When visiting Japan there is nothing more relaxing than a short escape into the Japanese countryside, to complement days of exploring Tokyo and strolling Kyoto’s backstreets.
And when visiting the Japanese countryside, there is no better way to immerse yourself than with a stay at a ryokan (traditional Japanese-style inn).
But if you only have 1 or 2 nights to spare in between visits to Tokyo and Kyoto, which region of Japan should you visit – and what are some of the best, most authentic ryokans"

Onsen (hot springs) in winter at Beniya Mukayu ryokan
Take our virtual ryokan tour to see if a ryokan stay is right for you.
Our Favorite Luxury ryokans
Japan has countless beautiful and authentic ryokans, but not all are convenient for travelers en route from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, or vice versa. Of course, if schedule is not a factor you may have time to travel to more remote parts of Japan.
But if you don’t have unlimited time, then journeying to a remote corner of Japan may not be the best use of your efforts – and will probably leave you with little time or energy to enjoy the destination or the journey.
We created this short list of our favorite luxury ryokans especially for travelers with discerning taste, but a limited amount of time.
Private onsen at Gora Kadan ryokan in Hakone
The carefully-chosen properties below are perfect if you want to stay in one of Japan’s best ryokans, without traveling terribly far from the Tokyo-Kyoto path....