My first experience with a ryokan was in Fukuoka on my second trip to Japan and I fell in love. A ryokan is a family run place to sleep, eat and bathe. I would call it a japanese bed and breakfast but better.

It is usually set in an older traditional house made mostly of wood. There is no bed but tatami mats on the floor to sleep on, which is more comfortable than you think. The walls are made of a paper like material so you can hear a lot from the other rooms. In the winter it is cold for most but not for me. There is a low laying table in the centre of the room which is easily moved for sleeping. There are tones of blankets and pillows and a firm comforter to sleep on.

There is a small garden either in the middle of the ryokan or it’s near the side. It is a place for calm (and smoking a cigar, having a beer, and writing like me). The bathing area is communal and usually a hot spring like thing. There are pools of hot water which feels great after a long day.

The food is traditional Japanese food but no sushi. This means a fish of some type. Lots of vegetables. Lots of tea and rice. It looks amazing and tastes even better. Today’s dinner was great (pictured above) I can’t wait for tomorrow’s breakfast. They are going to make some rice balls for the big hike tomorrow.

Staying in one of these traditional places is one of the best things in Japan. It is why I love coming here so much. It is expensive compared to Hong Kong but it is basically the same price as staying in a nice place in Toronto.