♨️Thinking of taking a family trip to the Izu Peninsula?
If you’re traveling with kids, I highly recommend Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa, a family-friendly ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) located in the heart of Shuzenji Onsen, a well-known hot spring town in central Izu.
In this article, I’ll share my personal experience staying there with my family.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing place to stay or planning your sightseeing around Shuzenji, I hope this post helps you decide if this ryokan is right for your trip.
On my blog, I share helpful travel tips for families, based on our experiences traveling around Japan and overseas.
I especially focus on places that are comfortable and fun for parents traveling with young children.
- 1 About Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
- 2 7 Reasons Why Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa Is Great for Families with Kids
- 2.1 1. Seven Private Onsen Baths – No Reservation Needed
- 2.2 2. Spacious Play Areas to Keep Kids Happy and Active
- 2.3 3. No Shoes Indoors – Easy & Comfortable for Families
- 2.4 4. Spacious Tatami Room with Low Beds – Safe for Young Kids
- 2.5 5. Kid-Friendly Buffet Meals for Dinner & Breakfast
- 2.6 6. Clean, Modern, and Well-Maintained Facilities
- 2.7 7. Friendly, Helpful Staff Make the Difference
- 3 Access to Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
- 4 Summary
About Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
🏨Hotel Name:
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
📍Adress:
860 Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
🌐 Official Website:
https://dormy-hotels.com/en/resort/hotels/katsuragawa/
⭐ Guest Review Rating (on Booking.com)
8.8 / 10 ★★★★★★★★★☆
(as of April 2025)
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa is a family-friendly hot spring ryokan operated by Kyoritsu Resort, a hospitality group known for its traditional inns and resort hotels across Japan.
At this ryokan, guests can enjoy seven private hot spring baths, each filled with natural hot spring water from Shuzenji Onsen. These private baths are great for families or couples who want to relax in a more personal space.
The ryokan also offers delicious seasonal Japanese meals made with fresh local ingredients, served buffet-style.
📍 The ryokan is located at the eastern entrance of the Shuzenji Onsen town, just a short walk from popular sightseeing spots like Chikurin-no-Komichi (Bamboo Path) and local restaurants. It’s an ideal base for exploring the charming streets of this historic onsen town.
The location makes it a perfect base for exploring the peaceful and historic atmosphere of Shuzenji.
7 Reasons Why Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa Is Great for Families with Kids
When we arrived in Shuzenji around noon, we were able to park our car at the ryokan in advance and leave our luggage at the front desk, even before check-in.
This gave us time to walk around the onsen town and enjoy lunch and sightseeing.
The location is ideal for families who want to explore the area on foot.
1. Seven Private Onsen Baths – No Reservation Needed
When traveling with small children, private onsen baths make a huge difference.
We have two daughters (5 and 2 years old), and it’s not easy for my wife to take both into the women’s public bath alone.
That’s why we really appreciated having access to private family baths.
✅ You can check the availability of each bath on the display panel near the entrance to the bathing area.
Although the changing room was a bit tight for four people, the bath itself was spacious and comfortable.
They even have baby-friendly amenities like a small baby bathtub, which is great for families with infants.
♨️There are seven private baths in total, and since you don’t need to reserve them in advance, it’s easy to use them whenever they’re available.
After the kids went to sleep, my wife and I took turns soaking in a few of the other private baths and also enjoyed the large public bath.
- ⏫Tsuchikabe-no-Yu (Earthen Wall Bath)
- ⏫Akatsubo-no-Yu (Red Pot Bath)
- ⏫Hakkaku-no-Yu (Octagonal Bath)
- ⏫Hinokiha-no-Yu (Cypress Leaf Bath)
- ⏫Meisō-no-Yu (Meditation Bath)
- ⏫Iwaza-no-Yu (Rock Seat Bath)
2. Spacious Play Areas to Keep Kids Happy and Active
3. No Shoes Indoors – Easy & Comfortable for Families
It’s one of those little touches that really makes a difference when traveling with young children.
4. Spacious Tatami Room with Low Beds – Safe for Young Kids
But when you’re traveling with small children, there’s always that worry:
While futon setups are cozy, they’re usually prepared by the staff during dinner time, which means having to tidy up your luggage before heading out. It can be a small hassle.
Personally, I preferred the spacious 14-tatami mat room with low beds—it was just the right size for our family.
Our daughters slept soundly all night without waking up once—or rolling off the beds!
5. Kid-Friendly Buffet Meals for Dinner & Breakfast
At this ryokan, there were kid-sized carts available in addition to the regular ones—light, easy to push, and just the right size for little hands.
6. Clean, Modern, and Well-Maintained Facilities
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa was fully renovated and reopened in October 2020 by Kyoritsu Maintenance, a hospitality group known for managing ryokans and resort hotels across Japan.
The entire property feels fresh and well cared for. Everything—from the hallways to the dining area and kids’ play zones—was spotless.
7. Friendly, Helpful Staff Make the Difference
This might sound simple, but in the end, what really makes a ryokan special is the staff.
😊 At Katsuragawa, we met a mix of friendly young team members and experienced staff who knew how to take care of guests. Everyone worked well together, and their teamwork stood out.
Even when things got a little hectic with our kids, the staff were patient, understanding, and always willing to help. That made a big difference in how relaxed we felt during our stay.
🙏 A big thank you to everyone at Katsuragawa for your kindness and great service!
Access to Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa
You can get to Katsuragawa either by car or by train, and both options are convenient depending on your travel style.
Here’s a quick guide for each route.
🚗 By Car
If you’re driving, take either the Tomei Expressway (Numazu IC) or the Shin-Tomei Expressway (Nagaizumi-Numazu IC).
From there, follow these roads in order:
Izu-Jūkan Expressway
Izu-Chūō Toll Road (¥200)
Shuzenji Road (¥200)
💰 These toll roads don’t accept ETC cards, so make sure to prepare cash in advance.
100-yen coins are ideal, but the toll booths do give change, so 500-yen coins or 1,000-yen bills are fine too.
From Numazu IC, the drive takes about 30 minutes south to reach Shuzenji IC, and then just a few more minutes to the onsen town.
Local roads in Izu can get congested, especially during holiday weekends, so we recommend taking the toll roads to save time.
🚆 By Train
Taking public transportation to Shuzenji Onsen is also a great option—especially for those traveling from Tokyo or other major cities.
There are two main ways to reach Shuzenji Station:
From Tokyo or Nagoya, take the Shinkansen (bullet train) or JR local lines to Mishima Station, then transfer to the Izu Hakone Railway (a local private line) bound for Shuzenji.
Or take the Odoriko Limited Express directly from Tokyo to Shuzenji Station (no transfers needed).
🚖 Once you arrive at Shuzenji Station, the ryokan is about 2 km away.
You can take a local bus or grab a taxi from the station.
✅ If you’re traveling with luggage or small children, a taxi might be the most convenient option.
Since Katsuragawa is located at the entrance of Shuzenji Onsen Town, the ride is short—usually just over ¥1,000.
🚖 If you need a taxi while sightseeing around Shuzenji Onsen or heading home from your ryokan, the GO taxi app is the best and easiest option.
Taxis are often not waiting nearby in the onsen area, so using the app to book one is highly recommended.
In Japan, the most widely used taxi app is GO, which has quickly become the top ride-hailing service in the country.
GO lets you:
Call a taxi directly from your smartphone
Track the driver’s location in real time
Pay cashless (credit card or app wallet)
Choose pick-up points easily, even in busy areas
The app is available in English and can be downloaded from both the App Store and Google Play.
✅Bonus for first-time users:
New users often receive discount coupons that can be used right away.
(Check the app for current promotions, as they may change without notice.)
Summary
Shuzenji Onsen Katsuragawa is a great choice for families with children, offering a combination of comfort, convenience, and warm hospitality.
With a kid-friendly atmosphere, helpful staff, and a location that’s perfect for exploring Shuzenji Onsen, we found everything we needed to fully enjoy our stay.
🚗 Whether you’re arriving by car using the expressways or coming by public transportation, getting to Shuzenji is easy. Even if you use a taxi between Shuzenji Station and the ryokan or to visit nearby spots, the travel distance is short and budget-friendly.
👨👩👧👦 I truly hope your trip to Shuzenji with your family becomes a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
🙏 Thank you for reading all the way to the end!