A favorite of designers, this arty hotel is located in a residential area away from the bustle of high-rise Tokyo. Large rooms and friendly staff. English spoken here.

One of the most famous ryokans in Japan, this luxurious 19th century romantic hotel has spacious tatami rooms and fine cuisine. Located in Central Kyoto.

The first design boutique hotel in Kyoto, the look is youthfully bold and beautiful. Located in a village-like area, with bakeries, cafes, bookstores and the Imperial Gardens nearby.

These newly built riverside villas within one-half hour of Kyoto’s attractions are a stylish modern uptake on a traditional ryokan. Arrive by a fragrant cedar river boat. All rooms have river views. Hoshinoya has a sleek looking restaurant with a special soba noodle chef.

11 Meijo-period huts, all of different architectural style, set in a sacred Nara deer park. Built in 1907 the original owner – accompanied by geishas – used it as an setting for entertainment and amusements. Like many ryokans, most rooms are Japanese-style, meaning no private baths; bathing is done communally in a separate hut. One hut is Western-style, containing a private bath. The staff are helpful and apologize for their poor English – if emailing them in English, keep it simple.

Elegant ryokan with beautiful garden located near the park and Todai-ji main gate.

Built by a baron in the 1920’s in an exclusive residential district. It is a two minute walk to the beach. The style combines Japanese and Western architecture; one wing and room is western-style; several others have western-style beds but a tatami area for eating; the remainder are all Japanese-style—futon beds and tatami mats.

Decorated in modern Japanese design, this ryokan includes its own natural hot springs on the grounds.

Homemade meals at this guesthouse near the Myozenji temple and Shirakawa Haciman shrine. Rooms are Japanese-style, without private baths. Two communal baths, one women’s, one men’s.

Multiple traditional-style bathing pools – including an outdoor hot spring-fed stone pool and a hot tub overlooking the Haya River – await guests. Hakone Ginyu is a little less formal than most ryokans and therefore is a popular choice with young urbans from Tokyo.

Former summer home of an imperial clan, this luxurious traditional ryokan contains priceless antiques, scrolls, and a series of outdoor pools and lounges.

Lovely maple tree gardens and wonderful food at this elegant and centrally located ryokan.

This recently built contemporary luxury ryokan has views and a wonderful attention to detail.  It is set in the middle of a forest just 15 minutes from a ski resort.  The individual villas have indoor-outdoor hot tubs.

Kotohira Kadan is a traditional ryokan with 400 years of history. It is situated in the midst of a beautiful Japanese style garden. The names of distinguished writers of the past such as Ogai Mori, Hakushu Kitahara, and Akiko Yosano have stayed there.  The big baths have views of Mt. Sanuki-Fuji and Kotohira town. Kotohira has developed and flourished as a shrine town at the gates of Kotohira-gun shrine.

Take a ferry from Shikoku Island to the art island, Naoshima. Benesse House is both a Tadao Ando designed museum and a hotel, incorporating guest rooms and space for display of contemporary art.  Naoshima’s public and museum art works were funded by a Japanese billionaire who created the Benesse Art Site, one of the world’s most remarkable destinations for art lovers.