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Ryokan - the traditional Japanese guest house |
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If you want to experience real service, you have to visit a ryokan, a traditional Japanese guest house. They are sometimes more expensive, and as a Westener you might feel strange in some cases, but it is a real experience. Manners are
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very different from in a Western style hotel. You will not find a bed, and only minimum furniture put up in your room.
Instead, in the evening someone will come in order to prepare your bed, made of layers of futons which are stored in the cupboard during the day.
A stay at a ryokan usually includes - Japanese ! - breakfast and dinner, which often features their local specialties and is traditionally served in your room. In many cases also a natural hot spring bath is offered for your relaxation.
We have stayed at a few ryokans already. Actually we always try to book a ryokan, not a hotel, if available and affordable. We will describe about our experience with those ryokans below. If you are looking for the special experience, have a look at the descriptions below or the following internet links:
http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/
http://www.ryokan.or.jp/
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The ryokans we have been to... |
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1. Ubarakan / 鵜原館
Chiba Pref., Katsuura
(very south of the Boso-peninsula).
Reasonable and traditional. They have four
different hot spring baths, each of which is with fascinationg settings, e.g. in a cave with a nice sea view. Situated close to the seaside in the green nature. Dinner in your room. Excrellent service for the price. About 3-4 hours drive from Tokyo.
Homepage (Japanse only):
http://www.katsuura-yado.com/stay/ubarakan.html
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2. Magi Onsen / 真木温泉
Yamanashi Pref., Otsuki
(towards south-west from Tokyo)
Huge premises, lovely garden with pond and lanterns.
Nice atmosphere and setting, although rooms are a bit old already. Dinner and breakfast are not served in your room, but in a dining hall (shokudo). Still, food is superbly prepared and tastes good. Each room has a private onsen bath. About 60-75 minutes drive from Tokyo. Not too far, but still in the countryside.
Homepage (Japanese only): http://www.magionsen.com/
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3. Kuroiso-Honjin / 黒磯本陣
Shikoku Island, Kochi Pref., Nakatosa
New and very clean, still building and rooms have a traditional style and furnished in an authentically and pleasant way. Most rooms offer a nice view over the sea (see right). Both breakfast and dinner is served in the spacious dining room with a lovely setting. Food is superb, excellently cooked with generous volume of fresh and delicious ingredients.
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80 minutes flight from Tokyo to Kochi, then about 2 hours by bus and train to Nakatosa.
Long trip, but it’s worth it for some relaxing, quiet time.
Homepage (Japanese only): http://honjin.or.jp/index.htm
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4. Shiraume / 白梅
Kyoto, Gion-area, Shirakawa
Used to be a Geisha entertainment house for eating and drinking events - authentically traditional! The host family is absolutely Japanese - a superb service, but not pushing at all. They take care of every single detail, which sometimes you would only recognise afterwards. Also very suitable for the English-only speaking guest and you even get a Western breakfast if wanted. Dinner in your room, breakfast in a nice little shokudo with a view on the river.
This ryokan is situated in the middle of Gion, the main amusement area of Kyoto. Still, no noise at night. Thanks to its convenient location, you can reach many sights on foot. Perfect for a nice memorable Kyoto-trip, but not really cheap. However, the quality well justifies the price.
Homepage (Japanese only):
http://www.shiraume-kyoto.jp/jpn/shisetu/index.html
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5. Asaba / あさば
Shizuoka Pref., Izu-Peninsula, Shuzenji
"The Queen of Ryokans". Take all the advantages of the above ryokans and double the performance quality - that’s the Ryokan Asaba. Even French President Jacques Chirac stayed there already. Our two-night stay there was a wonderful wedding gift from Chiko’s parents...
Staying at Asaba is very expensive, but it is an incredible experience, if you appreciate Japanese service. You just think, now you would like to have some tea, and somebody knocks the door, serving fresh green tea. Amazing. A very discrete but intensive service. You can see Asaba’s long history from its huge, old but very well maintained traditional Japanese house. It offers very nice own onsen, refined spacious rooms and excellent food. They also have their own no-theater stage, although it is not used very often. However, it creats an elegant atmosphere.
Shuzenji itself is a nice little town in the mountains, offering plenty of onsens. You will have seen all the interesting things within a day, but you would come for a relaxing time anyway.
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6. Sanshien / 山紫苑
Ohiradai, Hakone
Little ryokan only three minutes walk from Ohiradai train station. The service was very good, the ladies were all very nice and helpful and we felt very well. There are three little onsens, two of which can be booked in advance, so that you can have your own private onsen session. As with most of the Japanese old houses, it becomes very cold in winter as there is no real insulation to the houses. However, a strong heating and lots of onsen bathing keeps you warm! We enjoyed the stay all in all very much.
Homepage (Japanese only):
http://www.sanshien.com/
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7. Kaihinso Kamakura /
かいひん荘鎌倉
Kamakura, Kanagawa
Ryokan nicely settled in Kamakura. It is about 15 min. walking distance from Hase Dera and the Great Buddha. It offers a public bath, which is not a natural onsen, but still very relaxing. Great service, great food. Some of the rooms feature their own private piece of nicely settled garden. We enjoyed it a lot!
Homepage (Japanese only):
http://www.kaihinso.jp/
Information in English:
http://www.japanican.com/hotels/Shisetsu Detail.aspx?st=4242003
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