Where to Stay– category –

FUFU Atami is a 32-suite hot-spring resort where every room has its own open-air bath. Before you book: Visa cards issued outside Japan cannot pay online for now, the shared bath refuses tattoos, children 0 to 12 pay 1,650 yen a night, and the station pickup needs booking. From the official pages.

Kawahiro is a small 12-room Japanese inn facing the Nagasaka gondola in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano. Before you book: toilets and baths are shared, the booking page says payment is cash and its plan needs two nights, and some details differ between official pages. From the official pages.

Onjuku Yagura is a hot-spring inn above Yufuin town with views of Mount Yufu. Before you book: the site is Japanese only, rates start at 28,600 yen with two meals (per person or per room is not stated), and the last check-in is 18:30. From the official pages.

Ikoi Ryokan is an adults-only inn in Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto, known for its many hot-spring baths. Before you book: every room is adults only, stays are one night only, and the rate is on the Japanese booking page. From the official pages.

Matsuya is a 12-room wooden ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen, facing the Ichi-no-yu and Yanagi-yu bathhouses. Before you book: the pass for all seven public bathhouses is included, dinner starts at 18:00, and the private bath is paid and booked by the day before. From the official pages.

Kawakamiya Kasuitei is a 14-room sukiya-style inn in Gero Onsen, Gifu. Before you book: dinner is served in private dining rooms (not in your room), the private open-air bath is booked at check-in, and the official site is Japanese only. From the official pages.

Nagoya Tokyu Hotel in Sakae before you book: the pool and gym are closed to under-18s and to anyone with tattoos, late checkout costs 30% of the room rate until 3 p.m., the airport bus only drops off here, Exit 12 of Sakae Station has stairs, and parking is 1,200 yen a night. From the official pages.

Yoshikawa Inn in central Kyoto is a seven-room ryokan that is also a tempura restaurant. Before you book: stays and meals are booked on different sites, every room has its own cypress bath but there is no shared bath, two rooms are adults only, the tempura counter does not seat children aged 5 and under, and tax and service are extra. From the official pages.

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu sits above Shibuya Station in Mark City. Before you book: the front desk is on the 5th floor, cancellations cost 100% from 3 p.m. the day before, the 25th floor is closed for renovation so breakfast is on the 5th floor, and Suica cannot pay for the room. From the official pages.

Hananomai is a small hot-spring inn in Yufuin, a 5-minute walk from Lake Kinrinko. Before you book: there is no dinner, plans are room only or with breakfast, and the private baths need no booking. From the official pages.

Yufuin Sanso Warabino is an inn of 13 detached suites in Yufuin, Oita, each with its own free-flowing hot-spring bath. Before you book: children under 6 cannot use plans with meals, the station pickup must be booked by phone, and the bathing tax is 250 yen. From the official pages.

Morizuya is a 12-room wooden ryokan in central Kinosaki Onsen, next door to the Ichi-no-yu bathhouse, known for its cave bath. Before you book: English bookings are a request form confirmed by email, cancellation fees start 4 days out, and you pay at the inn. From the official pages.