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.
One of Japan’s Three Sacred Mountains along with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tateyama. Mt. Hakusan has been a mountain of worship from ancient times. The meaning of Mt. Hakusan is “ White Mountain “ like Mt. Blanc in Europe. The Hakusan Shirayama Hime-Jinja Oku-miya (Shrine), is located at the peak of Mt. Hakusan. The origin of mountain-climbing worship is said to date back to 717, when a priest named Taicho climbed Mt. Hakusan for the first time to practice aesthetic rites. Today, about 2700 branch shrines of Hakusan Shrine can be found throughout Japan. The Hakusan National Park is one of Japan’s most famous mountainous national parks, comprising Mt. Hakusan and its surrounding areas which cover a total area of 47,700 ha.
