Miura Anjin, the English Navigator Who Became a Samurai
At the end of the 16th century, the English navigator William Adams drifted ashore in Japan and was taken in by Tokugawa Ieyasu. He built Japan's first Western-style sailing ship in Ito. In recognition of his achievements, he was given the Japanese name "Miura Anjin" and became the first Westerner to become a samurai. The name Miura comes from his fief, Miura-gun (present-day Yokosuka City), and Anjin means navigator. The site where he worked with the shipwrights of Ito is said to have been near the present KAI Anjin. The Anjin Festival is held every August in Ito City, with about 10,000 fireworks launched on August 10th to mark the finale of the festival.
KAI Cultural Discovery
KAI, a hot spring ryokan brand with locations throughout Japan, offers KAI Cultural Discovery activities to allow guests to enjoy the unique charms of each region, including traditional crafts, performing arts, and cuisine.
The Journey of English Samurai
KAI Anjin offers an experiential program that conveys the life of Miura Anjin and the wisdom of navigation in his time. The program includes a short film that tells the story of Anjin's arrival in Japan and the history of the construction of the San Buena Ventura.
Time: 7:15 PM and 9:15 PM daily
Fee: Free
KAI Signature Rooms
All 45 rooms offer ocean views. Each room has a different design, with artwork related to ships decorating the comfortable space of a low bed and sofa. The interior of KAI Anjin, including the guest rooms, was designed by Super Potato, a design firm that has worked on numerous commercial spaces. The artwork incorporates rudders and oars that were once used for navigation, evoking the romance of the sea, and KAI's original bedding, "Fuwa-kumo Sleep," invites guests to a comfortable rest.
KAI Local Flavors
In the artistic semi-private dining area, guests can enjoy kaiseki cuisine that incorporates the essence of England, Anjin's birthplace, with ingredients unique to Izu. The restaurant offers appetizers using local squid menchi (deep-fried minced squid), hassun (small dishes served on a tray) and sashimi served on a high tea tree-inspired plate. The special kaiseki course includes a bouillabaisse hot pot. The ingredients include carefully simmered fresh seafood such as spiny lobster, alfonsino, and clams, and are carefully strained to finish. Guests can spend a truly satisfying dinner time with this dish, which allows them to fully enjoy the deliciousness of the broth and fish.
Special Features
Public Hot Springs
The large public bath on the 8th floor offers a panoramic view of the blue Pacific Ocean. There are separate granite indoor baths and rock outdoor baths for men and women, where guests can enjoy the changing scenery over time, such as the morning sun shining on the water and the sky and sea colored in gradations. After bathing, guests can enjoy craft beer, which is said to have been a companion on voyages, on the San Buena Deck, which is designed to resemble the deck of the Western-style sailing ship San Buena Ventura, the first of its kind built in Japan by Anjin, while feeling the sea breeze.
Overview of KAI Anjin
Address: 5-12 Nagisa-cho, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Number of Rooms: 45
Starting Room Rate: From 28,000 JPY per night (per person for a 2 person room, includes tax, service charge, breakfast, and dinner)
Directions: About 5 minutes by car from JR Ito Station
About KAI Brand
"Japanese Auberge" in classic hot spring regions
KAI is a leading brand of hot spring ryokan where every establishment offers a contemporary take on traditional Japanese inn whilst keeping Western comforts. KAI invites one to discover the multifaceted aspects of Japan through natural hot springs, exploration of local arts and entertainment, and classic Kaiseki-style course meals using local and seasonal flavors. Experience Washoku, Japanese cuisine, presented on carefully selected ceramics for full exposure to culinary sensations.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
Best Rate Guaranteed
