The Best Ryokans to Stay in When Visiting Japan

Built on the grounds of an Imperial Family member’s former summer villa, Gora Kadan is an accommodation imbued with an essence of upmarket luxury. The ryokan sits in the lush hills of hot-spring-dotted Hakone, a popular weekend destination from Tokyo. Renovated to a standard that would make the Imperial Family proud, it features conceptual indoor-outdoor spaces, baths that resemble contemporary art pieces and traditional Japanese flourishes.

With 150-plus years of history and a style that’s nothing short of timeless, Nishimuraya Honkan is a luxurious ryokan in the onsen (hot-spring) town of Kinosaki in the volcanic mountains of Hyōgo Prefecture. Nishimuraya Honkan fits right into this traditional landscape. With a lush strolling garden and authentically styled rooms combining Japanese elegance with contemporary luxury, it’s the right balance of sophistication and relaxation.

The Hida-Takayama region of Gifu Prefecture is best known for the gassho-zukuri (thatched-roof houses) and minka (traditional rural dwellings) that dot the mountainous landscape. Wanosato is a renovated minka – a mystical place with a 160-year-old history. However, it has been reborn to be less of a common home and more of a luxury retreat. With mountain views, sansai (mountain vegetables), wasakana (river fish) and wagyu-level-delicious Hida beef, it’s a side of regional Japan in which to indulge.

You’ll find Miyama Sansou in a valley surrounded by towering hot-spring-filled mountains, deep in regional Kumamoto. Comprising a small cluster of villa-type homes, this impressively contemporary version of a ryokan promises Japanese-style luxury. Plenty of hot-spring baths and incredible cuisine in a secluded piece of land create the ultimate escape.

The area known as Fuji Five Lakes has long been a retreat favoured by those looking to wash off the stresses of city life. It’s home to the Fuji Kawaguchiko Onsen, where you’ll find Konansou – a lush ryokan at the base of Mount Fuji with traditional-modern rooms, outdoor baths with mountain and lake views, and fresh seasonal cuisine served daily in the restaurant or your room.

With the largest outdoor bath in Japan, Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku is a haven for the most serious of soakers. It sits in the Minakami Onsen area, in the rugged landscape of Gunma Prefecture. Classic facilities are split across three buildings – the Main Hall, East Building and #1 Annex Building – each decorated slightly differently, showcasing this secluded retreat’s uniqueness and style.

Hokkaido’s snow-capped mountains are home to Zaborin, one of the most enthralling ryokans in Japan, with a modern display of artful architecture. It comprises 15 villas that blend rustic country-home style with contemporary flourishes and a sense of Japanese essentialism. Each room features an indoor and outdoor onsen bath, filled with pure volcanic water topped with sprawling country views.

While Tokyo Ryokan has maintained a traditional stance on communal bathrooms, the property is small, with only three rooms, and all facilities are kept to the highest standards of cleanliness. With respect to conventional Japanese living, the ryokan will encourage you to make yourself at home. The most outstanding feature of this traditional inn is the interior, complete with paper walls and doors and minimal decoration. The staff run the property according to fundamental Buddhist principles.

Eko-in is a remarkable place to spend the night, situated in a 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple. You’ll get to stay in a Japanese-style room while using communal facilities. One room has a private onsen, but all have views of the inner garden. As you might expect, you’re welcome to join temple practices, including using the Ajikan Practice Hall for meditation, attending morning services and joining a Goma fire ritual. Lessons in Buddhist sutra writing are also on offer. More conventional recreation includes the use of the public onsen (divided by gender), while the cuisine is traditional Japanese vegetarian, which you can eat in your room.

Kyoto-based Shimizu has nine private rooms – each with a shower and toilet – and maintains a sense of calm from the bustling streets without feeling completely remote. There are several baths, some private, including a Japanese lime bath and a hot-spring bath. You can dine on traditional vegetarian meals in your room, take part in evening activities, such as calligraphy classes, and rent bicycles for use around the city.

On the island of Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima), Iwaso Inn is a luxurious ryokan with a long history. It opened in 1854 and provided shelter throughout the Meiji period, after which it became a modern Japanese hotel. It’s close to Hiroshima but has a much sought-after distance from the popular tourist destination. It comprises four cottages and two other buildings housing rooms; some accommodation options have private onsens and toilets. There are also two large, outdoor communal baths sheltered from the elements.

Founded in 1688 in Kinosaki Onsen – a hot-spring town in Hyōgo Prefecture – Yutouya Ryokan is popular with Japanese creatives. Its rooms feature a private bath and toilet or a private toilet only. It also has an indoor bath and a family bath outside. Although you’ll want to visit the local restaurants to try Kinosaki Onsen’s famed seafood (the crab is especially good), the ryokan’s menu is something to write home about, offering seafood alongside delicacies such as wagyu beef.