A Guide to Japanese Ryokans

A mainstay and icon of the Japanese travel scene, ryokans are Japan's original hotel. Dotted throughout the country, they're the local take on accommodations, offering services and facilities that are unique to the country and offer guests plenty of cultural insight into how this fascinating place functions.

They're also incredibly comfortable and have some of the best food. But maybe you're wondering, what really is the difference between a regular luxury hotel and a Japanese ryokan? Well, wonder no more; we're here to break it down for you!

The development of the ryokan came through almost like a series of transformations that reflected the nation's culture at the time. The history of many of Japan's first ryokans can be traced back to the Nara Period (710-784); however, the country's first ryokan and the world's oldest hotel opened back in 705. These early-stage ryokans, known as "fuseya" were free rest houses established by local Buddhist monks.

During this time, much of the country's transportation networks were still incredibly underdeveloped, meaning that many folks were left to sleep on the side of the road. The monks witnessed travelers and pilgrims suffering from exposure to the elements and starvation and decided they could no longer just let people be.

If there could be one "father" of the ryokan, it'd be monk Gyoki, who opened nine ryokans while also developing bridges and transportation networks like bridges throughout some of the country's most dangerous terrain. Gyoki opened nine fuseya around Kyoto, which was soon to be established as the nation's capital (794 - 1868).

During the Heian Period (794 -1191), pilgrimage treks to the country's most significant religious sites became a popular activity among the Imperial family and aristocrats. To house the nation's elite, temples started offering lodging facilities known as "shukubo" (temple lodging).

Later, during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333), when traveling became more accessible for regular people, inns known as "kichin-yado" (cheap inns) started popping up, often offering no meals and just charging guests for the utilities (wood and fire) they used during their stay. Then during the Edo-Period (1603 -1867), when the country started to become more industrialized, "hatago" inns, inns that offered meals as part of the stay began to develop as ways for wealthier folks like merchants to stay in comfort as they traveled the country doing business. Around this time, people started to travel for more leisure and pleasure, visiting hot springs and hot spring hotels "toji-ba" making way for the onsen ryokans we know today.

After the 1950s, when Japan's economic prosperity increased, travel became increasingly popular with newly rich citizens. Mobilized by their newfound wealth, business trips, school trips, and personal vacations became the mainstays of many of the nation's social and cultural calendars, creating a new, more lavish, and often Westernized breed of ryokan. These days ryokans are typically a blend or subsect of one of these types of inns, with styles, facilities, and luxuries varying depending on history, location, and owner of each inn.

At its essence, the key difference between ryokans and a regular hotels is its history, design, and offerings. While it sounds simple, staying at a hotel in Japan and a ryokan are two very different cultural experiences, but let's break down the difference via the three key differentiator points of history, design, and offerings.

History

Many Japanese hotels (not ryokan) were developed during the late Edo period to the Meiji era when Japan started to open to more international business and travel. Partly these were a reaction to Sakoku (Japan's seclusion policy) being lifted, making a time when the country aggressively began adopting Western cultures and influence.

According to some reports, the first official Japanese hotel that followed this trend was the Yokohama Hotel in Yokohama, which opened in 1860. Many accommodations before this period were truly Japanese in style and ethos, making them more of a ryokan than a hotel. The hotel is now known as Hotel New Grand and is still open for business.

Design

Pre-Western hotels typically had tatami mat flooring and futon bedding, and at most traditional ryokan inns, you're required to take off your shoes before entering the room and wear slippers (often to prevent damaging the tatami). Seating is often "zabuton" cushions on the floor or modified seats with no legs that sit directly on the floor. Aesthetically too, the design is more "Japanese" think shoji screen sliding doors.

Offerings

On this front, the main differences are the approaches to hospitality. In a hotel, most guest service is handled at the front desk, with guests given the option to dine at the on-site restaurant if there is one. However, at many ryokans, dinner services are often hosted in the guests' rooms. Also, at hotels, most staff don't enter guest rooms and work from the lobby desk, but ryokan staff are more actively involved in the guests' stay.

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamanashi prefecture, not far from Mt. Fuji is officially the world's oldest hotel (according to Guinness World Records) and is actually a ryokan. The facility opened in 705, making it over 1,300 years old, and it's still completely operational.

One of the most amazing parts of this ryokan's legacy is that it's remained in the same family for over 52 generations. The ryokan, which has 37 rooms designed in typical Japanese fashion, and has undergone multiple renovations in its lifetime, is still as loved today as ever thanks to its wonderful hot spring facilities, like Keiunkan's famous bath, "Mochitani no Yu" and stunning natural views. While it's hosted everyone from samurai to celebrities, it's still fully functional and open to guests from all backgrounds. If you're looking for a unique Japan and world bucket list experience, a stay here definitely ticks all the boxes.

A night at a ryokan is a must-do for those who want to experience the whole gamut of Japanese culture. It's an exercise in traditional luxury and an excellent way to better understand the country's culture and history.

Many of the country's ryokan have been developed to showcase best the beauty of the regions in which they're located, so you can trust that you'll be treated to spectacular views, exquisite food, and intimate and thoughtful hospitality like you've never known.

To help you pick your next stay at a ryokan, we've compiled a guide to the most luxurious onsen ryokans (ryokans with hot springs) you can book in Japan right now.

One of the best ways to know what's hot on the ryokan scene is to see what everyone else is booking. We've compiled the 10 most popular hotels and ryokans booked on our platform between January 1 to April 28, 2023 across our global audience. Take a look here to get a little more hotel booking inspiration.