Gyotakuso Suzukiya in Tateyama

This quaint little inn is far off the beaten path, but the food is good enough to rival anywhere in Japan. With fresh sashimi, broilled fish, and all kinds of shellfish like abalone, the sea's bounty is literally at your fingertips. Enjoy the best seasonal sashimi with a generous helping of wasabi horseradish. The most photogenic dish would have to be the red snapper. The whole fish is cooked to perfection and marinated in sweet soy sauce. Abalones are prepared at a small grill on the table. Topped with butter and grilled, the abalone is then sliced and seasoned with lemon and soy sauce, allowing your taste buds to venture through Chiba Prefecture as well. The rooms have tatami mats like other traditional Japanese inns and most have an ocean view over the surrounding rooftops. There is a natural hot spring as well, perfect for relaxing before or after your meal.

I used my paid leave and stayed here on Friday while touring around Boso Peninsula.

It's far from the ocean, but I'd seen plenty of it before, and it's reassuring for motorcyclists that I can park my bike under a roof and that it's a little further away from the ocean.

The food was as delicious as its reputation suggests, and they have a wide selection of alcohol, so it goes well with alcohol. I'm not a big alcoholic, so I ate a lot of delicious white rice. Breakfast was also a true Japanese breakfast. The dried horse mackerel in particular was perfectly grilled (although many inns actually struggle to do this), and it was delicious.

I went to the hot springs about three times, but the bathing time was surprisingly short, so I wish it could be a little longer. The staff were all friendly, like the quintessential Japanese mother, and were attentive and enjoyable to chat with.

I'd like to visit again with my touring friends next time.

This is a very good inn.
As it is a ryokan with a culinary inn feel, I had high expectations for the food, but it exceeded my expectations.
Also, all the staff were kind and polite, which left a good impression.
Thank you very much.
I would like to visit this inn again.

The service was excellent and the place was very clean, so I highly recommend it!
The building itself is old, but the cleaning and service more than make up for it.

The food was also really delicious, and you could tell the staff had put a lot of effort into making it, so I'd definitely like to go again.

As you'd expect from a historic inn, there are quite a few stairs and steps throughout. While I'm not particularly handicapped, my knees are not as strong due to age and weight, so it was a bit of a challenge.

The guest room is 10 tatami mats in size with a spacious veranda, more than enough space for a single guest. The building itself feels old, but there are no stains or tears. It's equipped with a heated toilet seat and dimmable ceiling light, so I have no complaints about the facilities. However, the fluorescent lights on both sides remained on at all times, which was a bit strange.

While the window offers a view of the ocean in the distance, most of the view is of the roofs of private homes. The morning sun is unobstructed except by two shoji screens, making it quite bright, making it difficult to sleep in.

The refrigerator is not open to the public; only pre-prepared drinks are allowed. These days, many inns offer free use of empty refrigerators, so this was a bit disappointing.

The bathhouse is a bit small, even for a 16-room inn. The shower faucets were particularly close together, making it easy for two people to use them next to each other. There was also no shelf under the mirror, which made it difficult to find a place to store toiletries.

The hot spring water was clear and silky, yet warming. Unlike the cloudy sulfur springs of Chikura Onsen, this one is apparently brought in from Minami Boso Onsen.

The surrounding area is lined with private homes, so it doesn't have the feel of a hot spring town. There were no convenience stores within walking distance.

The food was delicious enough for the price, with a simple yet comforting flavor. Those seeking luxury or an extraordinary experience may find it disappointing.

The landlady and other staff were all very pleasant, and the landlady even sent me a polite thank-you email after I returned home, leaving a very good impression of their customer service.