Where to Stay– category –

Oyado Takimoto is a small inn in Shibu Onsen, Nagano, with four baths fed by three hot-spring sources. Before you book: regular rooms have no bath of their own, cards cannot be used at the inn, and two local taxes are added. From the official pages.

Kinkouroh is a hot-spring hotel in Ibusuki, Kagoshima, where every room faces Kinko Bay and Sakurajima. Before you book: which rooms have an onsen bath, how the private open-air bath works, and the free shuttle that must be booked by phone. From the official pages.

Zenshichi no Yu (Ohira Hotel) is a Zao Onsen inn with two private hot-spring sources, ten baths and separate rooms for guests with pets. Before you book: bathing wear in the mixed open-air bath, winter cancellation rules, and no elevator. From the official pages.

Ryori Yado Miboro is a family-run inn of mountain kaiseki cooking in Shirakawa village, Gifu, about 20 minutes by car from the Shirakawa-go gassho village. Before you book: reservations are by phone only, the baths are private indoor baths, and toilets are shared. From the official pages.

Ootaya is a gassho-style farmhouse minshuku with five Japanese rooms in Ogimachi, Shirakawa-go, a few minutes on foot from the bus terminal. Before you book: check in by 17:00, the doors close at 21:00, and dinner is shared around the irori hearth. From the official pages.

Komyoin is a temple lodging (shukubo) on Mount Koya founded in 1183. Before you book: it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, arrivals after 18:30 get no dinner, and meditation, morning service, the goma fire ritual and sutra copying are free for guests. From the official pages.

Fumonin is a historic temple lodging (shukubo) on Koyasan with 20 rooms, shojin ryori and a 6:30 morning service. Before you book: check in by 16:30 or the booking is auto-canceled with a 100% fee, children cannot stay, and the gate closes at 21:00. From the official pages.

Kawayu Onsen Fujiya is a hot-spring inn on the Oto River near Kumano Hongu, Wakayama. Before you book: every room faces the river, the public river bath Senninburo runs only from December to February, and a free 9:00 shuttle takes guests to the Kumano Kodo. From the official pages.

Rengejoin is a Koyasan temple lodging linked to the Sanada family. Before you book: buses no longer pass the gate (about 15 minutes on foot), meals are vegan-friendly shojin ryori but gluten-free is not possible, and the gate closes after 19:00. From the official pages.

Kamigoten Ryokan in Ryujin Onsen, Wakayama, was built in 1657 for the lord of Kishu, and his room can still be booked. Before you book: main-building rooms have no toilet or lock, payment is cash only, and children of elementary-school age or younger cannot stay. From the official pages.

Hanagokoro is an eight-room inn in Gora, Hakone, with milky hot-spring water from Owakudani. Before you book: the baths are private, the kitchen cannot serve vegetarian, vegan or halal meals, and the site and booking page are in Japanese. From the official pages.

Hinoharu Ryokan is an 11-room inn by Yunotsubo Kaido in Yufuin, with a Taisho-era open-air bath open 24 hours and free private family baths. Before you book: what the official pages say, and where they differ.