What is a Ryokan? Ryokans are the best way to experience Japanese culture and enjoy the true comforts of Japanese hospitality and service.
Hot springs have a very long history in Japan, and they are an intimate part of Japanese culture. There are over 3,000 "onsen" ,or hot springs, in Japan. Many can be found at the ryokans available on Japanese Guest Houses.
Welcome to Shiobara Onsen. Discovered in 806 AD, Shiobara Onsen is the second largest onsen area in Tochigi Prefecture. There are 11 different kinds of onsen in the area, and each one has a different mineral content. There are many outdoor onsen (rotenburo) which are located along the Hokigawa river. Visitors to Shiobara Onsen can also enjoy the many hiking trails and attractions such as Momijidan
Nikko Yumoto Onsen is an isolated hot spring area nestled on the northern shore of Lake Yunoko 90 minutes from Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Visitors can bathe either at the ryokan's hot spring baths or at Osenji which is a temple with a hot spring bath. There are many wonderful hiking trails in this area. One is the 1 hour hike around Lake Yunoko, and another is the 3 hour hike to Lake Chuzenji whic
In the 12th century the Heike Clan battled the rival Genji Clan to establish political superiority but were eventually defeated. In defeat, the Heike Clan took refuge in the area known as Yunishigawa Onsen (Yunishigawa Hot Spring) in Tochigi Prefecture. The Heike Clan started a new life for themselves in this area, and even today there are still traces of their presence in the area's local customs
It is just over a 2 hour trip on a high speed ferry from Tokyo to Oshima Island, the largest island on the chain of Izu Islands. Oshima Island is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and it is a popular destination for Tokyo residents. Oshima offers visitors a variety of activities such as golf, cycling, swimming as well as various things to see such as waterfalls, shrines, beaches, and Moun
Tokyo is home to approximately 12 million people. Beneath this surface lies a city of contradictions: ancient temples and shrines beside high-tech department stores; traditional festivals held in modern neighborhoods; peaceful Japanese gardens below intelligent skyscrapers. For its size and sprawl, Tokyo is an incredibly safe, efficient city with a low crime rate, the trains always running on time
The capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture is the city of Fukuoka. With a population of 1.3 million inhabitants, Fukuoka is the largest city on the island of Kyushu. Recently, it has established itself as a western Japan\'s major cultural center and an international gateway to Asia (being closer to Seoul, Korea than Tokyo). A modern, internationally-oriented business center, Fukuoka is not a major tou
One of the best places to see some of Fukuoka Prefecture’s natural beauty is Yanagawa. Yanagawa is a Peaceful canal town 70 km south west of Fukuoka Famed for its delicious river eel. Yanagawa is known primarily for its hundreds of kilometers of canals. Yanagawa is often called \"the city of water\" and \"the Venice of Kyushu\". Fukuoka city is a completely different backdrop and atmosphere to t
In Southern Japan there is a nice and beautiful place called Kagoshima. The Kagoshima city is the largest city in Kagoshima prefecture and praised as a sister city of Naples in Italian. The city was officially founded on April 1, 1889. Kagoshima is a historical city watched over by the looming bulk of Sakurajima. This active volcano has eruptions over 850 times per year with the more bombastic ty
Kumamoto is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture, and with a population of over 630,000 it has a long history as a castle-town and a center of commerce and industry on the island of Kyushu. This attractive city boasts a few worthwhile places to visit such as Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Koen (Suizenji Garden). Kumamoto Castle was first constructed in 1601 and it is widely recognized as one of t
Welcome to Kurokawa Onsen. This very popular hot spring town is located near Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu. Kurokawa Onsen is surrounded by the beautiful mountains and lush gorges of the Aso region. It is a typical hot spring town with the ryokans and shops lined up and down the river. Most of the ryokans are located in the center of the town, easy walking distance from one another. M
