Weekend in Matsuzaki

Tracy and I found a great hotel last year during a tour of Izu; because we were planning to camp then, we hoped to come back and stay another time. During following popular seasons we tried to make reservations, but they were always booked. (The hotel is just across from the port at Matsuzaki; the clientele is fish-catching and -eating enthusiasts, rather than beach lovers.)

This weekend we decided to visit Izu (now is the not-at-all-busy season), but as it was too cold to camp comfortably, we called again. Success!

The room was 10-jou (count the floor mats), featuring a 13" TV (color!), a pot of hot water and a room heater. Perfect for a quiet evening in:
















Of course the real attraction is the bath and the meals, so we arrived early enough to make the most of both. The baths were on the roof, and open-air to make the most of the view. Men and women were separate, but we compared notes and they seemed equally nice. Here is the men's side..
















And even a shot of me in the bath... the water was probably 42 degrees, and the air 4 degrees (C), for a decent contrast!
















After baths and a cold beer in the room, we were ready for dinner across the road. The restaurant was affiliated with the hotel, so we could dine wearing the hotel robes. While we weren't the only patrons, the other diners were quiet and friendly.























Our meal was of course fish, as we were at the port market. We had complimentary minnows to start:
















And then grilled fish:
















And finally fried fish (actually fish, squid and shrimp):























All delicious!

After dinner we strolled about the town. Although barely 9 O'clock on Saturday night, fishing folk were already asleep. So peaceful!























The warm glow of our hot baths faded soon, though, so we made our way back in the frosty air. Before rewarming ourselves on the roof, we visited the 'fish gallery' in the lobby: dozens of specimens were on display, including the name (species, proper and common in Japanese) as well as the preferred depth range of each. I wish I'd 'caught' more of these with my camera, but here are the ones I did:





























































































We finished the evening with hot baths, hot sake, corny television and completely blissful sleep!