City life in Singapore often feels like a whirlwind of constant motion, leaving many yearning for an escape. For those seeking a retreat rooted in tradition, luxury ryokans in Japan might just be the answer. Nestled amidst serene landscapes and steeped in Japanese tradition, these ryokans provide an exclusive blend of indulgent hospitality and connection with nature.
Imagine rejuvenating soaks in mineral-rich onsen baths, exquisite kaiseki dining, and laid-back settings that invite deep relaxation. Whether perched in lush forests, by pristine rivers, or overlooking majestic mountains, these havens redefine what it means to unwind. Read on for our curated selection of Japan’s finest ryokans for your next vacation.
1. Beniya Mukayu, Ishikawa Prefecture
Image: Beniya Mukayu
Tucked away in a forest just an hour outside Kanazawa, Beniya Mukayu is a retreat steeped in history and Buddhist philosophy. The ryokan sits on land once home to a revered Zen Buddhist temple, imbuing it with a spiritual essence perfect for seekers of peace and renewal. Its name, Mukayu, meaning “richness in emptiness,” reflects the minimalist design that harmonises indoor spaces with the natural world.
Image: Beniya Mukayu
Each of the 16 thoughtfully crafted rooms feature an open-air hot spring bath, inviting guests to soak amidst nature’s beauty. The ryokan’s seamless architecture and forested setting create a meditative environment where time slows and serenity prevails.
Image: Beniya Mukayu
Guests can enhance their sense of well-being with a visit to Spa Entei, where treatments draw from centuries-old traditions. Begin with a rejuvenating soak in the hot spring, known to stimulate blood flow and lymphatic drainage for deeper therapeutic benefits. Try the signature Yakushiyama treatment, which blends medicinal herbs and spring water in a ritual inspired by local monks’ practices. This holistic experience, guided by the principles of the herbal matrix—Ho, Sha, Ryu, Cho—providing personalised care for both body and mind.
At Kaiseki Horin, Beniya Mukayu’s fine dining restaurant, gastronauts are treated to the region’s culinary treasures. Dishes such as snow crab roe with amber jelly, char-grilled yellowtail with sansho pepper, and Noto oyster claypot rice showcase seasonal ingredients against the calm backdrop of the Forest Garden. It’s a feast as restorative as the ryokan itself.
2. Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei, Hyogo Prefecture
Image: Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
In the heart of Kinosaki Onsen, one of Japan’s most beloved hot spring towns, you’ll find Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei. This modern ryokan is enveloped by a vast 132,000 square metres of mountain forest, a dreamy setting for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Still, the hotel is just a short walk away from Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway, boasting a location close to the town’s atmospheric streets lined with yukata-clad visitors and seven renowned public hot springs.
The accommodations cater to a variety of tastes. Japanese-style rooms exude tradition, complete with tatami mats, futons, and chabudai dining tables, with some boasting open-air baths overlooking the lush forest. Western-style rooms, by contrast, provide plush beds for those seeking a more conventional stay, all while maintaining a stunning, minimalist design.
Image: Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
Of course, the highlight here is the bathing options. Guests can luxuriate in the gender-separated hot springs with indoor and outdoor baths, a cold plunge, and a dry sauna. For added privacy, the onsen spa offers three distinctive styles: Japanese, Balinese, and Chinese-themed private baths, each with its unique ambience.
Don’t leave without indulging in Relaxation Salon Fuka, where treatments like aroma massages and reflexology take cues from Bali’s royal baths.
3. Hoshinoya Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture
Entrance to Hoshinoya Tokyo.
Image: Hoshinoya Tokyo
You don’t have to stray far from Tokyo’s electric city centre to immerse yourself in a ryokan experience—Hoshinoya Tokyo redefines tradition in the heart of the skyscraping finance district. Designed by Japanese architect Rie Azuma, the hotel seamlessly blends feudal elegance with contemporary sophistication. Its striking black-latticed facade, an ode to ancient kimono motifs, hints at the understated luxury within.
Image: Hoshinoya Tokyo
Each of the 14 floors functions as a private ryokan, with six tatami-matted rooms encircling an ochanoma lounge. Here, you can sip freshly brewed tea, don your yukata, and wander along the corridors softened by the glow of washi paper shoji screens and low-lying furnishings. The juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship and modern touches—such as glass bathroom walls that turn opaque with a touch—creates a peaceful hideout from the surrounding urban chaos.
Image: Hoshinoya Tokyo
Hoshinoya Tokyo’s draw lies in its 17th-floor onsen. The indoor-outdoor hot spring is fed by Otemachi Onsen’s mineral-rich waters drawn from 1,500 metres below ground. Step into the outdoor black-and-gold bath and watch Tokyo’s clipped skyline drift by as dusk settles. The minerals, remnants of ancient seawater, are bound to leave your skin rejuvenated while the Zen atmosphere lulls you into tranquillity.
Image: Hoshinoya Tokyo
Dining is equally exquisite, from in-room bento boxes to seasonal multi-course omakase meals in the elegant basement restaurant.
4. Amanemu, Mie Prefecture
Image: Amanemu
Amanemu is a sanctuary hidden within the lush forested hills of Ise-Shima National Park. Overlooking the gorgeous Ago Bay—renowned for its cultivation of Japan’s finest pearls—the resort offers a serene retreat for those seeking to reconnect with nature. Here, guests can immerse themselves in the mineral-rich waters of private hot springs, explore ancient pilgrimage trails, and marvel at the distinctive Ria coastline.
Image: Amanemu
Accommodation options range from elegantly minimalist suites to expansive villas, all inspired by the simplicity of Minka architecture. Each suite features clean lines, natural materials, and a private onsen bath that draws rejuvenating waters from the region’s celebrated hot springs.
Out of which, the Nagi Suite stands out as the ultimate escape. Spanning 99 square metres, it offers sweeping views of Ago Bay and an airy layout that combines a king-sized bedroom with a serene living space. Woven textile shutters open to a private veranda complete with daybeds and an intimate dining area, creating a seamless connection between indoor comfort and nature.
Image: Amanemu
In line with other Aman properties worldwide, wellness is at the heart of Amanemu’s philosophy. The award-winning Aman Spa spans 2,000 square metres, drawing on Japan’s sixth-century onsen bathing traditions. Guests can indulge in holistic therapies that blend Japanese healing practices with the brand’s globally inspired treatments. The spa’s centrepiece is a vast hot-spring bath surrounded by a thermal spring garden, where daybeds and private onsen pavilions offer moments of blissful solitude.
5. Hoshinoya Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture
Image: Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Situated along Yukawa River, this bird-watching luxury resort offers an escape where nature’s symphony plays centre stage. Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a testament to modern Japan’s harmonious coexistence with the the restorative beauty of nature.
Located just 90 minutes from Tokyo, the hotel sits at the edge of the Karuizawa National Wild Bird Sanctuary Forest, one of Japan’s four national bird forests. This richly biodiverse haven is home to over 80 species of birds and 40 species of mammals, including endemic species found nowhere else. Here, mornings begin with the gentle chorus of birdsong drifting into your private suite, setting the tone for a day of quiet reflection and immersion in nature.
Image: Hoshinoya Karuizawa
For a uniquely restorative experience, indulge in the resort’s Hoshino Onsen, a natural hot spring flowing directly from its 1915 source. Known as the “hot spring of beauty,” its mineral-rich waters cleanse and hydrate, leaving your skin refreshed with a natural moisture-locking layer. At Tombo-no-yu, outdoor baths nestled among rocks provide seasonal views—cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, or winter snow—while cedar-lined indoor baths offer scenic mountain vistas through expansive windows.
Image: Hoshinoya Karuizawa
The Yamaroji Pavilion suites elevate your stay with nature-centric design. First-floor pavilions envelop guests in lush greenery, while those on the second floor offer sweeping vistas of the entire resort and the vast sanctuary beyond. Both designs invite you to embrace the forest’s meditative stillness and its vibrant avian residents. Complement your retreat with a Forest Wellness Stay, an integrated programme combining spa treatments, forest walks, and mindful breathing in the onsen. Together, these offerings melt away urban stress and recalibrate the mind.
6. Sowaka, Kyoto Prefecture
Image: Sowaka
Sowaka, meaning “happiness” or “wellbeing” in Sanskrit, is a word often spoken at the end of Buddhist sutras in the temples of Kyoto. This captures the essence of this tranquil sanctuary in Kyoto’s historic Gion district. Blending traditional charm with contemporary elegance, the hotel comprises two buildings: the 100-year-old main building, designed in the Sukiya architectural style, and the modern Annex, which mirrors the original structure with modern touches.
Garden View Suite in the main building.
Image: Sowaka
The guestrooms are a harmonious blend of Kyoto’s storied past and its sophisticated present, each space thoughtfully designed to create a serene retreat. The century-old main building Sukiya-style gem, offers 11 rooms that exude historic charm. Each is distinct in layout and features, from rooms adorned with private gardens where light filters through lush greenery, to maisonette-style accommodations with multi-level designs that feel like a personal ryokan within the hotel.
In the Annex, the modern aesthetic respects tradition while embracing contemporary comforts. The 12 rooms here diverge from standard hotel layouts, ensuring privacy and intimacy. Walking to your room feels like wandering Kyoto’s atmospheric alleyways, with narrow passageways leading to individual entrances. Inside, the spaces range from long and narrow townhouse-inspired layouts to rooms with tatami-matted nooks for tea or quiet reflection. Semi-outdoor baths allow guests to soak under the open sky while connecting with nature.
Open-air bath in the Courtyard View Room, Annex building.
Image: Sowaka
Each room features luxurious details that enhance the stay: sliding paper doors that evoke traditional ryokan vibes, handmade cedar wood speakers that fill the space with warm, natural tones, and cashmere mattresses that cocoon guests in comfort. Bath amenities infused with nourishing Japanese camellia oil pair beautifully with the hotel’s own underground spring water, leaving skin refreshed and revitalised.
Amenities elevate the experience further. The rooftop balcony offers panoramic views of Higashiyama and Kyoto’s skyline, with a front-row seat to the Gozan Okuribi fire festival in summer. Guests can also enjoy curated cultural activities like morning strolls through cherry blossoms or private tea ceremonies at Kodaiji Temple.
7. Fugaku Gunjo, Shizuoka Prefecture
Image: Fugaku Gunjo
Nestled on the western coast of the Izu Peninsula, Fugaku Gunjo redefines the onsen ryokan experience with unparalleled privacy and sophistication. This intimate retreat offers eight luxurious suites perched atop a hillside just a 2.5-hour journey from Tokyo, granting breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and the azure Suruga Bay.
Each room blends Japanese tradition with contemporary comfort, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass windows that frame the scenery like a living painting. The thoughtfully designed spaces include a plush living room with leather sofas, a Japanese-style room, and a private deck terrace with an open-air bath. From here, guests can soak in the healing waters of the onsen while marvelling at the sacred mountain and the bay’s endless horizon.
Image: Fugaku Gunjo
Dining at Fugaku Gunjo is an experience in itself. The ryokan’s in-house restaurant fuses Japanese and French culinary artistry, crafting seasonal menus from Suruga Bay’s freshest seafood and the region’s vibrant produce.
Discover solitude and tradition at these luxury ryokans in Japan
Japan’s luxury ryokans are more than just accommodations; they’re immersive experiences where you can unwind. From soothing onsen baths and artfully crafted meals, to breathtaking natural surroundings, each ryokan invites you to slow down and embrace the art of relaxation. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a solo vacation, or a cultural journey, these sanctuaries promise an unforgettable getaway steeped in Japan’s timeless charm.
Cover image adapted from: Amanemu, Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
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