11 of the Most Luxurious Ryokan in Japan

The dining room, where both breakfast and dinner are served, looks out to the property’s garden, with additional viewing seats on the second floor. There’s also a private pavilion that can be transformed to meet guests’ needs, whether it be for tea, meals, or yoga. You’ll also have access to Yubune, a public bath with beautiful mosaics just across the street that’s used by both locals and visitors. And if you didn’t come to the island by bike, both rentals and guiding cycling tours are available and well worth the effort to explore the island or even visit a neighboring isle for the athletically inclined traveler.

Osaka has been in need of a new luxury hotel and the city finally got one this past August in the form of a Four Seasons. Located on the 28th floor is Gensui, a level fully dedicated to the property’s contemporary ryokan experience, a first for the brand. Here, you’ll find a collection of 21 rooms and suites that put a modern spin on ryokan accommodations, complete with tatami mats, Japanese futons, and deep stone tubs. Yukata are also exclusively provided in these rooms and guests are welcomed to don them to Sabo, the floor’s dedicated lounge that serves a traditional Japanese breakfast in the morning and a wide range of teas and beverages throughout the day. Beyond Gensui, make sure to also stop by the hotel’s spa, complete with a 52-foot swimming pool with skyline views, a 24-hour gym, sauna rooms, and more. The restaurants are also worth a visit, too, particularly Jiang Nan Chun for Cantonese fare by Hong Kong-born chef Raymond Wong Wai Man and Sushi L’Abysse, a unique sushi concept by renowned chef Yannick Alléno that melds French savoir-faire with the art of sushi by chef Yasuda Itaru.