The Izu Peninsula is one of Japan’s most underrated onsen regions. Despite it being so close to Tokyo, Izu rarely appears on typical tourist itineraries, making it a genuine hidden gem. Nothing beats a Japanese onsen destination mostly enjoyed by locals! Many ryokan across Izu offer rooms with private onsen baths, combining traditional Japanese hospitality with total relaxation and privacy. It’s an ideal region for travellers who want the full onsen experience, with optional public bathing.
Shuzenji onsen village
In the heart of Izu peninsula lies Shuzenji Onsen, the oldest hot spring village in Shizuoka. It has welcomed onsen travellers for over 1,200 years! Conveniently located near Izu town and easily accessed via Shuzenji Station, this quaint riverside village is the perfect place to unwind in a traditional Japanese ryokan.
Shuzenji has an excellent range of ryokan, both classic and newly renovated, that offer private onsen rooms and suites for a luxurious hot spring stay.
Below is my curated list of the best Shuzenji onsen ryokan with private onsen!
Headed elsewhere in Izu? Check out my post on Atami ryokan with private onsen, and be sure to save this post – I’ll continue to add more Izu villages as I explore more onsen towns.
1. Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa is a great, budget-friendly Izu onsen ryokan. It offers spacious indoor and outdoor public onsens, a buffet breakfast, and double and family rooms with lush forest views.
This Shuzenji ryokan has a limited number of Japanese-style rooms with an outdoor private onsen on the terrace. It also offers several kashikiri or private, rentable onsen baths, including both stone and ceramic tub-style private onsen.
2. Yukairo Kikuya
Yukairo Kikuya is a famous Shuzenji onsen ryokan with a 100+ year history as an established onsen inn. It’s most famously the ryokan frequented by Natsume Sōseki, a renowned Japanese author who lived from 1867 to 1916. Sōseki stayed here multiple times during the late Meiji period.
The ryokan has been renovated to blend Japanese design with modern comforts. The guestrooms here feature classic elements like tatami floors and sliding shoji paper doors, but are fitted with raised beds, spacious living areas, and some rooms, with private onsen!
Yukairo Kikuya offers a number of public onsen facilities too, including a large public indoor bath that’s designed to evoke a flowing river, an open-air stone onsen that overlooks a seasonal Japanese garden, and kashikiri private onsen that are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Maruyku Ryokan
Marukyu Ryokan is a recently renovated onsen ryokan that has over 100 years of history operating as an inn in Shuzenji. In addition to large indoor public onsen facilities, many rooms here also feature private, open-air onsen!
On-site facilities also include an inner courtyard with a koi pond, a lounge area, a gift shop, restaurant, and an outdoor terrace with an ashi-yu, or foot onsen, and a firepit. Three different kashikiri, rentable private onsen, are also available on the property. All onsen varieties in one place!
The ryokan has five different room types to choose from, including both western-style and Japanese-style rooms. Multiple rooms, including a presidential suite which holds up to 8 people, have options with private onsen in-room.
4. Akari et Kaori
Akari et Kaori is a recently renovated onsen ryokan with only nine guestrooms, ensuring a personalized hospitality experience. Its name translates to “Light” and “Scent”, which are two elements highlighted through the property, from designer lighting fixtures to calming sandalwood carvings and hinoki (Japanese cypress) bathtubs.
The guestrooms here are spacious and blend both Japanese and Western comforts, with many featuring private onsen baths. There is even a two-story superior suite with its own private hot spring bath attached.
5. Arai Ryokan
Arai Ryokan is a famous Shuzenji ryokan that has a history of over 150 years. The property is designated as a National Cultural Property, with its preserved architectural features include long wooden corridors, large inner courtyard garden and pond, and historic heritage onsen baths. Staying here feels like stepping back into old Japan!
Arai ryokan has two public indoor onsen and one open-air onsen, each featuring traditional craftsmanship and a calming ambiance. It also has two kashikiri, reservable private onsen on-site, which are free for guests to use and perfect for couples. If that’s not enough onsen for you, the Japanese-style rooms come with a wooden, onsen-style tub, perfect for soaking in privacy.
