice for two. These rooms have been renewed and include views toward Mount Genji.

For even more room, the 14-tatami Deluxe Room gives you a corner position and guaranteed mountain views.

Room facilities include a private bath, washlet toilet, television, heating and air conditioning, refrigerator, hairdryer, towels, bath towels, toiletries, and futon bedding. You can also choose a colorful yukata from the selection in the lobby.

Dining

Dinner highlights seafood from Suruga Bay and seasonal ingredients from the surrounding region. The kitchen prepares each plate to bring out the natural taste of the ingredients, creating a colorful Japanese meal connected to the season.

Meals are served in the dining area, where you can take your time without the formality of in-room dining. Dinner begins from 18:00.

Breakfast offers a warm Japanese start to the morning. One of its local highlights is grilled dried horse mackerel from Numazu, served freshly prepared with rice and accompanying dishes. Breakfast begins from 8:00.

The dining area can also host banquet-style meals for groups of around 40 to 50 people.

Onsen and wellness

Kona Onsen has a history of more than 1,000 years, and Honjin is known as the first ryokan established in the historic hot spring district. The spring is a weakly alkaline simple hot spring containing sodium and calcium ions, with a smooth feel on the skin.

Four baths offer different ways to enjoy the water.

The rock bath is a spacious indoor bath framed by large stones and connected to the history of Minamoto no Yoritomo.

The hinoki bath brings the natural fragrance of Japanese cypress into the bathing space, with a garden view through the windows.

The cave bath creates a darker, more atmospheric experience inside a distinctive stone setting.

The open-air bath places you beside large rocks and the stone where Yoritomo is said to have rested.

The rock and hinoki baths serve as the shared men’s and women’s bathing areas and switch between evening and morning. Bathing hours are from 15:00 to 23:00 and from 6:00 to 9:30.

The cave bath and open-air bath are also available for private use. Each group can reserve one bath for up to 50 minutes at no extra charge. Reservations are taken at check-in on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests with tattoos

If you have tattoos, you can enjoy the private cave bath or private open-air bath. Each private session lasts up to 50 minutes and is arranged at check-in.

Facilities

Tatami covers the floors throughout the ryokan, allowing you to move through the property in slippers or socks while enjoying a consistent Japanese atmosphere.

The lounge offers complimentary coffee and a selection of teas chosen by the manager. It is a comfortable place to pause after arrival or enjoy a drink between sightseeing and dinner.

A selection of colorful yukata is available in the lobby, allowing you to choose a design that suits you before heading to the baths or dining area.

Free Wi-Fi is available, and complimentary parking is provided for around 15 cars.

Activities

The Genjiyama Seven Lucky Gods Trail offers an easy way to explore the area on foot. The 4.5-kilometre route takes around 90 minutes and passes through both Kona and Nagaoka Onsen. Spring brings cherry blossoms, while hydrangeas add color in June. On clear days, viewpoints along the trail can also reveal Mount Fuji.

Yutani Shrine, dedicated to Ebisu as part of the Seven Lucky Gods route, connects the walk to the origins of Kona Onsen. The shrine is believed to stand close to the place where the hot spring first emerged.

The remains of a historic Izu stone quarry also sit within the property grounds. Stone from the area is said to have been supplied for the construction of Edo Castle. You can view the quarry from the permitted area, although entry into the interior is restricted for safety.

For wider sightseeing, Izu Panorama Park, Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace, Shuzenji, Mishima, and the attractions around Numazu and Suruga Bay are within reach by car.

Additional features

Yoritomo-no-Yu Honjin is located at 6 Kona, Izunokuni, Shizuoka 410-2201. The ryokan offers 15 Japanese-style rooms, Mount Genji and bamboo views, four hot spring baths, complimentary private use of the cave or open-air bath, seasonal Japanese dining, a Japanese breakfast with Numazu horse mackerel, free Wi-Fi, complimentary lounge drinks, colorful yukata, banquet facilities, and free parking for around 15 cars. Check-in begins at 15:00, and check-out is by 10:00. Izu-Nagaoka Station is around 5 minutes away by car or bus and approximately 15 minutes away on foot.