Japan: slow cities and a ryokan
Tokyo, a ryokan in the hills, and Kyoto with mornings left open.
A ryokan in the hills near Hakone with private open-air baths and a multi-course dinner served in your room.
The ryokan night is the heart of a Japan trip. Private baths, a dinner that arrives course by course, and a morning that starts slowly.
- Type
- ryokan
- Where
- Japan, East Asia
- Suited to
- Couples · Honeymoons · Celebrations
- Best time
- Late March to April for blossom; October to November for colour. May, June, and September are quieter and still excellent.
Why we like it
What makes Hakone ryokan work
- A night or two of traditional Japan: tatami rooms, kaiseki dinner and a private onsen bath.
- Mountain and lake views between Tokyo and Kyoto, so it breaks the journey rather than adding one.
- A quiet counterpoint to the cities on either side.
Good to know
Before you decide
- Dinner is served at a fixed time and is part of the stay; dietary needs are arranged in advance.
- Tattoos may need to be covered in shared baths; rooms with private baths avoid the question.
- Around ninety minutes from Tokyo by train and private car.
Part of
Journeys that use this stay
Nearby
Other stays in Japan
Kyoto machiya
A restored townhouse with a courtyard garden.
Build a journey around Hakone ryokan
A specialist replies within one working day with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No planning fee for the first conversation.