Ito Kowakien (Location: 2-2-5 Hirono, Ito City, Shizuoka; General Manager: Shinichi Sasago), known for its cuisine and skin-beautifying hot spring, has completed a full renovation of Restaurant Ukifune, the dining venue reserved for overnight guests, reopening it on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. To celebrate, the ryokan is offering a limited-time version of its most popular plan, the Head Chef's Recommended Half-Buffet Japanese Kaiseki Plan (1 night, 2 meals), adding one extra dish per guest: a special roast beef prepared by Executive Chef Nakayama (中山一勇).
Ito Kowakien opened in April 1956 and marks its 70th anniversary in 2026. Since last year, the ryokan has been carrying out renovations and service improvements ahead of the milestone: in August 2025 it introduced its first rooms with a private hot spring bath, the "Premium Twin," and in February 2026 it began offering a welcome service in its lobby lounge. Even as a long-established ryokan, Ito Kowakien continues to create new stay experiences, and the renewal of Restaurant Ukifune brings this 70th-anniversary initiative to a close.
The renewed Restaurant Ukifune has been transformed into a space that combines Japanese-modern styling with a sense of refinement and calm. Large windows let guests watch koi swimming in the garden pond while they dine, and the aisles through the buffet area have been widened so that guests can move comfortably while enjoying the half-buffet Japanese kaiseki course. The layout is designed to accommodate a wide range of guests, from solo travelers and couples to group trips.
Restaurant Ukifune Renewal and Commemorative Plan Overview
Restaurant Ukifune reopening date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
To celebrate the renewal of Restaurant Ukifune, Ito Kowakien is offering a limited-time Half-Buffet Japanese Kaiseki Plan with Special Roast Beef (1 night, 2 meals). One extra dish of the special roast beef, prepared by Executive Chef Nakayama, is added per guest to the head chef's recommended half-buffet Japanese kaiseki course.
Plan name: Restaurant Renewal Commemorative, Limited-Time: Head Chef's Recommended Half-Buffet Japanese Kaiseki With Special Roast Beef (featuring whole simmered kinmedai snapper and abalone), Japanese-style breakfast set at the restaurant
Period: Now on sale through Monday, December 28, 2026
Price: From ¥20,350 per person for dinner and breakfast (based on 2 guests sharing one room; service charge and consumption tax included, bathing tax not included)
Reservations: Available via the hotel's official website or other booking sites
https://go-fujita-kanko.reservation.jp/ja/hotels/fkg029/plans/10197819
About Ito Kowakien, Marking Its 70th Anniversary
Ito Onsen is known as one of Japan's most abundant hot spring areas. Ito Kowakien draws fresh spring water from its own private source on the property, and is one of the few facilities among Ito's roughly 800 hot spring sources to operate a drinking fountain for its onsen water. Its mildly alkaline simple spring, with a pH of 8.4, is known as a beauty-skin bath and is popular among guests.
Premium Twin rooms debut (August 2025)
"Premium Twin," a room type with a private hot spring bath, debuted at Ito Kowakien. With a spacious, airy hot spring bath and deck space, the rooms offer a relaxing escape from everyday life.
Premium Twin overview: 8 rooms (approximately 50 square meters); capacity of 2 guests
Details: https://www.ito-kowakien.com/premiumtwin/
Lobby lounge welcome service begins (February 2026)
In its lobby lounge, Ito Kowakien introduced a welcome service inspired by its distinctive onsen-drinking culture. Guests can enjoy onsen manju (buns steamed with hot spring steam), sparkling wine, and seasonal drinks from the moment they arrive, before settling into the bath.
- 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Sparkling wine, chilled guricha tea, chilled mikan hojicha tea, onsen manju
- 7:00 AM to midnight: Hot tea (Darjeeling, Ceylon, Earl Grey, peach and mango, mixed berry, green tea), hot coffee
Through this ongoing series of renewals, Ito Kowakien continues to create new stay experiences while remaining a long-established ryokan, and the Restaurant Ukifune renewal is another step in that journey. Marking its 70th anniversary, the ryokan plans to continue improving its services toward its 80th and 90th anniversaries.
Official website: https://www.ito-kowakien.com/
