LiVE MAX RESORT

512. LiVE MAX RESORT, Izu ★★ Visited for higaeri at 1100 yen. Higaeri available from 08:00 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 24:00. LiVE MAX bought an old ryokan and turned it into a budget hotel with onsen. Bath photos from the internet, matches roughly — visited in the evening. 1. Outdoor zone. Great view of the river and trees. For some reason colored lighting is used in the evening, but it still looks great. 1.1. Round wooden bath. Standing the view is good, but sitting in the bath it disappears. Clear water, temperature 40. 1.2. Barrel with cold water. 1.3. Two non-functioning barrels. 1.4. Sauna with clear glass offering a view of the forest and some of the river. 2. Main indoor zone. Breathing inside is fine. 2.1. Main bath. Clear water, temperature 40-41. 2.2. Bath with clear water, temperature 43. 2.3. Bath with clear water, temperature 44. 3. Separate semi-open cave bath with a view of trees through the opening. Clear water, temperature 43. Great onsens, recommended for a visit. Unusual to see such nice onsens in a budget hotel. 09.05.2025

Just incredible cost-performance. If you try, you can grab a room with meals for under 10,000 yen. The hotel itself is old — it used to be an expensive independent ryokan. It was bought by Lifemax, and now it's a cheap hotel-ryokan. All staff are foreigners. Rooms are minimalist and well-worn. Plastic tatami. The hallways smell like cigarettes, the atmosphere is not ryokan-like. Dinner — fire. Ikura, sushi, shabu-shabu, salads, desserts, fruits... all medium quality, nothing miraculous, but the ikura was excellent. I just stuffed myself making DIY kaisendon. Onsen — superb. On the first floor, right by the river. Three indoor baths: 41, 42, 44. Cave rotenburo! Barrel rotenburo with river view. Cold bath with river view. Sauna with river view and the option to pour water on the stones. Higaeri available until late. Tattoos OK (yakuza-tattooed guests present).