If you’re traveling to Japan, staying in a traditional ryokan is a must. These family-run inns offer guests a glimpse into authentic Japanese culture and allow you to experience several elements that you wouldn’t get at a Western-style hotel, from traditional Japanese food to tatami flooring.
There are endless ryokans in Japan, but I’ve narrowed it down to a handful of the best properties out there, based on guest ratings and reviews. Situated right across the country, any of these ryokans will be the perfect final touch on the Japanese trip of your dreams.
The 13 Best Ryokans in Japan
1. Zaborin, Niseko
A traditional Niseko ryokan with balconies and private bathrooms
Zaborin is a classic ryokan in Niseko that blends together elements of traditional Japanese accommodation with contemporary Western features. Here you can enjoy a scenic garden on the grounds and traditional kaiseki multi-course dinners, in addition to spacious rooms with balconies and private bathrooms.
Guests are given the VIP treatment with valet parking and a 24-hour front desk, in addition to free toiletries in their rooms. The ryokan is within 22 kilometers of Niseko Annupuri International Ski Area, so it’s a great choice for a winter vacation to Japan.
It’s also 12 kilometers from Niseko Goshiki Onsen and 16 kilometers from Niseko Annupuri Hot Spring.
2. ONSEN RYOKAN Yuen Sapporo, Sapporo
Enjoy this ryokan in the heart of Sapporo
Nestled in the heart of Sapporo, ONSEN RYOKAN Yuen Sapporo is a traditional three-star inn that offers guests great amenities like a 24-hour front desk, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi.
Some rooms at the ryokan have their own balcony, while others have city views, so the standard is generally pretty good for a three-star ryokan. There’s a sauna and hot spring bath to enjoy at the inn, as you might have guessed from the name!
ONSEN RYOKAN Yuen Sapporo is less than 2 kilometers from Sapporo Station, and is also a short distance from Odori Park and Odori Station.
3. Mount View Hakone, Hakone
A classic ryokan in beautiful Hakone
One of the most highly rated ryokans in Hakone is Mount View Hakone, which is centrally located in the town and is within walking distance to the Venetian Glass Museum. There’s also a bus stop in front of the property, making it easy for guests to reach attractions that are a little further from the ryokan, including the hot spring town of Yumoto.
Here you can immerse yourself in Japanese-style rooms featuring futon bedding and tatami flooring, plus Yukata robes are available for wear. Guests are also welcome to enjoy green tea sets and traditional snacks, plus authentic Japanese meals which are served in the dining room.
Perhaps the most alluring factor of Mount View Hakone is the hot spring baths filled with volcanic water. There are both shared open-air baths and those available for private hire. Additionally, you’ll find a shop with local products and a Japanese confectionary shop on the grounds.
4. Fujikawaguchiko Onsen Konanso, Funatsu
Take in sweeping views of Mount Fuji from Konanso
Seeing Mount Fuji in all its glory is on the bucket list of many visitors traveling to Japan, and you’ll have the chance to do just that at Konanso. This inn is renowned for its views of the iconic mountain, as well as those of Lake Kawaguchi.
The ryokan is just steps away from a ferry stop where guests can embark on sightseeing cruises, while the Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park is just five minutes away, and the Gotemba Outlet Shopping Mall is a 40-minute drive.
There are indoor and outdoor hot spring baths to enjoy, including a foot bath on the rooftop and private onsen available for an extra fee. Guests can also unwind with a massage, or let loose in the karaoke rooms (after a drink or two in the lounge bar, of course!).
Aside from the vistas, one of the best parts of this ryokan is its ability to immerse guests in traditional Japanese culture. Rooms are furnished with futon bedding and green tea sets, and guests are also welcome to try on Yukata robes.
5. Hotel Asafuji, Fujikawaguchiko
Soak in the hot spring baths at Hotel Asafuji
Another ryokan offering vistas of Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, Hotel Asafuji offers pristine views from every single room. In true ryokan-style, the rooms are decked out in tatami flooring and futon bedding, plus low tables and floor chairs and cushions, in addition to Shoji paper screens.
In not-so-traditional ryokan-style, the rooms also have private bathroom facilities, along with free Wi-Fi. Massages are on offer for guests, who are also free to use the geothermal onsen.
The ryokan serves traditional Japanese breakfast and kaiseki multi-course dinner at the on-site restaurant, which needs to be reserved in advance for an extra charge.
Kawaguchiko Station, Kawaguchiko Ropeway, Lake Kawaguchi’s boat dock, Kawaguchiko Music Forest, and the Kawaguchiko Museum Of Art are all under 10 minutes away, while Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park is 15 minutes away.
6. Onsen Guest House Tsutaya, Hakone
Open-air baths and mountain views await at Onsen Guest House Tsutaya
Like many of the ryokans in Hakone, Onsen Guest House Tsutaya is an inn where guests can enjoy the natural geothermal properties of the area through the steaming onsen. This ryokan is known for its open-air bath which offers scenic mountain views.
This is a good ryokan if you’re a solo traveler or like to mingle with other guests, since the shared kitchen fosters a sense of community. However, for those who do want a little more privacy, some of their rooms have a private entrance and private bathrooms.
Onsen Guest House Tsutaya is accessible with a lift and is just 6.5 kilometers from Hakone-Yumoto Station. For those who are driving to Hakone, the property also offers free parking.
7. Koya-San Syukubo Eko-In Temple, Koyasan
Japanese accommodation offered within an authentic 1000-year old Buddhist temple
Set in a Buddhist temple that’s 1,000 years old, Shukubo Koya-san Eko-in is truly a one-of-a-kind accommodation experience. On these grounds you’ll find traditional Japanese-style furnishings and a tranquil private garden.
Since this ryokan doubles as a real Buddhist temple, inclusive morning services are held, along with the Goma fire ritual and meditation. However, the rooms do still offer modern amenities like LCD TV and a safe.
The bathrooms are shared at Shukubo Koya-san Eko-in, as is the case with traditional ryokans, and guests are also welcome to use the public baths every day. The meals served at the ryokan offer Buddhist vegetarian cuisine, though other dietary requirements can be catered to.
8. Oyado Koto No Yume, Takayama
A Takayama ryokan with its own restaurant and hot spring baths
A traditional ryokan spruced up with lavish features, Oyado Koto No Yume is one of the most positively reviewed properties in Takayama.
Just steps from Takayama Station, this inn has the usual ryokan characteristics, including tatami flooring, futon bedding, and green tea sets. However, it is also home to a restaurant where both Japanese and Western breakfast is served.
There are both indoor and outdoor hot spring baths available for use, along with a private hot tub that guests can hire. Some other attractions nearby include the Miyagawa Morning Market, which is less than 10-minute walk away, and Kokubunji Temple.
9. Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei, Kyoto
Classic Japanese-style accommodation in the heart of Kyoto
If you’re traveling to Kyoto, one of the best ryokans to consider is Kyoto Takasegawa Bettei, an inn renowned for the picturesque cherry blossoms that bloom outside. It’s located in the heart of Kyoto and offers soundproof rooms for guests to escape the fast pace of the city for a while.
Breakfast is served in the dining room, and consists of fresh pastries and fruits along with more traditional warm dishes, but guests can also enjoy in-room dining. Each room has a fridge, microwave, and coffee machine too.
You’ll find a helpful concierge at Kyoto Takasegawa Bette, along with an accessibility lift and day security. Gion Shijo Station and Kyoto Station are both a short distance away.
10. Fujiya Hotel, Hakone
Base yourself in the 19th-century ryokan set in Hakone
Fujiya Hotel, only minutes from Miyanoshita Station, will transport you back to the 19th century. A converted imperial villa, this inn opened in 1878 and now offers the best of both the modern and the old world.
You’ll find contemporary delights, such as air-conditioning and private bathrooms, along with features that are long-standing in Japanese culture, including bathtubs with geothermal water.
Unsurprisingly, the ryokan has its own museum, but there’s also an indoor pool filled with natural spring water, a garden, and a greenhouse. In terms of dining, guests can choose from French fare, Western meals, and traditional Japanese kaiseki dinners. And if none of those appeals, there’s also a bakery on site.
11. Nishimuraya Honkan, Toyooka
Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture at Nishimuraya Honkan in Toyooka
Located in Toyooka, Nishimuraya Honkan is just 1 kilometer from Kinosaki-Onsen Train Station. This charming ryokan has its own art gallery of traditional Japanese artwork, but guests can also get lost in the local culture through other traditional features of the inn, such as the woven-straw flooring and Yukata robes available for wear.
Nishimuraya Honkan has a rich history dating back 160 years, and that old-world appeal is obvious everywhere from the classic furniture to the serene traditional garden.
The inn offers guests free bicycle hire so they can explore the surrounding area (Kinosaki Ropeway and the Kinosaki Museum are both just 10 minutes away). Meanwhile, the meals served in the historic dining hall are world class.
12. Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya, Kutsatsu
A Kutsatsu ryokan with in-room geothermal baths
Only 10 minutes from Kusatsu Yubatake and Kusatsu-Onsen Bus Terminal, Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya is one of the most highly rated inns in the area. A traditional ryokan with charming décor, Kusatsu Onsen Eidaya is particularly known for its private hot spring baths.
Certain rooms feature their own onsen, along with their own kitchen and microwave. However, there’s still a sense of community here, with a shared lounge area that boasts board games and playing cards.
Guests are welcome to enjoy the Asian breakfast which is served every morning at the ryokan, before heading out to enjoy activities around Kusatsu.
13. Ito Ryokan, Tokyo
An affordable ryokan full of amenities in Tokyo
This two-star ryokan is one of the most popular in Tokyo. Set in a great location just 200 meters from Amazake Yokocho Shopping Street, Ito Ryokan has a shared lounge area where guests can socialize and also offers a concierge and housekeeping service.
Asian breakfast is served at the ryokan, while guests also have the convenience of day security and luggage storage space. The ryokan is close to attractions like Sankatsu Yukata Museum, Genyadana Monument, and Koamicho Children’s Park, while it’s only 20 kilometers from Tokyo Haneda Airport.
FAQs About Ryokan in Japan
Why should you stay in a ryokan in Japan over a hotel?
A ryokan is a unique type of accommodation that is specific to Japan. These inns are characterized by traditional décor, including tatami flooring and futon bedding, and also offer other traditional cultural elements, such as the chance to wear Yukata robes or enjoy multiple-course kaiseki dinners.
Many ryokans also have their own onsen so guests can take part in the Japanese soaking tradition. Ryokans don’t typically have all the creature comforts of hotels (though some do!), but you should consider staying in one to immerse yourself in true Japanese culture.
How much is an average ryokan in Japan?
Just like hotels, ryokan prices can vary depending on the star rating and location of a property. According to Japan Guide, the average ryokan will set you back anywhere between 15,000 and 25,000 yen per person per night (between approximately $98 and $164 USD).
Prices lower than this will likely get you a very basic style of ryokan with many shared facilities, while those that are more expensive will probably come with extra amenities, such as private onsen.
What makes a good ryokan?
This list of the best ryokan in Japan includes the most highly rated inns, but there are several qualities that make a good ryokan.
A quality ryokan will serve fresh food, have friendly and welcoming staff (and the service will be more personal than it is in most hotels), and boast clean, simple rooms with traditional, authentic décor.