Learn About Relais & Châteaux and Their 11 First-Class Ryokan & Hotels in Japan

Do you know the organization "Relais & Châteaux"? It is a membership organization with global authority that only hotels and restaurants that have passed a rigorous screening can join. It is said that there are 50,000 hotels and ryokan in Japan, but only 11 of them are affiliated with Relais & Châteaux. All of them are first-class inns where you can spend a wonderful time.

There are various membership conditions and strict rules, but among them, the key point is "high-quality cuisine and hospitality". The cuisine does not simply use a lot of high-class items, but also values the products and culture of the region, and is also original.

An important anniversary, a milestone in life, a present for your parents. When you grow up, there may be a scene where you need a "superior good inn where you can enjoy special luxury". An inn at Relais & Châteaux might be perfect for that. In this article, we will introduce the recommended points and how to spend your time at each inn. Please check it out for your important day.

*The information listed is current as of March 2024.

onsen ryokan "Asaba" in Shuzenji. Said to have started as a temple lodging, it has a history of over 500 years. You can spend a relaxing time while feeling the flow of time and the goodness of Japanese culture.

The clean Japanese-style room offers a view of the beautiful garden and trees that look like a painting. How about sitting in a classy chair and enjoying the soothing scenery together? It seems that you can relax and enjoy conversation more calmly than usual.

Springtime is a hot pot with cutlassfish caught in Suruga Bay and fresh taseri. In summer, seasonal dishes such as charcoal-grilled sweetfish from the Kano River tributaries are served. Simple but deep, you can enjoy the deliciousness of seasonal ingredients.

If you want to enjoy a sense of openness, go to the open-air bath on the premises. The view from the bathtub surrounded by the pond and bamboo forest is superb. If you soak in the hot water among the trees filled with negative ions, you will be able to relax and refresh your mind and body.

This inn is located in Tanigawa onsen, overlooking the famous Mt. Tanigawa. The modern architecture is wonderful, allowing you to fully enjoy nature, and you will feel like you are bathing in the forest while staying at the inn. When you arrive, why not take a walk around the building first? There is also a library surrounded by trees, where you can enjoy reading while listening to the sounds of nature. Please note that the meal, shop, large public bath, and guest rooms are undergoing phased renovations from February 2024 to December 2024.

All rooms have open-air baths. Hot water flows directly from the source. The bathtub in the "Special Room SP with Open Air Bath" is spacious, so you can enjoy onsen slowly in a space where you won't be disturbed by anyone. Immerse yourself in luxury with a magnificent view all to yourself.

We are particular about where meal. Each room has a different design, such as a room with a glass ceiling. You can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine using seasonal ingredients while gazing at the fresh greenery in early summer and the autumn foliage in autumn. In a comfortable space, the food seems to taste even better.

Tobira Onsen Myojinkan is located in the mountains, about a 40-minute drive from Matsumoto city. It is said that this area was once a place where gods would come to take a therapeutic bath. Why not take a relaxing bath in onsen where the gods may have bathed, and spend some time rejuvenating yourself? The semi-open-air standing bath, Setsugekka, is particularly popular for its stunning views that seem to blend into the forest. It not only soothes the body, but also cleanses the soul. Renovation work on all three onsen facilities is scheduled to take place between June 21, 2024 and July 1, 2024.

The Zen Standard room has a spectacular view with a screen-like window in front of the bed. You can enjoy the luxury of waking up to a beautiful view in the morning. This room also does not have a TV. Why not detox your mind and body by listening to the sounds of nature or reading a book without hesitation?

There are 2 restaurants, one French and one Japanese, so you can enjoy dinner in whichever you prefer. In both cases, you can fully enjoy the rich ingredients of Shinshu.

This onsen ryokan was built on land that was once owned by the Kaninnomiya family. An elegant look, perfect for special occasions. Recommended for those who like the calm atmosphere of a Japanese ryokan. The unconventional space and services are comfortable, and you can enjoy a high-quality healing time.

There are 38 guest rooms in total. The well-maintained rooms make you feel the hospitality of ryokan. The standard Japanese-style room is also tasteful, so you can spend a relaxing time while looking out at the garden.

With the exception of some detached rooms, both breakfast and meal can be served in your room. It's a great point that you can relax slowly without the hassle of moving. The kaiseki cuisine, where you can feel the politeness, is also popular with word of mouth. You can enjoy a memorable meal.

It is an inn with only 16 rooms built around a natural mountain garden. The guest rooms are designed with a sense of openness that lets in light and breeze. The space by the window has a pleasant touch of bamboo and will become your favorite spot during your stay.

The hot water that can be enjoyed in the open-air bath and large public bath in the room is Yamashiro Onsen, a famous hot spring that Rosanjin Kitaoji and Akiko onsen loved. After bathing while feeling the seasonal breeze, you can further maintain your mind and body with the “Yakushiyama Treatment” using onsen and medicinal herbs.

Ishikawa, facing the Sea of Japan, is a treasure trove of ingredients. You can enjoy Japanese kaiseki cuisine using carefully selected seasonal ingredients. Let's immerse ourselves in a happy mood by eating luxurious ingredients and elegant dishes.

A small inn that stands quietly in the town of Kyoto. This area is known for making fans, which are indispensable for geisha dances, and there are still many long-established fan shops in this area. You can feel the goodness and beauty of old-fashioned Japan and feel at ease.

There are a total of 7 rooms named after the Tale of Genji. All rooms are Sukiya-zukuri suites, a luxurious space. The scent of wood and tatami mats, the relaxing inner garden, and each design make you feel the essence of Kyoto. Incorporating refined modern furnishings into tradition, it creates a relaxing atmosphere. Each room has a cypress bath, so you can take a bath while looking out at the courtyard.

meal is Kyoto kaiseki, which is considered according to the season of the year. You can feel the blessings and deliciousness of the season again. It seems that you can spend a relaxing time experiencing the good old Japanese culture.

It is a European-style auberge (restaurant with accommodation), which is rare among Japanese Relais & Chateaux affiliated inns. You can enjoy a romantic gourmet trip at a Kobe-like hotel with many Ijinkan.

His "dishes that appeal to the five senses, such as changes in color, aroma, taste, texture, and temperature" are not only delicious, but also surprise and inspiring. It's a French dish that makes full use of Japanese ingredients that you'll want to try at least once.

Not only the food, but also the beautiful interior will enhance your travel mood. The design is inspired by British manor houses.

From the antique furniture directly purchased from Europe, to the red carpet spiral staircase, to the red brick exterior walls that create an elegant atmosphere, you can feel the attention paid to each detail. You will feel like you are the main character in a movie.

This inn is located in Kinosaki onsen that represents Hyogo. Built in 1960, it features architecture also known as "modern sukiya". The imaginative space is sure to soothe the mind and body of guests while also providing enjoyment. Please note that the entire facility will be closed from Monday, May 27th to Thursday, July 4th, 2024 due to guest room renovation work.

Rooms are built around a Japanese garden. Why don't you open the window gently and enjoy the view of the garden while spending a relaxing time? Each interior and furnishing, such as the handrails, bagged cupboards, and lighted windows, are modest yet beautiful, and you will instantly feel that this is a nice room.

Some rooms have open-air baths with different designs. This is the Asuka no Ma open-air bath. In the elegant garden, you can relax while listening to the sound of the wind, enjoying the sunshine and the starry sky. It's a luxurious space perfect for rewarding yourself.

The region's proud ingredients include Tajima beef with excellent meat quality, Matsuba crab, seafood from the Sea of Japan, and rice grown in a beautiful environment where storks grow. You can enjoy rich ingredients in traditional Japanese cuisine.

Kirishima is one of the best onsen Kagoshima. Along the river, away from the hustle and bustle of onsen town, there is a corner lined with old folk houses with thatched roofs. This is "Forgotten Village Gajoen". This is a onsen inn that feels like a small village.

The sight of chickens roaming among the rows of old houses is like a real village. The reception is a hearth hut. While warming yourself up around the fire, take a break with lemon water, snacks, and kappo sake at night.

There are 10 rooms in total. Some rooms are said to have pioneered the style of open-air baths. In a private space, let yourself be soothed by the fresh hot water of the private source. The "bath living room" room is comfortable with underfloor heating with onsen pipes. You can stay warm even in winter.

You can enjoy meal while feeling the flow of the river. Ingredients include pesticide-free vegetables from their own garden, free-range chicken raised on their own farm, and fresh river fish. It may be the most luxurious thing in modern times to have something carefully grown in the land.

There are only 5 guest rooms on the site of about 13 Tokyo Domes. In a space where there is no one as far as the eye can see, you can monopolize the superb view that makes you feel like you are floating in the sky. Forget your title and let yourself be healed in an exceptional sense of openness.

Each guest room has an open-air bath that is as open as possible. There is no one around, so you can relax as much as you want.

Seasonal vegetables are the star of the dish. The terraced fields on the premises are always growing 30 kinds of vegetables, so you can enjoy the fresh taste of each season. Replenish your energy by eating fresh vegetables grown in the land you visit.

A resort hotel in Yomitan Village on the main island of Okinawa, where sugar cane fields and the untouched beautiful sea spread out. It is the only member of Relais & Chateaux among Okinawa, which has many luxury inns.

The guest rooms are villa-style with red-tiled roofs reminiscent of traditional Okinawan houses. All rooms are equipped with spacious pools, so you can fully enjoy the longed-for tropical resort life.

While gazing at the sun setting over the sea of Okinawa, you can enjoy a dinner that focuses on local production for local consumption. Ingredients include herbs from the hotel's own vegetable garden, vegetables grown in Yomitan Village, and fresh fish from Miyakoya fishing port. Cooking with fresh ingredients from the southern country seems to make your body and mind healthy.

How was it? Relais & Châteaux is an organization that originated in France, but all the inns are attractive not only to foreign tourists but also to Japanese people. If you want to enjoy “special luxury” once in a few years or once in a lifetime, why not consider staying at Relais & Châteaux.