Shimoda Yamatokan

The hotel is right on the beach which is extremely convenient if you are a surfer. The food was very good and we got different things for both breakfast and dinner on each day of our stay. The hotel definitely needs some refurbishment, especially around the hallways and the beach access. The outdoor pool was not yet open when we visited. There is nothing really to do if it rains and there are no waves.

Staff was amazing and food was excellent.

Limited shuttle service

I like the location very much. The futons are VERY hard. I found our dining area (closed off from others) a little dirty - the wall paper looked as if food had been spilled on it and the sides of the white chairs were dirty.

A bit rundown and old

Had the most incredible solo stay at Shimoda Yamatokan! The hotel is amazing, the staff are so helpful and kind, and the beachfront view and access could not be better. I was a bit nervous solo traveling from California but this could not have gone smoother! The onsens were incredible and I had the most relaxing 3 nights. My room had a gorgeous beach view and was very spacious. I can’t wait to come back here with my partner. I purchased the meal add on and the traditional breakfasts and dinners were delicious and truly an experience (but very large). Location is ideal super easy access to shimoda town center via ~10 minute bus ride and the hotel has a shuttle service as well. Everything was amazing. If you’re not planning to eat all of your meals there I’d suggest purchasing dinner or breakfast à la carte, since you can’t get refunded for meals that you choose not to have there if you buy the package.

Great location with direct beach access to Tatodhama Beach. The area is very quiet and there is not much around but it's beautiful and quiet and relaxing. The hotel provides regular shuttles in both the morning and the afternoon into Shimoda City which only takes a few minutes, it's approx 30 min walk to Perry Rd or 45 mins to the train station. Or 1400 Yen in a taxi one way to the train station. Kaiseki dinner was amazing! There was so much food and great to try so many different dishes we wouldn't have tried otherwise. Breakfast again was lovely with a lot of food. rooms are clean and spacious. Staying at a Ryokan was a new experience for us so it was lovely to go to dinner and come back to our beds made up ready for the night and then head out for the day and return to the bed magically packed away and the room looking beautiful. Added bonus was the hotel onsen which we made sure to use each day, with various bath options inside and outside and with a lovely view of the ocean. Shimoda Yamatoken played a big part in us falling in love with the area. na

The view was spectacular. Our private onset was wonderful.

The service was excellent. The rooms were good, typical Japanese rooms. The public bath was big, and the food was good too. I got a beautiful view of the beach. Really a nice hotel to stay at. Will come again. For surfer its very convenient that there is a board storage near the beach entrance. I missed the option to choose coffee with my breakfast. Also, in the room, there is no option to make coffee. There are water boilers in the room, so you can make green tea. However, I would like to see the option for coffee as well.

Easy access to beach close to hotel. Scenic view from the room for sunrise. Very good food.

Facility was obviously old and could use some updates.

Outstanding views from my room & while dining, spacious Japanese traditional room, excellent meals, well educated staff. None

Enjoyed the onsen. Bathroom could use a refresh.

When we arrived at the hotel and saw our room, we were a little disappointed as it was not quite as we expected from the Booking.com description. This might have been partly my fault for not fully reading the description sent by the hotel after booking, but never mind, the hotel were excellent in dealing with my request for a room upgrade (at an additional cost) to include a private onsen. The room we had was a traditional Japanese style room and it was lovely, large, and well equipped. There were only two of us, but it looked like the room could cater for 3 people. The room had a decked outdoor area with views across the busy surfers beach. I believe all rooms at the hotel have beach views. We were half board. The restaurant served up a huge array of food each night, all Japanese and most seemed very foreign to us, The staff did their best to explain the dishes. We can't say we enjoyed every morsel we tasted, but it did not matter. There was plenty and we were never hungry. The hotel itself is located out of Shimoda. We had hired a car for this part of our trip, which we were pleased about. The hotel does seem somewhat old. There is a damp/musty smell in some of the communal areas. We found a table tennis room, but it was unclear whether bats and balls were provided or whether we should have brought our own.

I loved the rooms and space. The back patio was very relaxing and private. We had wonderful meals! We enjoyed the proximity to the beach and the friendly staff! I did not think it had the cleanest common space, and the shower rooms were also a bit moldy.

The private onsen on the balcony and the view of the ocean and beach. Location next to the beach was fantastic. The public onsen didn’t allow guests with tattoos to use.

1. The view was amazing. We stayed on the 3rd floor. I think all rooms except those on the 1st floor have sea views. 2. How spacious the room was. 3. The traditional Japanese style that characterized the room, the service, and the food. 4. The hot spring. 5. The shuttle from the hotel to Izukyū-Shimoda station in the morning and back in the afternoon. Nothing.

The decor is tired and in need of a bit of a renovation but I found the issues were largely superficial, didn't effect our stay negatively

Proximity to the beach you can’t beat! The private onset bath was a nice to have with our room. Terrible mold and musty smell throughout the property, hallways, ceilings and hallways dripping with water. Pretty sure there was black mold right next to our room on the 3rd floor

The staff were friendly and warm, the food was delicious, and the view was breathtaking! The room was shabby and run down, stains and blemishes on the walls, doors, tub, sinks. If not for the incredible view, it would've been unacceptable for this price point.