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Myojinkan
8967, Iriyamabe
Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan
Style: Traditional Elegance
Atmosphere: Quiet
45 Rooms
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What is a ryokan? These are the traditional Japanese travelers' inns, located along Japan's country roads, dating back hundreds of years, long ... more
Japan is justly famous around the world for its first-class luxury hotels and for a couple of very inspired boutique hotels. But there’s another, much more traditional side to Japanese hospitality, which few foreigners, up to now, have experienced: the ryokan, the traditional country inn, of which Myojinkan is as classic an example as any.
You’ll surely recognize the style, especially in those rooms which feature the tatami-and-shoji look of old-fashioned Japanese residences — in fact more than a few Tokyo hotels come with tatami rooms. But the setting is the polar opposite of those metropolitan high-rises — here in Nagano Prefecture, a half hour from Matsumoto, in the midst of the Yatsugatake National Park, you’re surrounded by nothing but forested mountainsides as far as the eye can see.
And you thought the New York boutique hotels of the 1990s were minimalist. Traditional and Western rooms alike show off clean lines, classic craftsmanship, and a near-total lack of ornament — in these surroundings, with floor-to-ceiling views of the lush mountain forest, there’s no place for design fireworks.
What’s to do? Naturally the emphasis is on the quieter pleasures. There are three natural hot spring baths with a widescreen view of the forest, open day and night — and certain room categories come with a small private open-air bath as well. It’s the perfect idyllic antidote to the stresses of the city.
How to Get There
Myojinkan is 2.5 hours by train from Tokyo. Complimentary shuttle transfer to and from the train station is available. Please contact customer service for help with arrangements.
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What's a ryokan?
These are the traditional Japanese travelers' inns, located along Japan's country roads, dating back hundreds of years, long before the days of motor travel. With their traditional decor and classic tatami-style furnishing, they're a window into a historical way of life - even the most modern and experimental of the ryokan offer a tranquil and sedate experience.
Dining
At a ryokan the rate includes two meals per day, beginning with an evening meal on the day of your arrival as well as breakfast the next day. These meals, most often served in-room, are no mere convenience, but an essential element of the experience; ryokan are chosen as much for the quality of the food as for the quality of the accommodation.
Dinners are traditional Japanese meals of up to thirteen courses, including zensai, the appetizer, otsukuri, sliced raw fish, nimono, a boiled dish, yakimono, a grilled dish, nabemono, food cooked in a pot at the table, agemono, a deep-fried dish, suimono, a vinegared dish, shokuji, rice, knonomo, Japanese pickles, and mizugashi, fruit. Ingredients are fresh and local, dishes are seasonal so that the dinner expresses the distinctive personality of the region. Locally brewed sake is also available, as are other beverages (drinks other than tea are extra). Details about each ryokan's specific meal options are displayed during the booking process.
Breakfasts consist of steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, fried eggs, nori (seaweed) and Japanese-style pickles. Western breakfasts can be served on request.
Onsen
The onsen are the Japanese public baths, often fed by natural volcanic hot springs. It's no exaggeration to say that the onsen baths are the whole point of the ryokan experience, and are universally loved by the Japanese.
Large common baths in the ryokan are used not just for cleansing but for relaxation as well, both mental and physical. Big windows typically look out over lush gardens or dramatic mountain or ocean views. Some public baths contain several different types of tubs, whether cypress or stone or cascading baths. Rotenburo, the open-air baths, allow you to bathe in the sunshine, breathing in the brisk, cool air.
Etiquette
Onsen baths are segregated by sex, and bathing suits are not worn. It's customary to bathe yourself in an adjacent area before entering the onsen. And for those guests who are uncomfortable with the communal aspect, many high-end ryokan provide private open-air baths on terraces or balconies attached to the guest rooms.
Transportation
These country getaways are necessarily located in secluded areas, some of them quite remote. Tablet Hotels Customer Service will be happy to help you arrange train tickets, car hire or other transportation.
