Izumi-so

Izumi-so is an eleven-room ryokan close to the center of Gero Onsen, with an indoor bath and a small, rustic rock-built rotenburo. It's natural onsen water, and guests often describe it as smooth on the skin; since the inn is small, arriving outside busy times sometimes means having the bath entirely to yourself. The building is old and almost entirely wood, part three stories, with steep stairs, no elevator, and floors that creak underfoot. Corridors twist a bit before they lead you to the bath. It's been run by the same family for generations, and the welcome feels closer to staying with relatives than checking into a hotel.