Last Updated: Jun 11, 2024

Ryokan, Yay or Nay

Should You Stay at One in Japan or Not

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

Japanese ryokan… Are they a quintessential experience or something that is totally overrated? If you do any digging online, you’ll find that many travel guides glorify staying at a ryokan as a “must-do” activity in Japan. That said, not all ryokan are created equal. Moreover, the experience is not necessarily ideal for everyone. As such, it is high time that someone examines the truths and fallacies regarding ryokan so that you, the reader, can decide whether or not a stay is a fitting choice.

First of all, let’s answer the question of what exactly is a ryokan. Simply put, the term ryokan refers to a traditional-style Japanese inn. While the word ryokan conjures up images of magnificent wooden architecture and tatami floors, many more modern facilities exist as well. Although similar to hotels in function, ryokan are fundamentally different. Rather than just a place to stay, they have become an experience unto themselves. Many Japanese will often travel to far off locations just to stay in a ryokan.

Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s clear up some misconceptions about staying in a ryokan. I’ve structured the following to allow for easy skimming but I highly suggest at least giving the bolded sections a quick perusal if…