Zebby

Dear more experienced Japan travellers, can you help me with some suggestions please? In two weeks I have an upcoming travelling to Japan from April 10th to 19th, start of with three nights in Japanese Alps (to snowboard if still possible). From there to Hiroshima and then back to Tokyo. All by train (and if necessary, by bus). On the last stretch I would like to have a break in a ryokan. I could do a search along all the places with JR- station, but maybe someone could make life easier... (Prior to Japan I have a few days in Seoul.)

Six years ago I visited Japan for the first time, and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity again. Back then I visited Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, Nagano and Nikko. In Nagano I had a wonderful experience in a family owned and operated ryokan. I guess I want to repeat the experience in a way.

I'm looking for maybe a stay (two nights e.g.) in a ryokan and enjoy a (public) onsen (I'm tattoo free). The ryokan mainly for the dining. On the other hand, maybe I should focus more on a nice onsen with a friendly atmosphere.

And totally off topic: any suggestions for a worthwhile stopover along the route is als very much appreciated! Maybe this is more the way to go, spent some time in a nice place/town/region and look for a onsen in the neighbourhood. I look forward to reading some suggestions.

Keigu,
Zebby

mrwunrfl

What is your price range? The meals in a ryokan can cost more than just the lodging. For that reason I would guess that most guests stay for one night. There are lots of ryokan of various styles on the way from Hiroshima to Tokyo. They would typically have a bath. There are not many hot springs on that route until after Nagoya.

Arima Onsen is on the way. It is near Kobe, on the other side of the mountain.

There is a tourist hotel in Takayama (years ago it was Green Hotel) that had a nice onsen bath the only one in Takayama they say.. I would expect that it has a kaiseki dinner and breakfast plan. I didn't stay there. Only went there for a soak.

Sumiyoshi is a nice inexpensive ryoksan in Takayama but just a one-person hinoki tub when I was there.

Gero Onsen is not very far south of Takayama. I stayed there and remember a nice onsen but don't remember the meal. The onsen town is right next to the station.

Near Tokyo, Hakone has traditional (and other) onsen ryokan.

Momijiso is a nice inexpensive traditional ryokan on Miyaja. Nice Japanese bath room but not hot spring water (not a knock).

You could find public baths called sento that are not onsen (hot springs).

crellston

We stayed a couple of nights in Sumiyoshi, in Takayama and loved it. The hospitality and food were amazing. Really liked the town too and would happily return. If you are a foodie, it is a major centre for Hida beef, Sake & Miso and, in hindsight , great though the Ryokan food was, we should have had just one dinner there and another in the town. As I recall there was a large cedar bath there that guests could reserve for private use. Not sure if there was a communal facility. Some photo in our blog https://accidentalnomads.com/2008/04...ans-miso-sake/ In terms of value for money, it was great and it certainly had the friendly atmosphere you seek.

mrwunrfl

Sumiyoshi is the kind of place where they might have a lodging-only option. A two night stay would make sense: one night with meals, one without. I think it was Momijiso where I first saw that option. The lodging plus meals option was a lot more than lodging only (I want to say almost double but that might be exaggeration, IDR).

Zebby

Thank you so much! I dived into Takayama, the place sounds sooo nice. Unfortunately it’s quite busy and prices are out of my league… Forwarded to Hakone, found something of my interest and changed my itinerary (Japanese Alps-Hakone-Hiroshima-Tokyo) for the time being. I still having doubts to skip Hakone and replace it with Kobe (for the Arima onsen). Need a little bit more looking into those two, Hakone just was first, that’s why.

@Accidental Nomads: your kaseki diner…! Thank you for sharing (and raising the bar

mrwunrfl

check Sosuke minshuku in Takayama. it is basic, shared toilet, inexpensive. It is across from Green Hotel, so would be easy to go for a soak when it is open to public.

It is three weeks out from your trip. Places may be sold out now, but you can check back for cancellations.