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.
Hyogo Prefecture stretches from the north side of side of Osaka Bay to to the opposite coast on the Sea of Japan. It is one of the most populous prefectures in Japan (ranked 8th out of 47), and home to the industrial and commercial center of Kobe (which recently opened its own airport), the city of Takarazuka (where the famous, all-women Takarazuka Revue musical theater group performs) and the historic city of Himeji with its magnificent "White Heron" Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular tourist attraction. Hyogo Prefecture is a great place to experience natural scenery as well as one of the more modern urban and suburban environments in Japan.
