Tokaikan: a 1928 wooden ryokan on Ito's river
A three-storey wooden inn from 1928, now open to visitors, with carved details, a tower room and a weekend public bath.
- Hours
- 9:00–21:00, closed 3rd Tuesday
- Admission
- about ¥200 (adults)
On the bank of the river that runs through Ito, the three-storey wooden Tokaikan is a reminder of Ito's heyday as a hot spring town. It was built in 1928 as a ryokan, operated until 1997, and reopened in 2001 as a public building owned by the city.
What to see
- Each floor was finished by a different master carpenter, so the woodwork changes as you climb.
- A small tower room at the top gives views over the town.
- The hot spring bath is open to the public on weekends and holidays, for a separate fee.
- A café on the ground floor.
Practical
The building is open from 9:00 to 21:00 (last entry 20:30) and closes on the third Tuesday of the month. Admission was listed at ¥200 for adults and ¥100 for children. It is about 10 minutes on foot from JR Ito station. Check the Ito tourist association site for current details.
