A stay-at-home trip immersed in classic works. 7 ryokan loved by great writers such as Yasunari Kawabata and Soseki Natsume
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Have you ever felt that you've been so busy lately that you have very little time to read? If so, why not try a trip to immerse yourself in reading? You'll get more out of an hour of reading than an hour of surfing the internet. It is said that reading can reduce stress and enrich your linguistic expression. Spend a day immersed in literature, just like the great writers who created masterpieces.
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Have you ever felt that you have less and less time to read since you became a working adult? Many people are too busy to find the time. In such a case, why not try a staycation at an inn perfect for reading? In particular, ryokan where famous writers have stayed are located in locations rich in nature and have great onsen, so they are recommended for refreshing yourself on your days off. Turn off your digital devices and create an environment where you are forced to read a book. You may find that your mind and body feel refreshed by the time you return home.
This long-established ryokan has a museum-like atmosphere, not only in its exterior, but also in its corridors, gardens, and lounge. It is located in Shuzenji, Izu, and is also known as the place where Natsume Soseki stayed while recuperating. As the name "Yu Kairo" suggests, the unique design makes it perfect for photos! You might want to reread the complete works of Soseki, such as "Botchan," "Kokoro," and "I Am a Cat," in the room where Soseki stayed.
This inn has a history of 380 years and has been loved by many literary figures, including Natsume Soseki and Kawabata Ryushi. The interior of the building has an antique feel. If you wear a kimono, you will feel as if you are in the Taisho period.
The lounge "Soseki no Iori" is open 24 hours a day, so it's a great place to read a book. The furniture matches the atmosphere of the historic Shuzenji onsen and is warm and comfortable.
Shuzenji onsen is blessed with the sea and mountains. The kaiseki dinner course is packed with locally produced ingredients, and each person can choose their favorite dish from the various types of tableware, Western dishes, and meal. The hospitality is also heartwarming, as they serve midnight noodles for a late-night snack.
Detailed information
Shuzenji onsen water corridor Kikuya
Shizuoka /Shuzenji, Izu/ ryokan
- address
- 874-1 Shuzenji, Izu City, Shizuoka
- access
- About 8 minutes by bus from Izu Hakone Railway Sunzu Line Shuzenji Station / About 50 minutes from Tomei Expressway Numazu IC via Route 1 and Route 136 via Izu Chuo Expressway
Fujiiso is an orthodox ryokan with all low-rise rooms in a luxurious Sukiya-style building. It is a place beloved by writers and artists such as Mori Ogai, Yosano Akiko, and Kikuchi Kan. Located in the mountains of Takayama Village Nagano, you can feel as if you are one with the forest. The green valley that can be seen from the lobby lounge is relaxing, and onsen that have been flowing for over 200 years will soothe your tired body. This inn with a spectacular view is perfect for a high-class stay for adults, and you'll want to visit every time the seasons change.
The large public bath has glass windows that give it an outstanding sense of openness. The washing area is spacious and comfortable. The bathhouse windows, which use plenty of space, offer a view of the soothing trees, allowing you to relax both body and mind. If you step out into the open-air bath, you can feel even closer to nature, helping you forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
Turn off your smartphone and detox digitally. In the guest rooms, where you can be one with nature, unique to the mountain village, all you can hear is the murmuring of the trees and the sound of the river. You can enjoy the picturesque scenery no matter what season you visit, whether it's fresh greenery, autumn leaves, or snow.
Detailed information
Ryokka Sanshuku Fujiiso
Nagano /Shiga Kogen/ ryokan
- address
- 3563 Okuyamada, Takayama Village, Kamitakai District Nagano
- access
- 40 minutes by bus bound for onsen Onsen from Suzaka Station, 20 minutes by car.
Fukuzumiro is located in Tonosawa onsen, one of the Seven Hot Springs of Hakone along with Hakone Yumoto and Miyanoshita. It was the regular lodging for countless literary figures, including Fukuzawa Yukichi and Natsume Soseki, and each of them apparently had their own favorite room. The Meiji-era building has been designated a cultural asset, making it a must-see for anyone who likes retro architecture.
The interior has a modern feel to it, but with a touch of antiquity, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time. The sound of the river is soothing, and you can spend a relaxing and soothing time here.
Apparently many guests stay just for this bath. The famous Daimaru bath is carved out of a large pine tree trunk. The hot spring water is pumped directly from the source, and as it is quite hot, natural spring water is added. The mild alkaline simple spring water will warm you to the core and leave you feeling smooth and silky.
Detailed information
Fukuzumiro
Kanagawa /Hakone/ ryokan
- address
- 74 Tonosawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
- access
- 10 minutes on foot from Hakone Yumoto Station, 3 minutes by car
Located in Komoro City, close to Karuizawa, Nakadanaso is an inn associated with Shimazaki Toson. It is a onsen ryokan where you can stay in a room where the poet and novelist Shimazaki Toson wrote. You can enjoy the "First Love Apple Bath" from October to May, where apples are floating in the water. Why not try this bath, unique to Shinshu, for a relaxing and soothing experience with its wonderful scent?
This is the room where Toson actually wrote "Poems of Travels Along the Chikuma River." With a cozy Japanese-style room and trees visible from the window, it's moving to think that this masterpiece was born here. While the creaking floors and thin walls give a sense of age, it's nice to experience the inconveniences of old Japan. Writing at the desk and experiencing what it was like to be a writer is a fresh experience. You can actually stay overnight, so Toson fans should definitely try it.
The "First Love Apple Bath" is also enjoyable for those who are not fans of Fujimura. It's nice to have a bath named after the work "First Love". Enjoy the sweet and sour scent of first love ♡ Of course, the spring water will warm your tired body from the inside out. The changing room is also tasteful and has tatami mats, which makes you feel good.
Detailed information
Nakadanaso, an inn connected to Toson Shimazaki
Nagano / Komoro/ ryokan
- address
- Nagano Nakatana B, Koshiro-ku, Komoro City
- access
- 10 minutes by car from Shinano Railway "Komoro Station" or JR Koumi Line "Komoro Station" / Joshinetsu Expressway Komoro IC
There are many great onsen in the Tohoku region, but this inn is one you should visit at least once. Osawa Onsen "Tojiya" is a hot onsen resort associated with Miyazawa Kenji, and is popular among onsen fans. Toji means to recuperate in onsen. It is an old-fashioned therapy in which you cook your own meals while recuperating in the onsen springs to heal your body. Even if you don't cook your own meals, there is a meal here so you don't have to worry. The water, which is known to make your skin smooth, and the dynamic open-air bath are perennially popular.
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Detailed information
Osawa onsen Toujiya
Iwate /Hanamaki/ ryokan
- address
- Iwate 181 Yuguchi Osawa, Hanamaki-shi
- access
- 30 minutes by bus from JR Hanamaki Station
ryokan Tanigawa is located in the Minakami onsen, a famous hot spring resort in Gunma, which ranks alongside Kusatsu and Ikaho. It is a beloved inn by Dazai Osamu, the creator of such masterpieces as Run Meros and No Longer Human. Located at the foot of Mt. Tanigawa, the magnificent scenery and fresh air will soothe those exhausted by the city. "Genesis" and "Ubasute" are works set on Mt. Tanigawa and feature an elderly couple who stay at ryokan. There is also a mini gallery of Dazai Osamu's work inside the inn, which is a delight for fans. Read a book, soothe your fatigue in onsen, or stroll around the inn. It is the perfect inn for a stay-at-home trip.
There is a small Dazai Osamu gallery inside the building. There are comfortable chairs, so it's a great place to relax and read. If you feel like you have less time to read than you used to, why not take this opportunity to immerse yourself in Dazai Osamu's novels? The photo shows a gallery decorated with photos of Mt. Tanigawa. This mountain is on the border between Gunma and Niigata prefectures, and is very popular among climbers. However, it is a harsh yet beautiful mountain, with a high number of deaths. There are also other services exclusive to guests, such as miso soup cooked over the hearth in the morning, which can be highly anticipated.
You can enjoy banquet cuisine filled with plenty of ingredients from Joshu. Because the water is clean in this area, the river fish, vegetables, and konjac are delicious. Recharge your energy with ingredients grown at the foot of Mt. Tanigawa and be soothed by the delicious food.
Detailed information
Minakami onsen ryokan onsen
Gunma /Minakami onsen, Minakami/ ryokan
- address
- Gunma 524-1, Yagawa, Minakami-cho, Tone-gun
- access
- 7 minutes by car from JR Minakami Station (pick-up service available), 15 minutes from Minakami IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway
This is Arima's oldest inn, where novelists such as Junichiro Tanizaki and Eiji Yoshikawa, as well as the first Prime Minister, Hirobumi Ito, have stayed. Once you enter the small entrance, you'll find a deep, romantic Taisho era atmosphere inside. It is a stylish fusion of foreign and Japanese tastes. Arima onsen is one of the most popular onsen areas in the Kansai region, and at this inn you can enjoy the "Kinsen" hot spring. It is a brown-colored spring that flows directly from the source, known only to those in the know, and is reputed for its good quality.
Once you're inside the grounds, you'll feel like you've traveled back in time. The quiet and calm atmosphere is perfect for soothing your everyday fatigue.
Although it is a semi-mixed outdoor bath, care has been taken to prevent your body from being seen, so you can bathe in peace. The water is irresistible for those who like cloudy brown water, and is gentle on the skin and is expected to be effective against cold. It is not a circulating type, but a natural flowing water, so it warms you to the core and refreshes you.
Detailed information
Arima onsen Tosen Goshoboh
Hyogo /Kobe, Arima onsen / ryokan
- address
- Hyogo 858 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe
- access
- 5 minutes on foot from Arima onsen Station on the Kobe Electric Railway / 5 km from Nishinomiya Kita IC on the Chugoku Expressway / Approximately 60 minutes by train transfer from Kobe Airport
Lodgings beloved by Japan's greatest literary figures have remained for decades and are loved by people living in the present day. Because they are historic ryokan, they feel old, but traces of the past can be seen everywhere, which is also their charm. Each lodging has high-quality onsen and a spirit of hospitality, helping to soothe the tired minds and bodies of modern people. On your next day off, why not take a trip to a lodging beloved by great literary figures, picking up a book by your favorite author?