“Indescribably perfect place to base ourselves as we spent a few days exploring the Izu Peninsula. We loved the house so much that it was tough to venture out though. You can sense the amount of thought and care have gone into developing this space. And the beautiful bath! A lovely place to listen to the birds and rain. Thank you for creating such an amazing place and taking care to preserve something wonderful.

— Guest from Melbourne, Australia -October 2023

“This was truly the most perfect stay - gorgeous home, perfect host, beautiful scenery. Excellent for a quick peaceful getaway in Japan, right by the ocean and with the most welcoming locals. The hosts were so quick to respond & so generous to provide us with all the information we needed, they were such gracious hosts. The place itself was a dream: perfectly clean & beautifully decorated. Also really well equipped (especially the kitchen!!), which made this AirBnb truly feel like a home. Hillary and Blake put so much love into the interior of this home & you could tell. All in all one of the best (accommodation) experiences we’ve ever had. Highly highly highly recommended.”

— Guest from Vienna, Austria - August 2023

“An absolute mind blowing stay. Mixture of the traditional Japanese house, and modern furniture was very inspiring. Definitely the best choice to stay when visiting Izu Peninsula.”

— Guest from Tokyo, Japan - December 2022

“Even after a month here, we wish we had more! The home is immaculate, the Izu Peninsula gorgeous, and Hillary and Blake are the absolute perfect hosts. Ito is as charming as can be—and there are dozens of worthy day trips nearby. We’ll definitely be back... and hopefully next time, for longer!”

— Guest from San Francisco, USA - May 2023

“This was our second time visiting The Layer. It's as close to a perfect Japanese Showa-era/mid-century modern experience as I can imagine, but with modern conveniences. The morning light coming through the shoji screens, the amazing bath with private garden view, amazing kitchen and dishes all make the experience stand out. Ito is also a really interesting small town, just a short walk past a Don Quijote or beautiful longer walk through the hills above town. With more than enough restaurants, cafes and onsen to enjoy and easy access to Tokyo and points further into Izu.”

— Guest from New York, USA - December 2023

What a breath of fresh air it was to stay at The Layer. Hillary and Blake are not only incredibly kind and responsive, but have done the most impressive renovation of this traditional Japanese home. Their attention to detail from incorporating historical craftwork to integrating modern tech in the house is impressive. As an avid foodie, the kitchen became a showroom for products I want to buy in my future home! Be sure to enjoy the most perfectly toasted shoku-pan in their Balmuda toaster and enjoy wagyu and fresh fish on the gas grill outside. The bath is an actual heaven. The most serene and private way to enjoy the famous waters of the area, encompassed by the softest green stone and garden view. Thank you so much for a pristine stay. You both went above and beyond. I only wish more Airbnbs were of this caliber. Arigatou gozaimashita!!

— Guest from Birmingham, United Kingdom - May 2023

We felt at home the minute we walked in. In fact it rained the whole time we were there and we were all too happy to use the excuse to stay “home”. The house layers carefully considered mid-century design over traditional Japanese style, with playful touches everywhere, from the plush karaoke room to the selection of vintage pop records. Meanwhile, we made good use of the state-of-the-art kitchen and automated ofuro. Everything we needed was within reach. We would have gladly stayed for weeks. This is a rare find. Very special.

— Guest from Melbourne, Australia, September 2024

“The home is so beautiful and amazing, and the facilities are so thoughtful! There is a beautiful kitchen and super cozy bathroom - our favourite was the karaoke room and we watched tv there every night. The futon was very cozy too and the whole space is so photogenic! On top of that, the hosts were very helpful and responsive and helped us a lot.”

— Guest from Singapore, August 2024

This place is just magical! We spent almost a week here and loved every second of it. I have never been at an airbnb as perfect as this one - everything is literally flawless!

— Guest from Berlin, Germany, May 2024