Itō was born in what is now Sanmu city, Chiba prefecture, as the younger son to a farming family.

His interest in poetry led him to visit the famous author Masaoka Shiki, who accepted him as a student.

He published a sentimental love story, Nogiku no haka [ja] ("The Wild Daisy", 1906) in the literary magazine Hototogisu.

Itō came to be regarded as Masaoka Shiki's closest disciple with the posthumous publication of his tanka anthology Sachio kashu in 1920.

In addition to his literary career, Itō was also an amateur master of the Japanese tea ceremony.