Home > IBARAKI 茨城県 > Kita-Ibaraki 北茨城市 > Itsuura Kanko Hotel, Taikan & Buzan Residences 五浦観光別館大観荘・本館

ir400-20190227-1353.jpg
Near Rokkakudo Pavilion on the Izura coast is Itsuura Kanko Hotel (五浦観光ホテル), pictured here on the cliffs. This was our hotel for the night. It had prime views of the coast.The hotel was high enough on the cliff to escape the five-meter-high tsunami on March 11, 2011. The hotel suffered only minor damage from the earthquake. The ground is very solid here, so quake damage was minimal.

Note that the hotel's name is pronounced "Itsuura" while the coast is "Izura." (Kanji characters are the same.) izura.net
ir401-20190228-2918a.jpg
In the hotel lobby: Kita-Ibaraki's official mascots, An-chan and Kou-chan. Together, they are "Ankou" which means "monkfish," or angler fish that is the city's most famous delicacy. An-chan is a fisherman, and Kou-chan is a monkfish.
ir402-20190227-1392.jpg
In the hotel lobby, Hina Matsuri dolls displayed for Girl's Day in early March.
ir403-20190228-2916.jpg
Lovely flowers in the hotel lobby.
ir404-20190227-1390.jpg
We arrived in the late afternoon in time for a tea ceremony in the hotel lobby. Conducted by the hotel's okami-san (proprietress 女将).
ir405-20190227-1396.jpg
My complimentary matcha tea and confections.
ir406-20190228-2926ItsuuraKankoHotel.jpg
Itsuura Kanko Hotel's okami-san or proprietress (女将) speaks English. The hotel also has English-speaking staff.
ir407-20190228-2895.jpg
Itsuura Kanko Hotel is quite unique and historical because it renovated the artist residences of Nihonga painters Yokoyama Taikan and Kimura Buzan and uses them as part of the hotel where guests can stay. We actually stayed in the Yokoyama Taikan residence here. (横山大観記念館 特別室)
ir408-20190228-2894.jpg
Entrance foyer of Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall where we stayed. Great private lodging for groups up to 22 people.
ir409-20190227-1448.jpg
Statue of Yokoyama Taikan (横山大観), a very famous Japanese Nihonga painter. Taikan was born in Mito, the capital of Ibaraki. (横山大観)
ir410-20190228-2910.jpg
Yokoyama Taikan (1868–1958) is one of the most famous Nihonga painters. His former residence includes a showcase of his artifacts.
ir411-20190228-2897.jpg
Main corridor inside Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall.
ir412-20190228-2898.jpg
ir413-20190227-1405.jpg
This used to be part of Yokoyama Taikan's living room, now one of the rooms where you can stay.
ir414-20190227-1406.jpg
Another room of the living room.
ir415-20190228-2900.jpg
Outside the living room, a moon-viewing deck.
ir416-20190228-2903.jpg
The Taikan house also has a small outdoor hot spring bath.
ir417-20190227-1412.jpg
Another part of the Taikan house. Very aesthetic.
ir418-20190227-1408.jpg
Beautiful tokonoma and painting.
ir419-20190227-1413.jpg
Taikan's residence is great for groups up to 22 people. It's a residence separate from the main hotel building so there's lots of privacy. Rates are very reasonable too. It was awesome to stay here.
ir420-20190227-1444.jpg
This is a typical room in the hotel's modern tower. Twin beds.
ir421-20190227-1446.jpg
Typical room in the hotel's modern tower.
ir422-20190227-1443.jpg
Typical room in the hotel's modern tower. This is the living room.
ir450-20190227-1421.jpg
In the modern hotel tower, our banquet room for dinner.
ir451-20190227-1423.jpg
Appetizers for our full-course dinner.
ir452-20190227-1425.jpg
Appetizers.
ir453-20190227-1428.jpg
Biwa lute-shaped dish.
ir454-20190227-1427.jpg
Abalone steak.
ir455-20190227-1429.jpg
Local Hitachi Wagyu beef. ("Hitachi" is an old name for Ibaraki Prefecture. The famous electronics company Hitachi is also from Ibaraki.) 常陸牛
ir456-20190227-1431Hitachigyu.jpg
Hotel staff in kimono cooking my Hitachi Wagyu beef. 常陸牛
ir457-20190227-1434.jpg
Hitachi Wagyu beef was just a small part of our dinner. We got really stuffed. 常陸牛
ir458-20190227-1437.jpg
Lobster in miso soup.
ir459-20190227-1438.jpg
Sushi. Tuna, shrimp, ika squid, hotate scallop.
ir460-20190227-1439.jpg
We were super stuffed, but there's always room for dessert...
ir461-20190228-2883.jpg
Next morning, breakfast in a large banquet hall.
ir462-20190228-2885.jpg
Breakfast included natto fermented soybeans. Ibaraki is famous for natto.
ir463-20190228-2882.jpg
View from the hotel's modern tower.
ir464-20190228-2881.jpg
View of Rokkakudo from the hotel's modern tower.
ir465-20190228-2924.jpg
Hotel gift shop.
ir466-20190228-2921.jpg
Hotel gift shop had this noren curtain with Rokkakudo design.
ir490-20190228-2990.jpg
Another part of the Itsuura Kanko Hotel is the main wing (本館) which is the former artist residence of Kimura Buzan (木村武山), another famous Nihonga painter who followed Tenshin to Izura.
ir491-20190228-2987.jpg
Lobby with Hina Matsuri decorations.
ir492-20190228-2986.jpg
Itsuura Kanko Hotel Honkan lobby.
ir493-20190228-2985.jpg
Itsuura Kanko Hotel Honkan lobby.
ir494-20190228-2931.jpg
Courtyard garden of Buzan home.
ir495-20190228-2933.jpg
Different parts of the residence are connected by enclosed corridors.
ir496-20190228-2967.jpg
Part of the Buzan residence.
ir497-20190228-2962.jpg
Entrance lobby of Kimura Buzan home. The wooden sign says "Buzan Residence." 武山邸
ir498-20190228-2935.jpg
Buzan's beautiful tea ceremony room. Very chic. Available for rent for tea ceremonies.
ir499-20190228-2937.jpg
Buzan's beautiful tea ceremony room.
ir500-20190228-2943.jpg
A large guest room. 武山邸客室
ir501-20190228-2939.jpg
Elegant transom with a pine tree carving.
ir502-20190228-2940.jpg
Relax here with a view.
ir503-20190228-2954.jpg
The okami-san posing in another guest room of the Buzan residence.
ir504-20190228-2950.jpg
Tokonoma of another guest room. Many of the materials are quite rare and valuable today.
ir505-20190228-2956.jpg
Corner room.
ir506-20190228-2957.jpg
A smaller guest room.
ir507-20190228-2947.jpg
Corridor with pebbled floor leading to the outdoor bath.
ir508-20190228-2945.jpg
Outdoor bathtub made of Shigaraki-yaki pottery (from Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture). The hotel has excellent taste in bathtubs. 信楽焼
ir509-20190228-2965.jpg
Fancy corridor inside Kimura Buzan home.
ir510-20190228-2973.jpg
Fancy corridor inside Kimura Buzan home.
ir511-20190228-2972.jpg
Large and private corner guest room inside Kimura Buzan home. It costs about ¥18,000 per person per night to stay here.
ir512-20190228-2971.jpg
One of the most elegant Japanese-style hotels I've ever seen. Precious artwork everywhere. It's like staying in an art museum.
 
63 files on 1 page(s)