 Most viewed - Itsuura Kanko Hotel, Taikan & Buzan Residences 五浦観光別館大観荘・本館 |
Outdoor bathtub made of Shigaraki-yaki pottery (from Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture). The hotel has excellent taste in bathtubs. 信楽焼52 views
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Local Hitachi Wagyu beef. ("Hitachi" is an old name for Ibaraki Prefecture. The famous electronics company Hitachi is also from Ibaraki.) 常陸牛51 views
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Appetizers.50 views
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Hotel staff in kimono cooking my Hitachi Wagyu beef. 常陸牛50 views
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Lobster in miso soup.50 views
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We were super stuffed, but there's always room for dessert...50 views
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Abalone steak.49 views
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Breakfast included natto fermented soybeans. Ibaraki is famous for natto.49 views
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Part of the Buzan residence.47 views
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Hitachi Wagyu beef was just a small part of our dinner. We got really stuffed. 常陸牛46 views
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Corridor with pebbled floor leading to the outdoor bath.46 views
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Buzan's beautiful tea ceremony room. Very chic. Available for rent for tea ceremonies.44 views
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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.42 views
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A large guest room. 武山邸客室42 views
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Itsuura Kanko Hotel's okami-san or proprietress (女将) speaks English. The hotel also has English-speaking staff.39 views
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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).32 views
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This used to be part of Yokoyama Taikan's living room, now one of the rooms where you can stay. 31 views
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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.30 viewsThe 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
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My complimentary matcha tea and confections.30 views
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30 views
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Appetizers for our full-course dinner.30 views
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Courtyard garden of Buzan home.30 views
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Fancy corridor inside Kimura Buzan home.30 views
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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. 29 viewsAn-chan is a fisherman, and Kou-chan is a monkfish.
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Lovely flowers in the hotel lobby.29 views
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Yokoyama Taikan (1868–1958) is one of the most famous Nihonga painters. His former residence includes a showcase of his artifacts.29 views
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In the modern hotel tower, our banquet room for dinner.29 views
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Lobby with Hina Matsuri decorations.29 views
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Itsuura Kanko Hotel Honkan lobby.29 views
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Elegant transom with a pine tree carving.29 views
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Fancy corridor inside Kimura Buzan home.29 views
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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. 28 viewsWe actually stayed in the Yokoyama Taikan residence here. (横山大観記念館 特別室)
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Entrance foyer of Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall where we stayed. Great private lodging for groups up to 22 people.28 views
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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)28 views
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Another room of the living room.28 views
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View from the hotel's modern tower.28 views
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Hotel gift shop.28 views
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Hotel gift shop had this noren curtain with Rokkakudo design.28 views
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Itsuura Kanko Hotel Honkan lobby.28 views
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Different parts of the residence are connected by enclosed corridors.28 views
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Entrance lobby of Kimura Buzan home. The wooden sign says "Buzan Residence." 武山邸28 views
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Tokonoma of another guest room. Many of the materials are quite rare and valuable today.28 views
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One of the most elegant Japanese-style hotels I've ever seen. Precious artwork everywhere. It's like staying in an art museum.28 views
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In the hotel lobby, Hina Matsuri dolls displayed for Girl's Day in early March.27 views
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Another part of the Taikan house. Very aesthetic.27 views
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This is a typical room in the hotel's modern tower. Twin beds.27 views
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Typical room in the hotel's modern tower. 27 views
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Sushi. Tuna, shrimp, ika squid, hotate scallop.27 views
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Next morning, breakfast in a large banquet hall.27 views
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View of Rokkakudo from the hotel's modern tower.27 views
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Relax here with a view.27 views
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Corner room.27 views
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A smaller guest room.27 views
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Large and private corner guest room inside Kimura Buzan home. It costs about ¥18,000 per person per night to stay here.27 views
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Main corridor inside Yokoyama Taikan Memorial Hall.26 views
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Outside the living room, a moon-viewing deck.26 views
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The Taikan house also has a small outdoor hot spring bath.26 views
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Beautiful tokonoma and painting.26 views
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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.26 views
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Typical room in the hotel's modern tower. This is the living room.26 views
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Biwa lute-shaped dish.26 views
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Buzan's beautiful tea ceremony room.26 views
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The okami-san posing in another guest room of the Buzan residence. 26 views
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