5 Impressive Ryokans in 2 Hours from Tokyo

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Hakone, the most coveted resort area in the Kanto region, is simply put, the place with the highest concentration of high-end ryokans. Just entering any place can provide a considerable level of space and service. Kinnotake, too, leads the Hakone ryokan scene.

The rooms have an outdoor terrace and an open-air bath to enjoy from the terrace, with the living/bedroom separated like a suite room, making it spacious and comfortable to stay. The evening can be enjoyed privately in a private dining room, allowing guests to stay without any contact with other guests from check-in to check-out. It might be the optimal choice for those planning a secretive trip.

Unlike Fujitaya introduced before, Kinnotake seems to aim for the very latest in style and reflects trends. It would be good to visit according to your taste.

Hakone Tonosawa Kinnotake
Two guests per room, approximately 80,000¥ per night.

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The hanafubuki in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, offers quaint private rooms and 11 communal hot springs available for unlimited use, ideal for beauty enthusiasts. The simplistic tatami rooms are well-maintained despite the inn's long-standing history, ensuring a comfortable stay. The area around Ito, often sought out for private villas and family tourism, surprisingly holds a refined city landscape, good restaurants, and accessible facilities. Excluding winter, a variety of activities promise a fulfilling day, perfectly concluded with a rejuvenating onsen experience at Hanafubuki. The dinner kaiseki, showcasing Shizuoka's local ingredients, especially the beef dishes and nukazuke pickles, leaves a lasting impression.

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As you run through the rice fields on a country road for a long time, you will see a bicycle with a basket parked on the roadside, and an old woman pulling a forklift. It's not rural, it's rural. You will be able to experience the real atmosphere in Carnaukan that cannot be imitated by imitation.

The first photo is a view of the garden from the shared lounge, which guests can freely use. Wells, waterfalls, rocks, pine trees, and birdsong ••• What other gardens have you covered? Sit back on the lounge couch and you'll be content to take over the garden, or watch the bonfire haze next to it. I think it is a wonderful space where you can fill your heart with food in a calm space with gentle low-fi music.

Each room has a different concept and has a different structure and design, so it has a different style from the lobby space. The room I stayed in was a room with an analog study concept that would fit a black and white TV, so sitting on a rocking chair and holding my phone in my hand, I felt like I was back in decades.


It is difficult to get to unless you have a car or a person who enjoys walking due to poor accessibility, but looking back, it seems that few have had a healthy stay experience as much as Carnaukan. If I had to choose only one ryokan in Japan, I would choose Kanaukan without hesitation. Considering the dedication of the service staff and the value of the space, the fact that the accommodation is so cheap here is a big plus.

The Kaiseki dinner at Kanaukan, which I will introduce separately in the next daylog, was also really good, so please wait a little bit.

Kanaukan
2 persons per room per night 35,000¥~65,000¥

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The Fujiya Ryokan in Yugawara-machi is an incomparable lodging for enjoying the cherry blossoms in spring. By staying in the newly renovated executive rooms designed to face the garden, you can monopolize the cherry blossom festival alone. Waking up to the chirping of birds and the cool sound of a waterfall is an unparalleled experience. Just about an hour and a half by train from Tokyo Station, Yugawara has been a beloved hot spring resort from ancient times. Despite being particularly busy during the holiday season, Fujiya is one of the few ryokans that offer reasonable prices for accommodation even during the peak cherry blossom season of March-April. The guestrooms in the new wing have been recently refurbished, providing hotel-quality cleanliness while offering the quintessential ryokan service. Although visiting in winter has its own charm, it's especially recommended to visit during the cherry blossom season. How about entrusting your mobile phone to the hotel reception and trying a digital detox amidst nature?

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Artbiotop's high-end suite villas boast private terraces, gardens, and outdoor jacuzzis. Even amidst the emerging trend of hotels with gardens in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, Artbiotop stands out for its scale, offering a unique phytoncide experience and open air unlike any other. Located in the rural setting of Nasushiobara, Tochigi, just a 1.5-hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo, the area may initially appear unimpressive with sparse buildings and fields. However, its true charm lies within its valleys, home to private golf courses and luxury resorts like Hoshino Resort. Artbiotop itself is more than just a hotel. It's an art experience and cultural space offering various art activities and operating a large man-made garden named Mizuniwa. The suite where I stayed, unlike the comparatively modestly priced residence rooms, is priced higher but justifies its cost with excellent room conditions and complimentary fine dining. Guests can freely explore Mizuniwa, a garden that challenges traditional Japanese garden concepts with its European scale, designed with deliberately placed water puddles and tree arrangements that bring to life a vibrant masterpiece, reflecting the changing seasons vividly.