OKU

Design-Led

Contemporary architecture or interiors that reviewers single out.

34 ryokan

Not every memorable ryokan is old. These inns are singled out by guests for contemporary architecture or interiors — from relocated farmhouses and a stone rice warehouse given new life to rooms designed by well-known architects.

Design-led inns tend to be small, with the emphasis on the room itself. Reviewers sometimes find that striking design comes at the expense of practicality: steep stairs in maisonettes, glass walls with little privacy, or bathrooms that are cold in winter. Our reports point these out room by room.

Compare at a glance

RyokanAreaPriceOverall ScoreCuisineOnsen Privacy
Tawaraya RyokanKyotoLuxury4.74.64.3
Myoken IshiharasoKirishimaPremium4.74.64.6
Bettei OtozureNagato Yumoto OnsenPremium4.74.74.8
Bettei SenjuanMinakamiPremium4.54.34.8
Dogo Onsen DogokanDogo OnsenClassic4.54.63.6
Unzen Miyazaki RyokanUnzen OnsenClassic4.54.63.9
Sanso MurataYufuinLuxury4.54.24.9
Yufuin Souan KosumosuYufuinPremium4.54.54.5
Yufuin Sanso WarabinoYufuinPremium4.54.44.6
FukiyaYugawaraPremium4.54.24.6
Tosen GoshoboArima OnsenClassic4.44.43.2
Itamuro Onsen DaikokuyaNasushiobaraClassic4.44.23.8
KAI TamatsukuriTamatsukuri OnsenPremium4.44.64.6
Sumiya Kiho-anKyotoClassic4.44.64.3
Bourou Noguchi NoboribetsuNoboribetsu OnsenPremium4.44.34.8
Oku-Yugawara TsubakiYugawaraClassic4.44.64.2
Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen HyakurakusoYuwakuClassic4.44.54.3
Atami SekiteiAtamiPremium4.34.44.0
Beniya MukayuKaga OnsenPremium4.34.64.6
HOSHINOYA KaruizawaKaruizawaLuxury4.34.33.8
Hoshinoya KyotoKyotoLuxury4.34.03.0
KAI EnshuLake HamanaClassic4.34.33.4
Kamisuwa Onsen ShinyuKamisuwaClassic4.34.33.5
Ureshino Onsen TaishoyaUreshino OnsenClassic4.34.43.9
ZaborinHokkaidoLuxury4.34.14.9
Gero Onsen SasaraGero OnsenClassic4.24.14.3
Ginzan Onsen FujiyaGinzan OnsenPremium4.24.44.5
KAI NagatoNagato Yumoto OnsenClassic4.24.13.7
Akan Yuku no Sato TsurugaLake AkanClassic4.14.33.6
Jozankei Yuraku SoanJozankei OnsenClassic4.14.14.5
KAI BeppuBeppuClassic4.14.03.6
KAI HakoneHakonePremium4.14.43.3
KAI MatsumotoMatsumotoPremium4.13.94.2
Wataya BessouUreshino OnsenClassic4.04.33.8

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