Ryokan: A Japanese Hotel
Japan has unique aspects in everything, and tourism is no exception. In addition to capsule hotels, introduced for people who couldn’t make it home after work, Japan’s hospitality industry is known for ryokans — traditional Japanese-style hotels.
Ryokans originated from honjin, houses where feudal lords, or daimyo, would stay during their travels. During the Edo period, the government required daimyo and their entourages to spend one year living in the capital and the next in their own domains. This system was designed to prevent collusion between lords and limit the accumulation of power. Travel between the capital and their domains took a long time, so daimyo and their retinues would stay overnight in honjin, which were prepared to host the wealthiest aristocratic families or regional monasteries. After the Meiji Restoration, the shogunate dissolved, and honjin, along with smaller inns near hot springs or scenic areas, were transformed into ryokans.
Today, a “ryokan” refers to a traditional Japanese hotel, with architecture and interior design reflecting Japan’s historical heritage. Many ryokans are recognized as architectural landmarks. Often (though not always), they are located near hot springs (onsen) and feature communal baths for guests or even private ones in each room. The rooms have tatami mat flooring, and traditional sliding partitions, called shoji or fusuma, replace regular doors. Guests traditionally sleep on futon mattresses laid out on the floor, but in recent years, due to the influx of foreign tourists and changing preferences among the Japanese, low beds with pillows and blankets are increasingly common.


Staying in a ryokan is a unique opportunity to experience traditional Japanese life and immerse yourself in its culture. Each ryokan has its own character and style, but certain customs are shared across the board. Guests are asked to provide their arrival time in advance, as they will be greeted at the entrance by the okami, the inn’s hostess, along with nakai, the staff. In ryokans with wooden floors in the lobby and hallways, guests remove their shoes upon entry, while in inns with stone corridors or carpeted areas, slippers are worn only in the rooms. A maid escorts guests to their rooms, explaining the history of the ryokan and its amenities. Upon arrival, tea and Japanese sweets (wagashi) are served, and the maid inquires about the guests’ preferences and offers recommendations for local attractions. Instead of regular clothing, each guest is provided with a yukata, a light kimono, and a longer haori jacket. The yukata is typically worn in the room or when visiting the onsen, while the haori is worn in common areas like the lobby or at dinner.
Modern ryokans sometimes feature impressive European-style restaurants with renowned Japanese chefs, but traditionally, Japanese cuisine is served for breakfast and dinner. Dinner is often served in the guest’s room, and the finest ryokans offer kaiseki ryori—a multi-course meal that changes with the seasons. The freshest ingredients for these meals are sourced from local farms and are a point of pride for the region, as the maid will explain. She brings the meal in a specific order, briefly describing each dish. A traditional Japanese breakfast is a hearty affair, including rice, miso soup, grilled fish, tofu, and seaweed. Everything is served in small portions, as variety is key to the Japanese diet. Until recently, coffee and bread were rarely available in ryokans, but now they are offered if guests request them in advance.
Attention to even the smallest requests and impeccable service, which is rare even in many five-star hotels, are the essence of *omotenashi*—the Japanese art of hospitality. There is no better place to experience *omotenashi* than a ryokan. These traditional inns are designed to help guests relax and unwind in a serene environment, enjoying Japanese gardens, visits to the hot springs, and exquisite Japanese cuisine. The Japanese themselves also enjoy staying in ryokans, and the presence of a renowned ryokan often influences their choice when planning a short trip to another region.



Of course, staying at these traditional inns comes with a cost. A night in a ryokan starts at around $150, and a luxurious ryokan with private open-air baths near hot springs can cost between $500 and $700 per night. However, the experience is worth it: personalized service in an age of chain hotels and the chance to feel like a Japanese lord visiting aristocrats will leave lasting memories.
If you’ve already stayed in a ryokan and want to bring a touch of Japan into your home, we can create a traditional interior that will be completely authentic, due to the involvement of Japanese designers and architects. We also offer services for designing concepts and interiors for hotels and private residences with Japanese quality and attention to detail.