Staying at a Spaceship-Like Hotel Built into the Cliffs of the Sea of Japan | IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF

Staying at a Spaceship-Like Hotel Built into the Cliffs of the Sea of Japan | IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF

Hi! This is Izumo Taisha, Japan’s famous matchmaking shrine. Its founding date is unclear, but it’s one of Japan’s oldest shrines, dating back before the 7th century. The shrine was built in honor of Okuninushi, the god who was recognized for his deed of giving away the land. There’s a myth that Okuninushi helped a wounded rabbit, which is why there are rabbit statues here. The stone rabbits are very cute. Oh? There’s also a cat. By the way, the famous “shimenawa sacred rope” is in a hall, a bit away from the main one. Today, we are staying at a unique hotel near Izumo Taisha. It’s easier to take a taxi directly from Izumo Taisha without returning to the station or airport. Taxis are everywhere around Izumo Taisha, so it’s convenient. It’s about a 20-minute drive, heading along the Sea of Japan. It’s cloudy today. We’ve arrived. The hotel is located along a beautiful coast with a sunset view and natural cliffs. A key feature of this hotel is the guest rooms carved into the cliffs. This round section is the terrace of the guest room, making it a hotel “inside” the cliff. So, let’s check in right away. The building on the upper floor of the guest rooms is both the restaurant and the front desk. It’s stylish. The restaurant is in the back, with a shop and tables in the front. Korean snacks? There are hotel-branded products like mugs and towels. The welcome drink is lemonade. Once the check-in is done, let’s head to the room. >> Staff: The second floor has the front desk and restaurant, and the guest rooms are in the basement. >> Staff: Please proceed to the left. >> Staff: There are two emergency exits. The first one is at the end of the hall. The dimly lit concrete hallway. It feels like a secret base! >> Staff: Your room is called “WAVE.” Twin room with two meals included: 81,600 yen (552.58 USD / € 473.24). >> Staff: All drinks in the fridge are free, so please enjoy them. >> Staff: We’ve prepared a sauna set in this black bag for you. >> Staff: The sauna has no changing room, so please change in your room. >> Staff: Here is your room key. >> Staff: Please enjoy your stay. The stylish furniture stands out in this industrial space. Let’s put down the key and take a tour of the room. It has double glazing. The terrace has a table, chairs, and a jacuzzi. Unfortunately, the jacuzzi isn’t working today. All guest rooms are designed with rounded openings on the ocean side, just like this one. And each room faces a different direction for the best view. The sunset here is part of the stunning landscape, a Japan Heritage site. We came to enjoy the sunset, but… today, we can only imagine it. If it weren’t cloudy, this is what it would look like. I really wanted to see it. This is what the sink looks like. The original pouch made of a paper-like fabric is cute. Inside, there are amenities. First, a toothbrush. Cotton pads and swabs. A hairbrush. A razor. What’s this? Shampoo. Body care products from the British brand Bamford. The shower room is here. There are two types of shower heads. The space is big enough for one person. The toilet is in the same space as the living room, which is an odd. This is clean, and the soundproofing and deodorization seem good. We’ve already reserved a time-limited, paid sauna. Let’s change into our swimsuits and ponchos and head to the sauna. There’s no changing room in the sauna room, so we’ll prepare in the room first. The sauna is at the very end of this dimly lit cave-like path. Sauna for 2 people, 90 minutes: 5,000 yen. You can choose the aroma for the löyly. I chose green tea. Yes, it smells great. As soon as we opened the door, we were soothed by the sound of the waves. There’s an ice bath in front of us, and to the left, a chair for cooling down and a shower space. If the weather were better, it would probably feel even better. Now, the sauna is right next to the ice bath. Let’s get refreshed. Wow, it’s much bigger than I expected for a private sauna. The scent of wood is floating in the air. The temperature is 90°C (194 °F). There’s a big window like this, and the sea view is right in front of us. Self-löyly. The green tea aroma spreads immediately. (Sauna ponchos are intended for use while using the outdoor chairs.) After two cups of löyly, it’s so hot, I can barely take it. If we had 90 minutes of private time, I think we could do about three sets. Ok, I’ll rinse off with the overhead shower and head to the ice bath. It’s recommended to bring your own swimsuit, but you can rent one. It’s cold, but because the air is warm, it’s not as shocking as I expected. This is such a great sauna experience, surrounded by nature. The weather’s getting worse, so we decided it’s time to head back to the room. The hotel robe (pajamas) is comfortable. Found welcome treats in the room. Three types of baked goods. They look tasty from their names. We’re enjoying them with a free drink from the fridge. Mine is local sake, and my husband’s is honey-infused yuzu citrus juice from the area. My favorite is the salted seaweed cookie. Now, it’s time for dinner. The restaurant is actually the main attraction here. I’m looking forward to the dishes made with local ingredients from Shimane. There’s a terrace by the sea. But today, we’re sitting at the counter instead. This restaurant is also open for lunch, and there are many people who aren’t staying here. Let’s enjoy the meal side by side while looking at the ocean. Drink menu. The cocktails are easy to understand because they come with pictures. I chose a beer made with local bayberry tea. A non-alcoholic cocktail called “Magic Hour,” inspired by the sunset over the sea. Cheers! Let’s eat. A small starter served on a stone has arrived. Gazpacho made with Shimane’s summer vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. The bread used to thicken it is homemade and prepared with care. The filling of the monaka contains Hungarian foie gras, a sauce made with corn and blue cheese. Appetizer. >> Staff: The item at the top is… >> Staff: It’s a squid ink sheet. >> Staff: Below that is sashimi of local squid. >> Staff: Under that is grilled eggplant, set on a green sauce made with fromage blanc. The squid ink sheet is soft and jelly-like. They say there’s even a touch of bonito broth and pickled plum in it. But it doesn’t taste like Japanese food at all. Here come the spring rolls. They’re in a paper bag, but since they’re freshly fried and hot, let’s eat them with a knife and fork. Inside is sweetfish confit. The sauce is made with celery root and basil. Hmm, this is delicious! It’s the perfect dish to go with a drink! The beer tastes even better with this. The bread is fluffy, soft, and has a sweet taste. >> Staff: The ocean is right in front of this counter. It’s known for its beautiful sunset view. >> Staff: This plate represents that sunset. The paprika mousse in the center shows the sunset sky. >> Staff: The kelp jelly underneath represents the sea. >> Staff: And the black olive powder in front is the beach. >> Staff: Even though it’s already dark, we hope this dish lets you feel the sunset. >> Staff: We call this plate “Izumo’s Sunset.” The pink and yellow sauces are mayonnaise. Local tomato is so sweet. I didn’t have a strong image of vegetables from Shimane. But they’re surprisingly fresh and flavorful. The main dish is wagyu beef steak. Charcoal-grilled Shimane wagyu. This time, the cut is called “Ran-ichi,” a part of the inner thigh. It’s characterized by being tender with little fat. >> Staff: This is Shimane wagyu. >> Staff: Among all the wagyu varieties in Japan, it won first place at the “Wagyu Olympics.” >> Staff: Please enjoy. Enjoy it with local salt. Wow, this is seriously good. It deserves a gold medal. On top, there are fried zucchini and edamame. Everyone’s gone, and it’s just us now. Izumo shiitake pasta. It’s a pasta made with Pecorino Romano cheese. Finally, dessert and Shimane tea. I’m happy because melons are abundant in summer. Ice cream made with local Amu melons and locally produced yogurt. Thank you for the meal. Outside, it’s very dark with few streetlights. Only the sound of the waves can be heard. Heading back to the underground guest room, which feels like a secret base. There’s no TV, it’s a very unusual night. Good night. Good morning! When I woke up, it was unexpectedly raining. Let’s head to breakfast. It’s all concrete, but the rooms and hallway have AC. Feels pretty comfortable, actually. Breakfast is also in the same venue as dinner. Yesterday, we were at the counter seats, but today we’re at a table. >> Staff: Good morning. >> Staff: For breakfast, we’ve prepared a Japanese meal with plenty of Shimane ingredients. >> Staff: We’ll bring it to you one by one. Please enjoy. >> Staff: This is roasted green tea from a long-established local Japanese tea shop. >> Staff: We just roasted it in the kitchen. >> Staff: Please enjoy this tea while you wait. More tea? But then, “Clam espresso?!” It’s a rich clam soup from Lake Shinji with red miso and bamboo charcoal powder. “Espresso” is a funny name for it, especially since it’s not coffee at all. The umami of the clams. The main dish has arrived. >> Staff: The rice is freshly cooked Shimane-grown rice. >> Staff: The variety is Koshihikari. >> Staff: The famous Koshihikari from Niigata is well-known, but… >> Staff: This rice actually earned a high rating in rice competitions, comparable to Niigata’s. Pickled ume and bamboo shoot miso soup. Shimane wagyu meat tofu. Fried sesame tofu. Hamada City’s local delicacy, “Akatenn,” and rolled omelet. Grilled chicken and shiitake skewers, and broiled yellowtail with sesame miso. So, it’s a hearty, flavorful Shimane-style breakfast. This isn’t your typical light Japanese breakfast. Each dish stands out, and there’s so much flavor going on. But the seasoning is light, so the real flavors come through. Sea bream ochazuke. Flaked sea bream, chopped dried seaweed, green onions, and shiitake mushrooms. Pour the bonito broth over it. The more you chew the shiitake, the more flavor comes out. Really tasty. Finally, dessert and coffee. This yogurt with fruits, made with local milk, was also served as dessert at dinner yesterday. The weather isn’t great today. But still, having breakfast with the sea view and morning light felt really nice. I’m very satisfied with this Izumo-style meal. Thank you for the meal. There’s coffee and local black and green tea in the room. I was curious about staying at a hotel built into a cliff. And it turned out to be such a calm and unique experience. Thank you for watching until the end. See you next time.

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💻IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF
Website: https://hotel-the-cliff.jp/
*This video was filmed with the hotel’s permission.

🗒 How to book
Booking.com: https://px.a8.net/svt/ejp?a8mat=457LFV+AAX3FE+327I+HUD03&asid=a21022353840&a8ejpredirect=https%3A%2F%2Fow.a8.net%2Fs00000014283002%2Fredirect_v2.php%3Ftype%3Ddeeplink%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.booking.com%252Fhotel%252Fjp%252Fthe-cliff.html%253Faid%253D318615%2526label%253DJapanese_Japan_JA_JP_29562109585-MPl8_VbTO7Olp_wFF7swpgS619224290134%25253Apl%2526sid%253Dc1dca4afcf05c081ca98b960e9ee4be3%2526dest_id%253D9394637%2526dest_type%253Dhotel%2526dist%253D0%2526group_adults%253D2%2526group_children%253D0%2526hapos%253D1%2526hpos%253D1%2526no_rooms%253D1%2526req_adults%253D2%2526req_children%253D0%2526room1%253DA%25252CA%2526sb_price_type%253Dtotal%2526sr_order%253Dpopularity%2526srepoch%253D1752383562%2526srpvid%253Dc4824c7383430678f903897dd7e8155b%2526type%253Dtotal%2526ucfs%253D1%2526
Agoda: https://px.a8.net/svt/ejp?a8mat=3TLBA5+BIDQL6+4X1W+BW0YB&a8ejpredirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.agoda.com%2Fizumo-hotel-the-cliff%2Fhotel%2Fizumo-jp.html%3FcountryId%3D3%26finalPriceView%3D2
Trip.com: https://www.trip.com/t/qESVHEU9cQ2

🚃🚶‍♀️How to Get There
5 minutes by car from Oda Station, about 20 minutes from Izumo Taisha.
MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/B1KztTvXBLDQxWnk9

💰 Price
Twin room with two meals included: 81,600 yen (552.58 USD / € 473.24).
*Prices may vary depending on the season and room type.

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⌛️ Timestamps
0:00 Opening
0:12 Izumo Taisha Shrine
1:43 How to Get to the Hotel
2:11 A Hotel Inside a Cliff?!
3:39 Heading to Our Room
4:35 Room Tour
7:39 Sauna Time
11:10 Free Sweets & Drinks
11:58 Dinner
18:55 Good Night
19:20 Breakfast
24:45 Tea Time

#izumo #shimane #japan #japantravel #asmr #cc_for_subtitle

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・Titles, descriptions, and subtitles are provided by automatic translation and may contain inaccuracies.
・The prices in the video are based on the exchange rate at the time of editing.
・Prices may vary with the season.
・We may use affiliate links.