Five Reasons To Stay in a Ryokan

Intro

“A ryokan stay is more than a bed for the night; it’s a unique and profound cultural experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

Close your eyes and imagine. You’re standing in your room in a traditional Japanese ryokan. The sliding door and four walls around you are beautifully crafted from rice paper and cedar wood and the flooring is made from tatami mats. There is a futon to sleep on. It is perfectly quiet. You take a long, deep breath and exhale as the stresses and worries of home drift away as if they were never there at all. You feel light and unburdened.

You’re wearing a yukata robe and slippers, which you were given on arrival, and a tea service being prepared for you by your hosts. Outside there is a traditional Japanese Zen garden, serene, tranquil, and the perfect place for reflection and meditation. Later, the warm, rejuvenating waters of the onsen and a multi-course dining experience awaits. 

It’s time to open your eyes again, but don’t worry if you’re still at home because we have good news. We can help you make this dream a reality. The experience we have described above is exactly what you can look forward to when you book a stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan and we can help take you there. 

Five Reasons To Stay In a Japanese Ryokan 

At JapanDen, we believe one of the best ways to experience authentic Japanese culture is to stay at a ryokan. Let’s look at five reasons why: 

1. The most authentic experience of Japan

If you’re looking for the ‘real’ Japan, you’ll find it in a ryokan. While every ryokan is different, these traditional inns keep alive ancient customs and give guests a chance to dine, relax, bathe, and sleep like a traveller from Edo Period Japan - the era of samurai and geisha, which has captured so many of our imaginations. If you’ve long dreamt of experiencing this Japan then a ryokan stay is essential. Ryokan are often located in rural Japan and former post towns so you’ll see a very different side of the country than its futuristic cities. Whereas Japan’s cities are global and future-facing, rural Japan is decidedly local and invested in honouring the past. It’s here you’ll find the ‘real’ Japan and the country’s authentic heart. Many of these towns and villages have barely changed in hundreds of years and you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time to a simpler age. Moreover, ryokan themselves are a kind of time capsule into Japanese accommodation from centuries past, with all of the same traditions and customs. 

2. The opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese culture

A ryokan stay is a perfect way to experience traditional Japanese culture and hospitality in a much more intimate and respectful way. You’ll be an honoured guest in a traditional inn and will experience Japanese customs and etiquette from the moment you arrive and check-in until your departure. This will include taking off your footwear when you enter the building and changing into slippers called geta. You’ll also be given a robe known as a yukata to wear when you’re inside the ryokan and unique cultural experiences like tea ceremonies and bathing in an onsen. The latter is not only relaxing, but a huge part of Japanese culture. If you’re the kind of traveller who wants to really connect with the country they’re visiting then a ryokan stay is a gateway into the ‘real’ Japan. It’s one of the closest things you can get to living like a local in a traditional Japanese household.   

3. Enjoy traditional Japanese dining

The green tea you’ll be served on arrival is just the beginning. A ryokan stay can also be a culinary experience. From traditional Japanese breakfasts like the one pictured above to multi-course, traditional meals called kaiseki and tea ceremonies, you’ll be fed and watered like the wandering samurai lords of old on the travels along the ancient highways and byways. Ryokan place an emphasis on traditional food and high-quality local produce so you’ll eat and drink well while experiencing dining etiquette and customs.  

4. Time to switch off and relax

From the peace and tranquillity of the building itself, with its minimalist rooms and calming surroundings, to the serene and beautifully maintained Zen gardens, to the hot springs where you can bathe and soak, ryokan offer endless ways to relax and unwind. The different experience you’ll have staying in a quiet ryokan as opposed to a busy, contemporary hotel can help separate your time in Japan from every other holiday and make your trip extra special. If you have a busy work or home life and need to switch off then where better than the country than practically invented Zen, mindfulness, and spiritual detoxing. Many ryokan also have indoor and outdoor onsen facilities for bathing and relaxation and we cannot recommend these enough. As well as being soothing and relaxing, the warm, geothermal waters are famous for their rejuvenating properties too. You may step out of the hot spring feeling like a new person. 

5. New experiences are what make travel extra special

Why do we travel? What is it about experiencing another country and culture that makes our hearts soar? New experiences are scientifically proven to boost brain power by opening up new neural pathways; making us healthier and happier, and what can be more ‘new’ than travelling to another country. 

Whether you’re craving a break from the everyday or you’re searching for something more profound and meaningful, travelling to another country and experiencing the culture first-hand can change your life in the best possible sense. It can rejuvenate, refresh, and inspire you, leaving you feeling like a new version of yourself and this positive energy can return home with you. Every time you think about the trip or look at photos from your time away, you’ll reexperience the wonder and joy it brought you. That’s the magic of travel and of all the places in the world, we believe that Japan is the most special. We only have so many places we can visit in our lives and there’s a reason so many people have Japan at the very top of their dream destinations. And when you come to Japan, a ryokan stay is one of the best ways to experience this beautiful and historic country. 

Useful Links

We love Japan just as much as you do and we’re excited to help you find the perfect place to stay while visiting this unforgettable country. Alongside our carefully curated selection of hotels and ryokans, we hope to provide everything you need to plan your dream visit, from in-depth travel guides to 24/7 customer assistance, as well as our upcoming community forum. We can also point you in the right direction for the most cost-effective and enjoyable transport, portable Wifi devices, and partner services to make your stay in Japan extra special:

• Remember, there are many different types of ryokans in Japan, from historic and traditional inns to more contemporary and modern hotel-style ryokans, high-end luxury ryokans to more affordable budget versions, as well as family run guesthouses called minshuku and temple stays known as shukubo.   

• For the perfect place to stay, visit our Hotels page and choose from more than 2,800 hotels and 1,800 traditional ryokans.

• Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about Japan’s regions and prefectures so you can decide the best place to visit, you should check out our Destinations page. 

• If you’re looking to explore Japan then the country’s famously efficient trains are the way to go. Japan’s railways are renowned as being the fastest, cleanest, and safest in the world. The country’s rail network is so vast and interconnected that it can help you reach almost any corner of Japan you’d like to visit. Furthermore, with a Japan Rail Pass you can enjoy unlimited travel on the majority of the country’s trains, including the famous Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’. The JR Pass is by far the most cost effective and flexible way to get around Japan. Find out more by visiting our partners at www.jrpass.com today.

• Want to use Google Translate to support your language skills? Or Google Maps for live train updates? What about posting photos to social media or keeping in touch with home? For all this and more, you’ll need a PocketWifi device like those from Ninja Wifi. With unlimited data, support for five devices simultaneously, the ability to share your Wifi with your travel companions, and more, renting a PocketWifi is highly recommended. Our Pocket WiFi guide has everything you need to know.   

• If you’re looking for information about Japan and want to speak with expert travellers who have been there and done that, then you should join our Community. This welcoming and friendly forum is the place to go to share stories, knowledge, and experiences about Japan, ask questions, make new connections, and find travel inspiration.