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Ryokan · Japan's traditional inns

Ryokan · Japan's traditional inns

A night at a ryokan in Japan, arranged in your language

Hot water under an open sky. Dinner in many small courses. A futon laid out while you ate. Tell us where and when; we ask the inns in Japanese and email you options with one total price. Nothing to pay until you say yes.

Request a ryokan →Groups & whole innSee how the night unfolds

Nothing to pay until you approve an option

  • Nothing to pay until you approve an option
  • Ask in your language; we talk to the inn in Japanese
  • Allergies and dietary needs passed on in Japanese
  • Private car door to door, on request

Featured ryokan in Japan

An editorial selection across Japan's onsen regions, not a ranking.

Ryokan selected by OlaChill

Each inn below was checked against its official website. Prices are reference prices with the date we checked them; we confirm the current price and room before you decide.

80 ryokan

Not sure which ryokan to choose?

Tell us the area, dates, budget and what matters to you. We come back with three to five options that fit.

Find a ryokan for me →
Not a hotel with a Japanese room

Not a hotel with a Japanese room

A ryokan sells an evening, not a bed. The room, the bath, the dinner and the morning are one thing, and the inn has been rehearsing it for a long time.

You arrive in the afternoon and change into a cotton yukata. You bathe before dinner, not after. Dinner comes to you, course by course, often to your own room or a private dining room. While you eat, someone turns the table room into a bedroom. In the morning there is a bath at first light and a breakfast of grilled fish, rice and miso soup. Most stays are one or two nights. That is enough to slow a whole trip down.

Six things that make a ryokan

  • Onsen

    Onsen

    Natural hot spring water, piped from the ground rather than heated from the tap. Each source has its own feel: some soft and smooth, some sharp with sulfur, some rust-coloured from iron. Many inns have an indoor bath and an open-air one.

  • Kaiseki

    Kaiseki

    A dinner of many small courses, built around what is in season. Plates change with the month; so does the pottery. The kitchen decides the order, and you simply let it come.

  • Tatami

    Tatami

    Floors of woven rush mats that smell faintly of cut grass. Shoes stay at the door. A low table by day, a futon by night, the same quiet room for both.

  • Yukata

    A light cotton robe folded in your room, with a sash and often a short jacket for cooler months. Guests wear it to the bath, to dinner and, in some towns, down the street.

  • Omotenashi

    Omotenashi

    Hospitality that tries to arrive before you ask. Your name and any allergies you shared are usually noted before you arrive. It should feel natural, never hovering.

  • Garden

    Garden

    Moss, stone, a pine shaped over decades, a view framed by a sliding screen. Even inns without a garden borrow one: a river, a mountain, a line of snow on a roof.

One night, hour by hour

Times vary by inn. The rhythm rarely does.

  1. 15:00

    Arrival and green tea

    Shoes off at the entrance. You are shown to your room and served green tea with a small local sweet. Staff confirm your dinner time and ask about the baths.

    Arrival and green tea

  2. 15:30

    Into the yukata

    Left side over right, always; right over left is for the dead. Tie the sash snugly around the waist. In cool months a padded jacket goes on top.

  3. 16:00

    The first bath

    Wash at the low stool first, then step in slowly. Late afternoon is often the quietest hour. Listen for water running over stone and the hollow knock of a wooden lid being lifted.

  4. 18:00

    Kaiseki dinner

    Roughly in this order: a small opening bite, a seasonal platter, a clear soup, sashimi, something grilled, something simmered. Rice, miso soup and pickles close the meal, then fruit or a sweet. Allow about two hours.

    Kaiseki dinner

  5. 20:30

    Night bath or a slow walk

    In some towns guests walk to public bathhouses in yukata and wooden sandals. Elsewhere, a second soak under the dark sky. Baths are usually lit until late.

    Night bath or a slow walk

  6. 22:00

    Futon on tatami

    Back in the room, the table has gone and the futon is made up. The mattress is firm, the quilt heavy and warm. Many inns do this for you during dinner.

  7. 06:00

    A bath at first light

    Mist on the water, cold air on your face. At some inns the men's and women's baths swap overnight, so the morning bath may be one you have not seen.

    A bath at first light

  8. 08:00

    Breakfast, then check-out

    Grilled fish, rice, miso soup, rolled omelette, pickles, seaweed, perhaps an egg slow-cooked in hot spring water. Check-out is usually around 10:00 or 11:00.

Eight kinds of ryokan

Pick the one that sounds like your trip. We match the inn to it.

Ten ryokan areas worth the journey

Travel times are approximate from the nearest big city and change with the timetable.

  • Hakone · Kanagawa

    Kanagawa

    Hakone

    A chain of hot spring villages in the hills south-west of Tokyo, close enough for one night. On clear days some inns look straight at Mount Fuji.

    Getting there
    About 1.5 h from Shinjuku by limited express
    Best time
    Autumn leaves; clear winter mornings for Fuji
    Request a ryokan →
  • Kusatsu Onsen · Gunma

    Gunma

    Kusatsu Onsen

    Strongly acidic, sulfur-scented water pours from the ground in huge volume and runs through wooden channels in the town square. Locals cool the hottest water by stirring it with long boards.

    Getting there
    About 3 to 3.5 h from Tokyo by limited express and local bus
    Best time
    Autumn colour and snowy winter
    Request a ryokan →
  • Nikko & Kinugawa · Tochigi

    Tochigi

    Nikko & Kinugawa

    Large riverside inns along the Kinugawa gorge, a short ride from the ornate shrines and temples of Nikko.

    Getting there
    About 2 h from Asakusa by limited express
    Best time
    October and November for autumn colour
    Request a ryokan →
  • Ginzan Onsen · Yamagata

    Yamagata

    Ginzan Onsen

    A former silver-mining village: multi-storey wooden inns face each other across a narrow river, lit by gas lamps at dusk.

    Getting there
    About 4 to 5 h from Tokyo by Yamagata Shinkansen and local bus
    Best time
    Midwinter, when snow covers every roof
    Request a ryokan →

  • Hyogo

    Kinosaki Onsen

    A willow-lined canal and seven public bathhouses. Guests walk between them in yukata and wooden sandals; inns usually give a pass for free entry.

    Getting there
    About 2.5 to 3 h from Kyoto or Osaka by limited express
    Best time
    Winter, when snow crab is in season
    Request a ryokan →
  • Kyoto

    Kyoto

    Kyoto

    Long-established inns and restored wooden townhouses within walking distance of temples and old streets. Hot springs are rare in the centre; hospitality and food are the point.

    Getting there
    About 15 min from Shin-Osaka, about 2 h 15 min from Tokyo, by shinkansen
    Best time
    Cherry blossom and autumn leaves; book early for both
    Request a ryokan →

  • Gifu

    Gero Onsen

    One of Japan's three celebrated hot springs, known for smooth alkaline water said to leave skin feeling soft. Takayama is about 45 min further by limited express.

    Getting there
    About 1.5 to 2 h from Nagoya by limited express
    Best time
    All year; autumn in the Hida hills
    Request a ryokan →

  • Kumamoto

    Kurokawa Onsen

    A small village in a wooded valley near Mount Aso, with no neon and no big signs. Buy a wooden pass and bathe in the open-air baths of other inns.

    Getting there
    About 2.5 to 3 h from Fukuoka or Kumamoto by highway bus
    Best time
    Autumn leaves and quiet winter
    Request a ryokan →
  • Yufuin & Beppu · Oita

    Oita

    Yufuin & Beppu

    Beppu has more hot spring sources than anywhere else in Japan, steaming from vents across the city. Yufuin, up in the hills inland, is quieter, beneath the twin peaks of Mount Yufu.

    Getting there
    About 2 to 2.5 h from Fukuoka (Hakata) by limited express
    Best time
    Autumn and winter mornings, when mist rises off Lake Kinrin
    Request a ryokan →
  • Noboribetsu Onsen · Hokkaido

    Hokkaido

    Noboribetsu Onsen

    Inns gathered below Hell Valley, a steaming volcanic crater. The area has several types of spring water, often counted as nine.

    Getting there
    About 1.5 h from Sapporo by limited express and local bus
    Best time
    October colour and deep snow in winter
    Request a ryokan →
Private car door to door, on request

Private car door to door, on request

A private car is quoted together with the stay. The driver meets you at your hotel or in the arrivals hall. Snow on mountain roads can add time in winter.

Private car from Tokyo →Private car from Kyoto or Osaka →Pickup from the airport →
Private car with driver, door to door →

Eight quiet rules

No one expects you to be perfect. These cover almost everything.

  • Wash before you soak

    Sit on the low stool, wash and rinse fully, then enter the bath. The bath is for soaking, not for washing.

  • The small towel stays out

    Rest it folded on your head or on the edge. It never goes in the water.

  • No swimsuits

    Shared baths are usually single-sex and bathers go without clothes. If that feels too much, ask for a private bath.

  • Tie up long hair

    Keep hair out of the water. Some inns leave a hair tie with the room amenities.

  • Tattoos: ask first

    Policies vary from inn to inn. Tell us when you request and we check. Private baths are usually the easy answer.

  • Slippers stop at the tatami

    Leave them outside the room's matted floor. The toilet has its own pair; switch back when you leave.

  • Left over right

    Fold the yukata so the left side sits on top. Wear it to dinner and around the inn; most inns treat it as proper dress there.

  • Keep time with the kitchen

    Dinner is prepared for a set hour. If your train runs late, let the inn know. Tipping is not expected.

Onsen rules every first-timer needs →Private open-air baths: how they work →

Every season, a different inn

  • Spring

    Cherry blossom moves north from late March into May. Bamboo shoots and wild mountain greens appear on the dinner table.

  • Summer

    Summer

    Highland inns stay cooler than the cities. River fish grilled on skewers, fireflies near some rivers in early summer, fireworks over some hot spring towns.

  • Autumn

    Autumn

    Leaves turn from the north and the mountains down to the coast, from about October to early December. Matsutake, chestnuts and new-crop rice. Rooms go quickly; ask well ahead.

  • Winter

    Winter

    Snow on the open-air bath, hot pots at dinner, crab on the Sea of Japan coast. The contrast of hot water and cold air is at its sharpest.

How a request works

You tell us once. We do the calls in Japanese.

  1. Send your request

    Area, dates, guests, the style of stay and a budget per person. Anything else that matters: a birthday, an allergy, a need for beds.

  2. We read it and ask if needed

    If something is unclear, we write back with a question before we contact any inn.

  3. We check with the inns

    We ask about rooms, meal plans, bath rules and your dietary needs directly, in Japanese.

  4. You receive options by email

    Each option shows the inn, the room, what is included, the cancellation terms and one total price, with a private car if you asked for one.

  5. You approve, then pay

    Nothing is charged before you say yes. Once you approve and pay, we confirm the stay and send the details for arrival.

Request your ryokan

A few details are enough to start. We reply by email with options and a total price.

Fields marked * are required

Area *
Style of stay

We use these details only to arrange your stay and share with the inn only what it needs, such as names and dietary needs.

Prices depend on the inn, the room, the date and the meal plan. The total in your options covers what it lists; drinks and extras ordered at the inn are paid there. If the town charges a bath tax, we tell you how it is paid.

We reply by email once we have heard back from the inns. Popular dates can take a little longer to confirm.

Questions about staying in a ryokan

What is a ryokan?

A traditional Japanese inn. Rooms usually have tatami floors and futon bedding, guests wear a yukata, and the stay normally includes dinner and breakfast. Many ryokan sit in hot spring towns and have their own onsen baths.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

No. Send your request in your language. We talk to the inn in Japanese, pass on your needs, and send you the options and arrival details in writing.

Are meals included?

The usual plan is one night with dinner and breakfast. Some inns also offer breakfast-only or room-only plans, which are common in cities. Each option we send says exactly which meals are included.

Can I stay if I have tattoos?

Often, yes. Rules for shared baths vary by inn. A room with its own bath, or a private bath you reserve, avoids the question. Mention tattoos in your request and we check before we send options.

Can the inn handle allergies, vegetarian or halal meals?

Many inns can adjust dinner if they know in advance. Kaiseki stock is often made with fish, so strict vegetarian, vegan or halal meals are not possible everywhere. Tell us the details and we ask each inn in Japanese before offering it.

How much does a ryokan cost?

It depends on the area, the inn, the room, the day of the week and the season; weekends, holidays and peak seasons usually cost more. Choose a budget per person per night in the form and we look within it. Your options show one total price.

When do I pay, and can I cancel?

You pay only after you approve an option. Cancellation terms depend on the inn and are shown with each option, so you see them before you approve.

Are children welcome?

At many inns, yes. Family rooms can sleep four or more on futons, and some inns offer children's meals and small yukata. A few adult-oriented inns do not take young children; we check for you.

Can you arrange a car to the ryokan?

Yes. A private car with driver can take you door to door from Tokyo, from Kyoto or Osaka, or from the airport. It is priced together with the stay, so you receive one total.

I need beds or step-free access. Is that possible?

Some inns have rooms with Western-style beds, and some have lifts and rooms close to the baths. Old wooden inns often have stairs and steps. Tell us what you need and we only offer inns that fit.

Plan the rest of the trip

Private car with driver, door to doorTours with a night at a ryokanKimono rental for a day in the old streetsOnsen rules every first-timer needs

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