Akaneiro no umi arujisu

The hotel impresses with unique balcony baths, spacious public baths, and delicious seafood. Guests appreciate the attentive staff, cleanliness, and prime seaside location for easy beach access.

My husband, daughter and son-in-law spent two nights at Arujisu in October 2022, after discovering it purely by chance while looking for an inn in Izu. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The inn faces Suruga Bay where one can swim in a protected area. Each room has a terrace with its own outdoor bath, and there is nothing more delightful than waking up early and soaking in the hot mineral waters before breakfast while listening to the waves. (There are also larger baths on the top floor.) Sunset views are breathtaking, as is the food - the west coast of the Izu Peninsula is full of fishing ports and guests benefit from the catch, which appears in exquisite dishes at both breakfast at dinner. I would also recommend exploring the environs on foot. There are quiet fishing towns and easy mountain paths through lush forests hiding ancient temples. The price for all this is comparatively low when one considers the beauty of the location, the quality of the food and the kind, caring service. It's worth the time it takes to reach Odoi - we took the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Mishima, then a taxi to the inn (quite reasonable for four people). There is also the option of going to Shimizu and taking the Suruga Bay ferry to Odoi, but do check that the ferry is operating at the time you need, as crossings are liable to be cancelled when the water is rough. One final note: We had been somewhat concerned because our son-in-law has some tattoos, and tattooed people are often banned from public baths in Japan. You will have no such problem at Arujisu, possibly because tattoos are becoming more accepted in general, or possibly because of the welcoming attitude of everyone at this inn.