Frequently, traditional-style accommodations in Japan are labelled as simply “inns.” However, just like the West has its hotels, motels, and B&Bs, Japan has its own distinctive categories of accommodation as well. Most Japanese inns can be categorized as either minshuku or ryokan, and to ensure you book a hotel that provides the experience you’re looking for, it’s important to know the difference.
Traditional Japanese Kaiseki cuisine – Photo Credit: Myojinkan
Ryokan vs. Minshuku – What’s the difference?
Sometimes referred to as homestays, Minshuku tend to be humbler, family-run establishments providing home-cooked meals and the experience of living in a Japanese house. They are a good option for budget-conscious travellers and those travelling with children. Ryokan, on the other hand, are all about luxury. Most comparable to a Western B&B, the ryokan experience is one of indulgence and relaxation. While both ryokan and minshuku feature Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats and futons to sleep on, the quarters in a minshuku are generally smaller with a shared bathroom for guests like a dormitory. Ryokan usually feature suites that can, depending on the price, include anything from a dining or sitting room to a private hot spring bath.
This article focuses on ryokan, but if you are interested in minshuku, check out this article!
The spectacular seaside view from Hotel Urashima – Photo Credit: Hotel Urashima
Finding your perfect stay among the best of the best
There are tens of thousands of ryokans across Japan, so picking one can be difficult. Most people hoping to book a ryokan are looking for one thing: luxury. A great place to start is the official list of 5-star ryokan. Every year, professionals in the Japanese travel industry participate in a poll to select the “Top 250 Hot Spring Inns” across the country based on criteria such as the facilities, food, and atmosphere. A ceremony to announce the results is held in Tokyo annually and attended by organizations such as the Japan Tourism Agency and the Ministry of the Environment. To be considered a “five-star ryokan” – to be considered one of the best– an inn must be included in the Top 250 at least five times.
However, the locations introduced in this article are not just five-star ryokan; they are ryokan that have achieved platinum status, meaning that they have made the list not just five times, but twenty-five times. These ryokan are the best of the best, the crème de la crème.
Honke Bankyu’s famous irori-yaki – Photo Credit: Honke Bankyu
Honke Bankyu – Cozy, hearthside meals in a historic ryokan (Nikko)
Many ryokan focus on providing guests with the traditional Japanese experience. Guests can expect to sleep on futons in tatami mat rooms and try an assortment of delicacies as part of Japanese kaiseki cuisine. Kaiseki is one of the major draws for Honke Bankyu, a riverside ryokan cradled deep in the mountains of Nikko. Their specialty is “irori-yaki,” a very traditional cooking style in which the meal is prepared over a sunken hearth. This kind of cozy, hearthside meal is a rare experience in modern Japan.
The Kazura Bridge at Honke Bankyu – Photo Credit: Honke Bankyu
One of the most extraordinary features of Honke Bankyu is the Kazura Bridge that connects the main building to the inn’s restaurant. The vine bridge was inspired by those used by soldiers in the region during the 17th century. The most luxurious room at Honke Bankyu is the “Aioi” room that features a private, riverside bath and a view of the Miyama River Gorge.
Google Maps: Honke Bankyu
To read more about Honke Bankyu, take a look at their English website here.
The private bath in Keiunkan’s Kitadake suite – Photo Credit: 5-Star Ryokan
Keiunkan – Luxuriate in a time gone by at the world’s oldest hot spring inn (Yamanashi)
If you are looking to experience the luxury of another era, to immerse yourself in history, or to be truly “wowed” by Japanese hospitality, look no further than Keiunkan in Yamanashi. Certified by Guinness, Keiunkan holds the record as the oldest hot spring inn not only in Japan, but in the world. Founded in the year 705, Keiunkan boasts a history of over thirteen hundred years, taking its name from the Keiun era during which it was founded.
Keiunkan’s Kitadake suite in Winter – Photo Credit: 5-Star Ryokan
While Japan is most often associated with seafood, Keiunkan prides itself on the fact that its award-winning chef creates its handmade dishes using seasonal ingredients sourced from the surrounding mountains and rivers. Keiunkan also prides itself on its accommodations. Carefully crafted with attention to Japanese design tradition, the most luxurious room at Keiunkan is the Kitadake Guest Room. A spacious suite, the Kitadake Guest Room features a private, open-air cypress bath and a wooden terrace that overlooks the Yukawa and Hayakawa Valleys.
Google Maps: Keiunkan
View Keiunkan’s English website here for more information on this historic ryokan.
The panoramic view from Urashima’s VIP room – Photo Credit: Hotel Urashima
Hotel Urashima – A one-of-a-kind seaside hot spring experience (Wakayama)
As time goes by and as more and more guests prefer modern conveniences to traditional stays, the line between ryokan and Western hotel has begun to blur. As luxury is a subjective term, there are people out there who may prefer a bed over a futon. Nowadays, many ryokan have built or renovated Western-style rooms to accommodate everyone’s preferences. One such ryokan is Hotel Urashima in Wakayama. Traditionally, ryokan are quite small with only a few rooms. Hotel Urashima, however, has almost 400 rooms that come in seven different styles. Guests can choose between Japanese and Western-style rooms, or opt for a room that’s a fusion of both. The only one of its kind in the hotel, the VIP Room in Urashima’s Yamagamikan building is a Japanese-Western style suite with a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean.
The remarkable hot spring caves at Hotel Urashima – Photo Credit: Hotel Urashima
Aside from the incredible views, what sets Urashima apart from other ryokan is its unique hot springs. A one-of-a-kind experience, guests at Urashima can try bathing in a hot spring that bubbles up inside a beautiful, naturally formed, seaside cavern. The town that hosts this ryokan is known for having the highest catch of tuna in Japan, so guests of Hotel Urashima can enjoy the unique luxury of fresh, all-you-can-eat tuna.
Google Maps: Hotel Urashima
For more on Hotel Urashima, have a look at their (Japanese) website here.
The serene standing bath at Myojinkan – Photo Credit: 5-Star Ryokan
Myojinkan – Where luxury meets environmentalism (Nagano)
The last luxury ryokan to be introduced is for those in need of relaxation and those looking to reconnect with nature. Nagano prefecture’s Myojinkan is a world-class wellness resort located inside the quasi-National Park Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Japanese Alps, Myojinkan is one of only four hotels in Japan to have been awarded the “Green Key,” a certificate of excellence in sustainable and eco-friendly operations.
Myojinkan’s “Zen SPA Living” guest room – Photo Credit: 5-Star Ryokan
This green image is at the heart of everything in Myojinkan. The cuisine on offer is based around the philosophy of Shindo Fujitsu (macrobiotics) and features organic rice and vegetables cultivated at a nearby farm by the staff themselves. The ryokan’s motto is to “luxuriate in doing nothing.” Most of the rooms do not include TVs and are designed with Zen and nature in mind. One of the most unique suites is the “Zen SPA Living” room. A fusion of Western and Japanese aesthetics, the design of the space emulates a mossy stream flowing through the mountains and features a large, Western tub.
Google Maps: Myojinkan
For more about Myojinkan’s rooms, see their English website here.
A riverside hot spring at Honke Bankyu – Photo Credit: Honke Bankyu
Some Things to Note
As previously mentioned, traditional ryokan often only have a few rooms, so it’s best to book several months in advance if there is a specific room you are hoping to stay in. It should also be noted that while a large number of ryokan have hot springs, not every ryokan is a hot spring inn. However, even if the water does not come directly from a nearby hot spring, most ryokan will have a large, luxurious bath for guests as well as rooms with private baths available.
Featured Photo Credit: Honke Bankyu
For help planning your customized, luxurious ryokan getaway, check out Arigato Travel’s Tailored Travel services here!
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