Romantic Hotels in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

"This is a century-old hotel with a real sense of history. Dinner and breakfast were decent, much like what you'd find at most onsen hotels, with the added local specialty of sea bream. The unique bathing experience here is thanks to the hotel's exclusive mountain elevator, which takes you to the highest point for panoramic views of the entire city."

"This is an established onsen hotel in Shuzenji, mostly frequented by Japanese locals for their getaways. I booked a Japanese-style room that included breakfast and dinner. Throughout the entire hotel, shoes are not permitted; they are stored in shoe lockers behind the front desk. Both breakfast and dinner are buffet-style, offering a good selection of both Japanese and Western dishes. The hotel also boasts seven complimentary private hot springs, which are fantastic, although you might have to queue during peak hours (each session is 30 minutes). What's more, they offer free ramen in the evenings, which is a wonderful touch. A special shout-out also goes to the free mahjong tables – a huge draw for Chinese guests! The hotel's location is excellent, right next to the hot spring street, and it's only about a 5-minute walk to Shuzenji Temple. The only minor downside is the lack of a free shuttle service to Shuzenji Station. However, the front desk can help you arrange a taxi, which costs around 1500 JPY."

"Absolutely gem of a ryokan and our favourite place to stay. Admittedly we did have the western beds (very cozy). Having a room along the river and across the suspension bridge was magical and exciting. Everything was perfect. The staff were so welcoming and made us feel incredibly at home from the moment we arrived. The highlight for us was our private riverside onsen right in our room—soaking there with the sound of the river rushing by was pure magic. The beautiful ”Kikuya Pond” (KKJ pond) and the overall historic, serene layout of the property added so much charm to the experience. The Kaiseki dining was utterly delicious, beautifully presented, and a true culinary highlight of our trip. As Westerners, we felt incredibly valued, respected, and well-taken care of by the staff. That being said, hospitality goes both ways! We highly recommend that fellow Western travellers take the time to learn basic Japanese phrases and standard ryokan etiquette before visiting. It’s a two-way street, and showing that respect makes an already world-class experience even more meaningful. Our only regret is that we didn't stay longer. We cannot recommend Yukairo Kikuya highly enough and cannot wait to return. Our Japanese Summary (日本語の要約) 湯回廊 菊屋での滞在は、今回の旅で間違いなく最高の思い出になりました！吊り橋を渡った川沿いの客室は本当に幻想的で、客室の源泉かけ流し露天風呂から眺める川の景色とせせらぎは最高に贅沢な時間でした。美しい菊屋の池など、どこを切り取っても素晴らしい佇まいです。 お料理（懐石料理）はどれも大変美味しく、スタッフの皆様にも温かく迎えていただき、心からおもてなしを感じることができました。もっと長く延泊すればよかったと、それだけが心残りです。必ずまた伺います。素晴らしい時間を本当にありがとうございました！"

"One of our favorite places to stay! It’s just a 5‑minute drive from the premium outlet, which makes shopping super convenient. The snacks after a hot spring bath and the ramen for supper were such a nice touch and really added to the experience. Be sure to opt for a room with a view of Mt. Fuji—we were lucky enough to see it every morning when we woke up, and you can also enjoy the view from the rooftop (w foot bathing if you’d like) Overall, it’s a lovely place with great amenities and unforgettable views, and we’d definitely love to return next time!"

"This stay offered the quintessential, meticulous Japanese service. The front desk staff were incredibly friendly and proactively helped with our luggage. We also enjoyed exquisite welcome desserts and matcha while checking in. The room had a fantastic open view, with a blend of lush greenery and ocean vistas. We even got to witness a sliver of sunrise in the morning (though it was cloudy on the day of our stay, so we only saw a peek). The ryokan provides an 'in-room dining' (heyashoku) service, where staff thoughtfully arrange and deliver incredibly elaborate breakfast and dinner spreads right to your room – a true feast for the senses. Of course, the most perfect experience of this trip was undoubtedly the private open-air onsen attached to our room. Soaking in the hot spring while gazing at the unbeatable ocean view was pure bliss! Although the ryokan also has two public open-air baths, the scenery there was comparatively unremarkable, and there were quite a few insects around dusk, so we only stayed for a short dip. Overall, the private in-room onsen experience was impeccable."

"The room was very clean, spacious, and comfortable. I barely ran into any staff or other guests during check-in or throughout the hotel, which made it feel very quiet, almost a bit eerie due to the lack of people. I walked to the hotel from the shopping street, and it was a very steep hill. With the rain and my luggage, it was quite a struggle on foot. I'd recommend a taxi if you're not driving. It's very close to the station, so using a ride-sharing app makes getting around super smooth. Apparently, there are bugs in the summer. Personally, I was delighted that there was a ping-pong table. I'd love to stay here again if I get the chance!"