Ito Onsen Daitokan isn’t your average onsen ryokan (traditional Japanese lodge with a hot spring). For starters, it’s got a bomb shelter. All rooms at the hotel are equipped with their own private hot spring baths, and other baths can be reserved for private use! Even if you aren’t staying the night it’s a great place to experience true onsen bliss, with prices for bath-only use set at 700JPY for adults and half price for children. Read on to find out more about the onsen and its bomb shelter.
Enter through the Noren, a traditional curtain placed at entrances
Ito Onsen Daitokan is located just a ten minute walk from JR Ito Station. The onsen is lovingly referred to by locals as Izu’s Okuzashiki, a place where people go to stay a night or two and escape the stress of everyday life. It has prospered as a favorite onsen destination since antiquity.
The Ito Onsen area has a large number of onsens, but Daitokan boasts the greatest amount of natural hot spring water ejection of them all. 297 liters of water are ejected every minute from three different sources. Because of this, they don’t use any artificial heating, nor do they add any minerals to their water; it’s 100% natural. The water is pumped into the baths as-is, with a large communal bath, rotenburo (outdoor baths), and three reservation-only baths all available. Even people who don’t have a real appreciation for onsen quality will notice and enjoy these exceptional baths. And, the reservation-only baths are free to rent out!
Changing the subject a bit, the one place I’ve really got to recommend when visiting here is the bomb shelter and goemon-buro (ancient style bath heated from underneath). The entrance is to the right past the lobby.
Passing through the noren curtain, the first thing you’ll see is the bomb shelter. Walk through the tunnel to reach the reservation-only goemon-buro. It’s the most popular reservation style bath at the hotel, so it’s sometimes hard to get a spot. If you’re lucky enough to get a reservation, definitely take it! If you’re really keen to use this bath, I recommend arriving early. Onsen use for non-hotel guests begins at 2:00PM.
Next, let’s explore the bomb shelter!
A thrilling walk through the tunnels
Check it out! A recent hot topic of Japan travelers, these are the catacombs that lead to the goemon-buro. I’m not completely clear on the history of the tunnels, but apparently they were designed more as storage for ammunition and supplies rather than for protection of people. It was actually used during World War II. Even if you enter in midday the shelter is dark, gloomy, and moist. The cool air and quiet, calm atmosphere is a bit haunting.
This tunnel is 300 meters long. Although entry is prohibited, there’s also a concrete reinforced room that was used for meetings. The tunnels are actually really long, so this is just one small part!
And there’s still more to see. The walls of the tunnels exhibit interesting geological features, with volcanic layers compressing down over time, resulting in what now looks like a mille-feuille. Geology lovers often come to observe this rare geological phenomenon, designated a “geo-spot” in Izu’s Geopark.
The goal is for this geo-spot to one day become a world-recognized geo-spot.
Warm up right to the core
The photo above shows the goemon-buro in the bomb shelter. Throw open the door to reveal two bathing pots sitting side by side. They’re so authentic, they look like something you’d see in a Japanese historical drama! This is a rare chance to bathe in the real thing.
As I mentioned before, this bath is the most popular reservation-only bath here. They aren’t much to look at, but the relaxing feeling and even the sound the pots make when you sink down into them are extraordinary and unique. This is a rare experience to be treasured.
There are no windows in this bath, so expect to feel warm both inside and outside of the pots. The air actually resembles what you’d get in a sauna, and gradually relaxes your entire body. The hot air teams up with the hot water in the baths, warming you to the very core. No wonder it’s so popular!
In addition to the goemon-buro, a reservation-only rotenburo and neburo (a bath where you lie prone and can sleep) are available, so choose the one you want and enjoy with your family or someone special.
Stretch out and relax
At Daitokan, there is a large communal bath (men and women separate) in addition to the reservation-style baths. It’s named nagare-yu (flowing water). All total, there are six baths available at Daitokan.
Nagare-yu is so big you could swim in it! The water is pristine and flows abundantly from its natural source. The water is transparent and leaves your skin feeling clean when you get out. Bathing times are separate for men and women. Guest staying at the hotel will be able to try both.
Onsen Data:
Water Composition: Pure hot spring water (low tonicity, weak alkali, hot water onsen) Temperature at Source: 44.6℃ pH: 8.4 Not-hotel guests welcome
A rare experience
This place is a real bargain at 700JPY for adults and 350JPY for children for guests not staying the night.
When using one of the reservation-only baths, please be considerate of other guests and keep your bath to under about 40 minutes. You can use them freely so long as they’re unreserved. For guests staying the night there is no in-house dining, but a shopping street with restaurants and convenience stores is located just a short walk away. During the summer there’s a free shuttle to Ito’s Orange Beach, so you can enjoy playing in the ocean, too.
The price makes a visit to Daitokan a great deal, and it’s the perfect way to warm up during the cold winter. It’s sure to be total bliss.
History
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