What is a Ryokan? Ryokans are the best way to experience Japanese culture and enjoy the true comforts of Japanese hospitality and service.
Hot springs have a very long history in Japan, and they are an intimate part of Japanese culture. There are over 3,000 "onsen" ,or hot springs, in Japan. Many can be found at the ryokans available on Japanese Guest Houses.
A typical ryokan is a Japanese-style inn. Like a Western-style inn, maintaining the special, atmosphere and appearance is more important than providing the latest modern conveniences. A ryokan is for travelers who wish to experience Japanese culture and enjoy the comforts of Japanese hospitality and service.
There are, of course, many different styles of ryokans, and our Ryokan Styles page will help you determine which style is best for you.
Ryokans have been a part of Japanese culture for centuries. Some of the earliest ones were (and some still are) located on the Tokaido Highway which connected the capital city of Edo (current day Tokyo) and the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. It was a very busy highway as samurai, traders, and others made their way between the two popular destinations in the country. They were built to welcome these weary travelers who needed to rest before continuing on their long journey. Some were very simple and offered extra rooms in their homes for travelers while others were more elaborate and served the higher ranks of the government. In any case, the owners worked hard to make their guests feel as welcome as possible as they still do today.
In a typical ryokan guest room you can expect to find:
Many ryokans are composed of different buildings such as:
Staying at a typical ryokan is a traditional Japanese cultural experience, and it is not like staying at a Western-style hotel. For example, ryokans do not have central heating and in the winter this means you will be staying in a room with a portable heater (kerosene, gas, electric). While your room may be heated, your private bathroom (if you have one) will probably not have a separate heater. In summer, your room may have an air conditioning unit but again your private bathroom (if you have one) will probably not have one. Many ryokan owners wish to preserve the traditional atmosphere of their properties, and this means maintaining old fashioned heating systems in order to preserve the traditional architecture, design, and atmosphere of the ryokan. If you prefer to sleep in a double room with twin queen-size beds and have: a full modern bathroom, carpeted rooms, perfect room temperature, insulated silence, the latest high-tech gadgets, and every member of the staff speaking fluent English then a ryokan might not be for you. However, if you wish to see, taste, touch, and feel traditional Japanese culture then a night at a typical ryokan is just the thing for you. While most of the staff at ryokans speak very little English, this authenticity adds to the experience. Ryokans are only available in Japan and it is an experience not to be missed.
Ryokans charge per guests and not per room. The average price of a one night stay at one of our ryokans is about 15,000 yen per guest plus tax. For example, if there are two of you traveling together, this means a total of 30,000 yen per night plus tax. If you are staying at a ryokan with an “onsen” (hot spring baths), then there is an additional onsen tax of 150 yen per guest per night. The per-person prices of our ryokans range from about 7,000 yen to 110,000 yen per guest plus tax. At a ryokan some of the following factors determining prices are:
We have divided our ryokans into different price categories. The categories are to give you an idea of the price and is not a formal ranking system.
Your payment will need to be made in cash (Japanese yen) unless otherwise stated. Some ryokans do accept credit cards, though Japan is still a cash society so please be prepared if you need to pay your bill in cash. The most widely accepted credit cards are VISA and MasterCard while American Express and others are not accepted as much. Some properties request advance payment by wire (bank transfer) especially when there is a large number of travelers.
