FAQ

Access information

Q. How do I get to JR Ito station using public transportation?
A. [Train from Narita to Tokyo]
Please check here (Narita airport web site)
 http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/access/index.html

[Train from Tokyo station direct to JR Ito station]
Use the JR Odoriko Express or Saphir ODORIKO for Izukyu-shimoda. It takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to Ito station. For more details, please click here.
 https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/traininformation/odoriko/

[Other options]
From Tokyo, take JR Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama for Nagoya, Shin-Osaka or Mishima, and get off at Atami station. Then, change trains to JR Ito line (local train) for Ito or Izukyu-Shimoda. It takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo.

• JR Tokaido Shinkansen time table (west bound). Please see "K"(Kodama)
 http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf

• JR Tokaido Shinkansen fares & surcharges
 http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/fare/_pdf/fare.pdf
Q. How do I get to the hotel from JR Ito station? Is there a shuttle bus?
A. There is no shuttle bus from JR Ito station to Yokikan. Please take a taxi from JR Ito station to Yokikan. It is 3 minutes by taxi from JR Ito station. Just say to the taxi driver, "To Yokikan please!"
Q. Can I walk to Yokikan from Ito station?
A. Yes, you can. It takes 10-12 minutes by foot. Please turn right after you leave the ticket gates and refer to the map here:

 https://www.yokikan.co.jp/english/youkikan_map.pdf
Q. I am coming by car. Is there a place to park?
A. Yes, we have free parking for our guests, but spaces are limited. If you plan to drive, please send us a message and let us know beforehand so we can ensure that there is a parking space for you.
Guests using GPS navigation to come to Yokikan should enter the following address: 1-21 Suehiro-cho, Ito-shi, Shizuoka.
(Yokikan address: 2-24 Suehiro-cho, Ito-shi, Shizuoka, JAPAN
Incorrect access route is displayed when you enter this address in Google map.)

 https://www.yokikan.co.jp/english/youkikan_map.pdf

Cancel / Change Reservation

Q. How can I cancel my reservation?
A. To cancel your reservation, please notify it by email at least 4 days prior to the check-in date.
[Cancellation charges]:
30% within 3 days prior to your planned stay
50% within 1 days prior to your planned stay
100% for same day cancellation; 100% for no shows.
Q. How can I change my reservation?
A. If you would like to change your reservation, you can make a new booking and then cancel the old one, or you can contact us by email at [email protected]
In case when the guest changes his/her reservations, the guest is requested to notify it at least 4 days prior to the check-in date.

Check-in & Check-out

Q. Can I check in early?
A. You can check in from 3:00 p.m., and we don’t accept early check-in. If you arrive early, you can wait in the lobby, or you can leave your luggage while you go sightseeing.
Q. My arrival may be delayed. What time does the front desk close?
A. Our front desk is open until 11:00 p.m. If you expect to arrive after 11:00 p.m., please call us at 0557-37-3101.
If the dinner is included in your plan, please check in before 6:30 p.m. Guests arriving later than 7:00 p.m. may not be served dinner. Refunds will not be provided in such cases.
Q. Can I extend my check out time?
A. We are sorry, but late check-out is not available at Yokikan.

Payment

Q. When & How do I pay for my accommodation?
A. Please pay your all charges in Japanese yen cash or by credit card at your check-out.

Online credit payment
You can choose advance payment by making a payment by credit card when making a reservation from the website.
* This service uses a service provided by our partner settlement agency "JTB Business Innovators Inc."
The settlement fee will be deducted from your settlement account in cooperation with your credit card company through "JTB Business Innovators Co., Ltd.
Q. Which credit cards do you accept?
A. We accept major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, JCB, American Express and Union Pay (銀聯). If you would like to use another credit card or for more information, please contact us.
Q. Do you require advance payment at check in?
A. No, payment is not required at check-in.

Guest Rooms

Q. How many persons we can stay with in one room?
A. Our rooms are designed for two to five occupants, although larger groups can be accommodated as well in some rooms.
Q. I hear that there is no bed in Japanese ryokan room. How can I sleep in your hotel?
A. Our rooms are designed in traditional Japanese style with tatami mats. Our guests sleep on a futon (Japanese mattresses) out of tatami mats. The futon are laid directly on the tatami mats. The futon will not be laid out when you first enter the room. Instead, they are kept in the closet during the day to be set out in the evening and put away again in the morning by our housekeeping staff.
Q. Is there any amenities in our room?
A. All rooms are equipped with a sink, a bidet function toilet (some rooms are equipped with in-room bathing). We also provide a television, mini fridge and a safe in each room, along with complementary amenities such as face towel, toothbrush and Japanese green tea for every guest.
Each room is provided with one set of simple kimono for each guest. This kimono, called yukata, is put on after the bath and worn while sleeping. An obi (belt) is tied around the waist to keep the yukata snug. A heavy outer kimono called a tanzen is provided for use in cold weather. Bath towels and yukata are not meant to be taken home.
Q. What is the difference between the “Standard Room” and “Special Room”?
A. [Standard Rooms]
The Standard Rooms are mostly located on the 2nd floor, close to the entrance. They offer views of the mountains, the city of Ito, and Yokikan's garden. Each room measures 35 square meters (377 square feet) and the Standard Rooms do not have their own baths.
[Special Rooms]
Special Rooms are located on the upper level and offer spectacular views of the surrounding Ito city. Each room measures 45-50 square meters (485-538 square feet) and include rock baths and other added amenities
All Special Rooms are equipped with bath (natural hot springs) in the room.
The room size represents the area of the main room only and not accurately represents the full size of the room as a whole, e.g., toilet or bathing area is not included in the calculation.
Both Standard rooms and Special Rooms are equipped with a bidet function toilet.
Q. I can’t find booking a non-smoking room in your web site. How can I book a non-smoking room?
A. Smoking is prohibited in the hotel including guest rooms. Therefore, you do not need to request a non-smoking room.
Q. How can I book a room on the upper floor with a nice view?
A. We recommend booking a Special Room. Although there are some Standard Rooms on the upper level, they are subject to availability upon arrival, so there is no guarantee that you will get one.
Q. Is there a private bathing in Standard Rooms?
A. Some Standard Rooms are equipped with natural hot springs in the room. We try to give these rooms priority for our foreign guests, but since not all Standard Rooms offer this amenity, we cannot guarantee it for all guests.
Q. Can I use free Wi-Fi in my room or public space?
A. Free Wi-Fi connection is available in your room and at the Lobby.
We will offer you the “access point” and “password” at your check-in.

Meals (Dinner and Breakfast)

Q. What is the difference between the Standard Meal and Chef's Choice Meal?
A. There are two meal choices at Yokikan. The Standard Meal and Chef's Choice Meal. The Standard Meal offers a course of 10-12 small dishes that highlight the variety of Japanese cuisine. Dishes include soup, sashimi, a broiled dish, a stewed dish, a hot dish, a vinegar dish, rice and more.
Japanese breakfast offers grilled fish, tofu, dried seaweed, egg, pickled vegetables, miso soup, rice and more.

The Chef's Choice Meal offers even more variety and elegance than the Standard Meal. The Chef's Choice Meal dishes are truly special and each is chosen especially by the head chef depending on the season. The 13-15 dishes in this course include a combination appetizer plate, more sashimi including the local specialty spiny lobster, steamed abalone that's grilled at your table (abalone and spiny lobster are included only in Chef’s Choice Meal), a fruit wine aperitif, and more. The Chef's Choice breakfast includes lobster miso soup.
Q. Can I order my dinner and breakfast at checking-in?
A. Meals are booked in advance along with rooms. We have to plan meals ahead and do not have a surplus of ingredients, so we cannot change meal plans on demand.
Please let us know 3 days prior to your arrival if you would like to order dinner and/or breakfast.
Q. Do you serve vegetarian meals?
A. We can accommodate most dietary requests for breakfast and dinner, but we are unable to serve meals without dashi. Dashi is a soup stock made from thin shaved dried fish, and is an essential component in Japanese cuisine.
Q. Would you be able to accommodate gluten free meals?
A. We regret that we are unable to accommodate a gluten-free diet. We can arrange meals without particular ingredients such as meat or chicken as per your request, but we cannot exclude all ingredients with gluten. If you cannot eat gluten, you can still enjoy our open-air hot springs and spectacular views with a reservation that does not include meals, and we'd be happy to recommend local restaurants that can accommodate you.
Q. I requested late check in. Can I still order dinner if I arrive at your hotel after 7:00 p.m.?
A. Dinner is served from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. 6:45 p.m. is the latest start time. Please check in before 6:30 p.m., especially if the dinner is included in your plan. Guests arriving later than 7:00 p.m. may not be served dinner. Refunds will not be provided in such cases.
If you won’t be able to arrive at the Yokikan before 7:00 p.m., please book a plan without dinner.

Hot spring (Onsen)

Q. What kinds of communal hot tubs do you have?
A. We have two different kinds of communal hot tubs.
One is “Open-air bath called Roten-buro” (Quality: Chloride salt spring)
This bath’s chloride salt water offers relief for neuralgia, muscle pain, chronic skin disease, chronic female ailments and more. There is no washing area at the open-air bath. Located at the top floor (A cable railway is available to take you to the bath. It is closed between 10:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. for safety reasons.)
The bathing time of the open-air bath will be alternated between Men and Women according to the designated times..
Another one is “Indoor bath room” (Quality: Alkaline hot spring)
This bath offers relief for fatigue, neuralgia, cold sensitivity and other ailments. Two separate communal hot tubs are available - one for Men and the other for Women, both located on the lobby floor. Please note that the two hot tubs will switch gender designations at 8:30 p.m. every day (for Women becomes for Men and vie versa),and all tubs will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for cleaning.
Q. I am not used to communal bathing without any cloths. Can I go with my bathing suit?
A. No, bathing suit or any type of clothing is not permitted in our communal baths. All bathing in our facility is nude.
Q. Is there private-use communal bath in your hotel?
A. To our regret, there is no private-use communal bath.
However, all “Special room” and some “Standard room” are equipped with the shower & bathing (natural hot spring) inside the room.
Q. I have tattoos. Can I enjoy the hot springs?
A. In Japan, tattoos are associated with organized crime, and they make Japanese people uncomfortable. It is the custom to not allow people with tattoos at hot springs.
However, if you have small tattoos that can be covered, you can enjoy Yokikan's hot springs.

Acceptable: small tattoos on the part of your body, such as leg, arm, stomach, and the back
Not acceptable: tattoos on your whole body or covering your entire back