Nothing beats staying in a traditional Japanese guesthouse for a first-hand experience living like a true local. More famously known as ryokans, they bring you the peace you need for a relaxing trip to Japan. Everything is simple and straightforward, and you’ll find yourself falling in love with the minimalist yet aesthetic interiors, tatami mats on hardwood floors, and futon mattresses.
Besides the warm hospitality and authentic Japanese cuisine ryokans offer, most guesthouses boast breathtaking architecture and overall decor. In this guide, we’ll take a look at our recommendations for the most photogenic ryokans in Japan, together with their unique features and amenities.
And for more tips on booking a ryokan in Japan, make sure you check out the website Ryokans of Japan. It’s full of recommendation of unique ryokans all over the country!
1. Aman Kyoto
Let’s start with a luxurious ryokan-combined resort in Japan’s old capital, Kyoto. Aman Kyoto is located right in the heart of a secret forest, surrounded by lush greenery and spectacular wildlife. This elegant resort is pretty accessible, close to the train station and most temples in Kyoto, including Kinkaku-ji Temple.
Rooms and pavilions have massive windows to let natural light in. Traditional inns feature minimalist designs with light-filled interiors, while the views present historic forested gardens. Reserved guests also get complimentary breakfast at the Aman’s Living Pavilion, where they can taste mouthwatering Japanese and Western dishes.
For the best part, head to the hot-spring onsen bathing facilities filled with mineral-rich waters for ultimate relaxation. You can also try the guided tour to check out Aman Kyoto’s secret garden.
2. The Shinmonzen
Another ryokan-inspired resort set on a quiet street in Kyoto is The Shinmozen, which Tadao Ando, a famous local architect, designed. The Shinmonzen combines traditional Japanese elements and modern design, offering a unique space with minimalist yet stylish decor.
The lobby features beautiful noren curtains and a concrete and light wood foyer. We recommend visiting the Riverside Lounge on the ground floor to enjoy a glass of free matcha latte.
Inside The Shinmonzen are nine exclusive suites with modern decor and Western-style bedding for a good night’s sleep. Thanks to the tatami mats and shoji screens, you can still feel the Japanese vibe inside the rooms. Most rooms also have hinoki cypress tubs and elegant bathrooms, complete with premium amenities, including a skincare set and a Dyson hair blower.
3. Arima Onsen Gekkoen Korokan
Next on the list is situated within Kobe’s scenic mountains. Arima Onsen Gekkoen Korokan features a relaxing retreat where you can get a taste of traditional Japanese hospitality and peace. If you’re booking this place, don’t miss out on the therapeutic hot springs in outdoor and indoor baths with breathtaking nature views.
Rooms at Arima Onsen Gekkoen Korokan boast about Japanese culture very well. They have tatami mats and yukata-clad strolls, and you can also enjoy authentic banquet meals with every room reservation.
Arima Onsen Gekkoen Korokan consists of two types of ryokan, Korokan and Yugetsusanso, each offering scenic views of the nearby rivers and mountains. If you want a more traditional experience, we suggest booking the Yugetsusanso. It’s more expensive, but you get a hundred percent of the omotenashi, or Japanese warmth and hospitality.
4. Beniya Mukayu
Beniya Mukayu is located in Kaga, between the Kyoto and Kanazawa mountains. It’s in a mossy Japanese garden packed with persimmon and maple trees, and you will love its surroundings of stunning gardens and natural hot springs.
What sets this ryokan’s architecture apart is its simplicity. There aren’t elegant furniture pieces or chandeliers inside, but you can appreciate how minimalist and elegant everything is inside this ryokan. The Yamashiro hot spring is nearby, where you can soak and feel more relaxed. But, of course, the activity comes with a fee.
Be amazed by a personal art collection display from Hara on the first floor. It features a traditional washbasin that is ancient to the Buddhists. You may also borrow design books from Beniya’s library.
5. Naoshima Ryokan Roka
How can we exclude ryokans in Naoshima, the famous art island in Japan? Naoshima Ryokan Roka is the island’s first traditional Japanese inn and one of the most beautiful accommodations in the country. This is the perfect ryokan for escaping the bustling city because it’s relatively small and more intimate.
Noashima Ryokan Roka has only 11 suites surrounded by landscaped gardens. Each room has an open-air bath and a contemporary art collection. Don’t miss out on Naoshima Ryokan Roka’s on-site restaurants, Moya and Restaurant En. Moya is a casual cafe with beautiful Zen garden views, while Restaurant En is best for breakfast and dinner.
Warm up at Naoshima Ryokan Ryoka’s central firepit, which is best for outdoor gatherings.
6. Ryokan Kurashiki
Ryokan Kurashiki, built in 1957, has one of the oldest histories on this list. It’s smaller than any average ryokan, with only 8 classic guesthouses. What you’ll love about this place is the natural sunlight blending with the beautiful canal views during sunset or sunrise.
If you want to experience true Japanese culture and history, book the Okuzashiki Suite, one of the oldest rooms in this ryokan. For the best experience, reserve the onsen room at the front desk and get free one-hour sessions. The onsen room features an ancient Aji stone bathtub.. After soaking in relaxing water, head to the on-site restaurant for a full kaiseki meal for dinner.
The original rooms have tatami mats and Japanese futons, among other luxurious amenities. If you prefer hotel-like suites, we recommend booking the more modern rooms instead. You can also head to the private terrace, a room exclusive for the ryokan guests. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy your afternoon tea.
7. Zaborin
Next on the list is Hokkaido, a famous destination in Japan for snow. Zaborin sits in the Hanazono woods and is accessible via public commute. With only 15 villas, you will also feel peace and intimacy when booking a room at Zaborin. The best views from Zaborin are from the on-site bar, which offers panoramic views of Mt. Yotei. All rooms look out into the rolling meadows.
Zaborin probably presents the best entrance. Upon arrival, you can enjoy watching a 62-year-old Japanese tea master pour you one of the most delicious teas in Hokkaido. It’s an entertaining and unique ceremony near Zaborin’s on-site library.
A public garden inside the ryokan is home to a public onsen. We suggest trying out an alfresco foot bath. If you want more privacy, your room also has two hot spring baths. One is outside, right on the balcony, while the other has an indoor bathtub. Rooms are Western-style, with soft beds and wooden flooring.
8. Yuzen no Yado Toukai
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Have you ever experienced living like you’re inside a cup of green tea? Yuzen no Yado Toukai can give you just that.
The open-air tubs set Yuzen no Yado Toukai apart, with the Arita-yaki porcelain bathtubs shaped like teacups. Each tub represents seasonal flowers, including cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums, tea flowers, wisteria, and orchids. If you don’t want to experience the fancy bath, Yuzen no Yado Toukai also has two public onsen bathing facilities, separated each for men and women.
Inside Yuzen no Yado Toukai are 20 Japanese-style rooms with stylish yet simple interiors. For an additional charge, you can try a kaiseki-style dinner and a fresh breakfast with local vegetables.
9. Nishimuraya Honkan
Nishimuraya Honkan has always been a popular ryokan destination near Kyoto because of its carp-filled rock pools, authentic flowering plants, and Japanese pines. Private gardens surround this accommodation; you will also love the healing waters in its onsen baths. These public baths are lined with ancient golden wood dating back to 1854.
Nishimuraya Honkan has 32 Japanese-style rooms with an ornamental alcove, tatami mats, low tables coupled with legless chairs, and shoji paper screens. During your free time, we recommend visiting the manicured garden and appreciating the schools of koi fish swimming in the clean pond. Stone lanterns are also a site to admire.
Nishimuraya Honkan also features an immersive experience, and guests can get a free pass to visit other public onsens in town.
10. Hoshinoya Tokyo
Hoshinoya Tokyo might be the largest ryokan on this list, with 84 spacious guestrooms. This recommendation is a luxury ryokan set in a quieter area of Tokyo, so you can escape the crowds.
You would notice that the entire ryokan has tatami mats, including the elevators. Each floor has about 6 guestrooms. We highly suggest visiting the ochanoma lounge where you can get free morsels, onigiri, and coffee.
For the best part, Hoshinoya Tokyo has the best Japanese cuisine. What sets this apart is that the dishes are a fusion of Japanese and French, giving you a delectable experience. Hoshinoya Tokyo has a private onsen bath which also offers diverse spa treatments.
11. Hiiragiya
Hiiragiya offers the best hospitality you won’t find in other ryokans. Situated in Kyoto, this ryokan gives you a delightful and peaceful stay like no other – with approachable and mindful staff that provides you with all you need.
Hiiragiya has 28 rooms with artistic embellishments and historical design. Each guestroom in the Main Building has the traditional zukuri-sukiya style architecture that speaks loudly of the Edo and Showa periods. On the contrary, rooms at the New Wing are all about tradition and history.
Hiiragiya also offers a fulfilling dining experience. Enjoy a full kaiseki meal for dinner and Yudofu, a unique tofu dish for breakfast. Don’t forget to try out the ryokan’s unique private baths as well.
12. Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza
Finally, we also recommend visiting Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinanoza that sets in a peaceful and secluded area on Lake Akan. This ryokan is deep inside an old forest of Eastern Hokkaido and is also nearby 4 national parks.
Woodcarving is the name of the game with Hinanoza. Every corner of this place is intricately designed, making it picture-perfect and Instagrammable. Hinanoza only has five types of rooms, and each suite has beautiful Lake Akan views. They also have open-air baths for a more calming experience.
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There you have it – 12 of the most photogenic ryokans in Japan that feature an incredible and breathtaking architecture. Beyond the picturesque design and interiors, you’ll fall in love with the staff’s personality, the calming onsen baths, and the tasteful dishes.
Want to hire a photographer in Japan to get awesome pictures of you during your trip? Check out our selection of the best photographers in Tokyo, the best photographers in Kyoto and the best photographers in Osaka!
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