The Best Ryokans in Tokyo

Tokyo has taken the traditional ryokan, known for their tatami-matted rooms and communal baths, and modernised them with some real verve! From high-end luxury options that offer spa-like bathing facilities and beautiful traditional Japanese aesthetics re-worked into a more contemporary minimalist design. Smaller boutiques are also offering intriguing blends of the old and the new - and, if you look hard enough, there are some family-run traditional ryokans for those who want to revisit the past. With so much choice, our hotel gurus have simplified the booking process by bringing you a small selection of the best ryokans in Tokyo. With something to suit all tastes and budgets why not browse through our list to start planning your next stay?

For luxury

• Hoshinoya is Tokyo's first 5-star ryokan filling the expanse of a 17-floor skyscraper with each floor functioning as an independent guesthouse. Find luxury to the max whether unwinding in the soothing onsens or feasting on the exemplary Japanese cuisine.
• Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku blends city style with Japanese tradition in central Shinjuku. In the elegant guestrooms, futon beds and tatami areas nod to local customs, while the rectangular windows with skyscraper views introduce contemporary Tokyo. Soak in the hotel onsen after sightseeing.

For great value

• Andon Ryokan is a traditional guesthouse in a quiet neighbourhood. Simple rooms are traditionally dressed with roll down futons, large windows and almost nothing else. A friendly base for travellers on a budget.

For traditionalists

• The Edo Sakura offers an authentic Japanese experience in a Japanese style Machiya townhouse, in the Taito neighbourhood. Every morning you can enjoy a traditional Tea Ceremony and for a truly immersive stay, we recommend booking a Japanese (rather than Western) room.

For a boutique

• Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa offers guests the traditional tea house experience in a contemporary Tokyo setting. Guestrooms offer flexible use with sliding screens, fold-away futons and tatami floors. Soak in the outdoor bath on the sixth-floor with views over the city after a day out sightseeing.

Still not sure where to book?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Tokyo?
• Or consider our Guru’s collection of the 3 Best Hotels in Shinjuku or the 4 Best Hotels near Tokyo Station or the 3 Best Hotels in Ginza or the Best Hotels in Shiodome or the Best Family Hotels in Tokyo?
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

  • Andon Ryokan Tokyo 24 rooms from AU$130

    
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    Value chic  -  A great value hotel in a quiet locality but with easy access to the city's main attractions.

    Learning  -  Cultural activities at the hotel include tea ceremonies & flower arrangement classes

    Local exploring  -  Excellent location for exploring the surrounding neighbourhood on foot

    Great walks  -  Located close to popular Ueno Park, which is lovely for relaxed walks

    

    A traditional guesthouse in a quiet neighbourhood. Simple rooms have roll down futons, tatami matting, large windows and almost nothing else. Bathrooms are shared. The lounge area is a more contemporary affair with new-age furniture and bold colours. A friendly base for travellers on a budget. See More

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  • Hoshinoya Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku) 84 rooms from AU$1317

    
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    Other Activities  -  Experience the rituals of a typical tea ceremony in the hotel's dedicated tea room, a reflective, minimalist space

    City Style  -  A luxury hotel with each floor acting as an exclusive domain, accessible only by specific guests

    Yoga  -  Try early morning traditional sword training on the rooftop from 6.45am

    Hideaway  -  A restful oasis in the heart of one of the world's busiest cities

    

    Tokyo's first 5-star ryokan fills a 17-floor skyscraper, with each floor acting as an independent guesthouse. Expect utter luxury, whether unwinding in soothing onsens or feasting on exemplary Japanese cuisine. A serene haven for design lovers. Step outside into the heart of Tokyo. Superb. See More

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  • Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku Tokyo 193 rooms from AU$203

    
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    City Style  -  Offering a blend of classic Japanese comfort and contemporary city style, this hotel has lots of local Tokyo charm

    Local exploring  -  Set in the heart of Tokyo in the Shinjuku neighbourhood, book this hotel as a base for your city exploring

    Romantic Break  -  With cosy suites, a romantic onsen and great restaurant, book this hotel for your next couples' city break

    Sights nearby  -  Visit the nearby Taiso-ji Temple, an oasis of calm in the area with a renowned Buddha statue and lots of local cats

    

    This Tokyo hotel blends city style with Japanese tradition in central Shinjuku. In the elegant guestrooms, futon beds and tatami areas nod to local customs, while the rectangular windows with skyscraper views introduce contemporary Tokyo. Soak in the hotel onsen after sightseeing. See More

    Check Availability

  • Cyashitsu Ryokan Asakusa Tokyo 10 rooms from AU$304

    
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    Local exploring  -  Set in a charming district of Tokyo close to the river, book this hotel as a base for local sightseeing

    Romantic Break  -  With classic rooms and a sixth-floor hot tub, this hotel is perfet for a romantic couples' city break

    City Style  -  With tea house-inspired aesthetics and a central location, this hotel has lots of local Tokyo charm

    Great walks  -  Explore the city on foot with a long walk, starting at the pretty, neighbouring Denboin Garden

    

    This hotel offers guests the traditional tea house experience in a contemporary Tokyo setting. Guestrooms offer flexible use with sliding screens, fold-away futons and tatami floors. Soak in the outdoor bath on the sixth-floor with views over the city after a day out sightseeing. See More

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  • The Edo Sakura Tokyo (Taito-ku) 30 rooms from AU$224

    
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    Romantic Break  -  The tranquil atmosphere at this hotel makes it a great place for a couples' break; ask staff for help to plan your sightseeing

    Local exploring  -  Set in a pretty, centrally located neighbourhood with good transport links, this hotel is perfect for local exploring

    City Style  -  With custom-designed interiors that draw on Japanese tea house culture, this hotel has plenty of local Tokyo charm

    Sights nearby  -  Visit the nearby Ono Terusaki Shrine, a historic Buddhist site said to have been founded in 852

    

    This design hotel is nestled in a Japanese-style Machiya townhouse in Taito, Tokyo. The hotel offers the option of a traditional experience, with futon beds and tatami mats, or contemporary, Western rooms. Enjoy a daily tea ceremony in the morning before you set out sightseeing. See More

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Written by Katie Harris

posted Thursday, 4th January 2024