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The official top ten
Luxury Ryokans

A luxury holiday in Japan wouldn’t be complete without a stay at a boutique ryokan. These traditional inns are Japan’s version of the spa hotel – exquisite multi-course kaiseki Japanese meals, renowned omotenashi hospitality and even luxurious hot spring baths on your own private balcony. A ryokan stay is also a great opportunity to fully immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture and to see more than most visitors to Japan do, as the best ones tend to be off the beaten track in small historic towns or charming rural areas - the perfect city escape.

Japanese ryokans are typically much smaller than your usual hotel, they tend to be family run and have been passed down through the generations. Upon entering your ryokan, you'll firstly remove your shoes in a particular assigned area and replace with the slippers that have been provided for you. The check-in process is pleasantly much quicker and simpler than in a hotel, the nakai-san (personal room assistant) will guide you to your room and show you everything you need to know, whilst preparing your first cup of green tea to help you relax into this experience Japan has to offer. 

Here, we've narrowed down our top ten luxury ryokan's, in order to help you choose however many you wish to include during your visit to Japan.

1

Beniya Mukayu

  Beniya Mukayu is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Culturally speaking, Kanazawa is one of the richest places in Japan, but it is short on great hotels. The Beniya Mukayu,...

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2

Gora Kadan

  Gora Kadan is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans and Top 10 Hotel Spas. Gora Kadan is one of Japan’s finest ryokans, offering an unparalleled fusion of ancient Japanese aesthetics and modern luxury design....

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3

Ryokan Kurashiki

  Ryokan Kurashiki is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Secret Gems and Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Nestled along the picturesque willow-lined canal in Kurashiki, Ryokan Kurashiki is a captivating retreat with a rich cultural heritage...

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4

Hoshinoya Kyoto

  Hoshinoya Kyoto is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Hoshinoya Kyoto is a luxury ryokan nestled in the scenic hillside area of Arashiyama, just west of Kyoto. Accessible by riverboat,...

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5

Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama

  Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. This is the newer, more secluded and arguably more romantic venture by Hanaougi. It is a pretty traditional Japanese ryokan built...

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6

Hanafubuki

  Hanafubuki is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Halfway down the east side of the Izu Peninsula are the jagged bays of Jogosaki, where walking trails and a suspension bridge...

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7

Kayotei

  Kayotei is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Nestled in the forested hills on the fringe of picturesque Yamanaka hot spring town, the Kayotei is one of Japan’s finest 'ryokan'...

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8

Notonosho

  Notonosho is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans and Top 10 Hotel Spas. Meaning ‘the waters of Noto’, the clue to this ryokan’s success is in the title. Nearly a century ago, the...

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9

Sekitei

  Sekitei is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Although it is a ten minute shuttle bus ride from Miyajiama port, the drive is worth it for the sheer tranquillity of the...

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10

Iwaso

  Iwaso is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Luxury Ryokans. Nestled in the serene Miyajima shrine area, Iwaso Ryokan offers an exceptional experience, especially when the crowds have dispersed and the stone...

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Client Testimonials

We have just returned back from a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for organising everything. The transfer was excellent – for once they had perfect car seats. The villa was lovely, just what we needed and the hotel had helpfully put us as far away as possible from everyone else. The breakfast buffet was the best I have ever seen – and I am slightly obsessive over breakfast!! There was an incredible choice, something for everyone and so beautifully presented. A real highlight of the trip. Thank you again for sorting everything - and at such short notice!
- Redmayne family, Phuket
I thought the Ampersand team was outstanding. We couldn’t have hoped for anything more.
- Mr Geoffrey Johnson, India
Getting to Amanpulo from Manila was very simple and the beach was the most beautiful I’d ever been on; pristine white sand, not a single piece of rubbish in sight. You get your own solar powered golf buggy to drive around resort (and a butler at request). The views from the Hillside Casita were spectacular!
- Mr Wyburd, Philippines

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