What is a ryokan?
Ryokan are accommodation facilities that have mainly Japanese-style structures and interiors and who accommodate people in exchange for fees. In a broader sense, they are accommodation facilities that embody Japanese culture and they are a rare place where it is possible to experience Japanese culture during your stay. Ryokan that have been in business for one or two hundred years are not uncommon and they are the witnesses to history in which they played various roles throughout the ages. There are some ryokan whose buildings themselves have historical value and some that exhibit historical artifacts of national treasure class.
In addition, the sentiments of the proprietor or proprietress pervade throughout the interiors of ryokan which is why it is said that the difference between ryokan and hotels is the fact that no two ryokan are the same. Another characteristic is that fact that the services on offer differ depending on the scale of the establishment. For example, there are marked differences in cuisine, services and interiors between a small-scale ryokan with 20 rooms and a large-scale one with 200 rooms. It is not a question of which type is superior as both have their own merits. Ryokan should be selected according to personal preference and travel needs.
Ryokan featured on 『yado.com』 have all expressed a wish to actively promote Japanese culture to visitors from other countries. Check out what they have to say and experience the good points of Japan’s ryokan.
