Itsuura Kanko Hotel, Taikan & Buzan Residences 五浦観光別館大観荘・本館

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Itsuura Kanko Hotel, Taikan & Buzan Residences 五浦観光別館大観荘・本館

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

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.

In the hotel lobby, Hina Matsuri dolls displayed for Girl's Day in early March.

Lovely flowers in the hotel lobby.

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).

My complimentary matcha tea and confections.

Itsuura Kanko Hotel's okami-san or proprietress (女将) speaks English. The hotel also has English-speaking staff.

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)

Entrance foyer of Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall where we stayed. Great private lodging for groups up to 22 people.

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)

Yokoyama Taikan (1868–1958) is one of the most famous Nihonga painters. His former residence includes a showcase of his artifacts.

Main corridor inside Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall.

This used to be part of Yokoyama Taikan's living room, now one of the rooms where you can stay.

Another room of the living room.

Outside the living room, a moon-viewing deck.

The Taikan house also has a small outdoor hot spring bath.

Another part of the Taikan house. Very aesthetic.

Beautiful tokonoma and painting.

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.

This is a typical room in the hotel's modern tower. Twin beds.

Typical room in the hotel's modern tower.

Typical room in the hotel's modern tower. This is the living room.

In the modern hotel tower, our banquet room for dinner.

Appetizers for our full-course dinner.

Appetizers.

Biwa lute-shaped dish.

Abalone steak.

Local Hitachi Wagyu beef. ("Hitachi" is an old name for Ibaraki Prefecture. The famous electronics company Hitachi is also from Ibaraki.) 常陸牛

Hotel staff in kimono cooking my Hitachi Wagyu beef. 常陸牛

Hitachi Wagyu beef was just a small part of our dinner. We got really stuffed. 常陸牛

Lobster in miso soup.

Sushi. Tuna, shrimp, ika squid, hotate scallop.

We were super stuffed, but there's always room for dessert...

Next morning, breakfast in a large banquet hall.

Breakfast included natto fermented soybeans. Ibaraki is famous for natto.

View from the hotel's modern tower.

View of Rokkakudo from the hotel's modern tower.

Hotel gift shop.

Hotel gift shop had this noren curtain with Rokkakudo design.

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.