Who writes this guide
The Japan Ryokan Guide editorial team
Japan Ryokan Guide editorial team · Independent publication
Who we are
Japan Ryokan Guide is an independent publication about Japanese ryokans for international travelers. Articles are published under the site's name rather than a personal byline, so the guide answers for every page as a whole.
The guide is built on a database of ryokans checked one by one. Room counts, bath types, tattoo policies, meals and access are recorded from sources we can point to — the inn's own website, official tourism bodies and booking-platform listings — and the tables in our articles are checked against those records.
Where we have not verified something, the page says so. Where a policy varies or can change, we tell you to confirm it when you book.
How an inn gets onto the site
- It must be open and bookable, with a source for its basic facts that we can name.
- Facts that travelers decide on — private baths, tattoo rules, meals, English support, station access — are recorded only when a source states them; otherwise they are marked unknown.
- Inns that close, merge or change character are removed or updated, and articles that named them are corrected.
- Being listed does not depend on whether we can earn a commission from the inn.
Editorial standards
How we verify pricing
Prices on this site are starting rates taken from booking-platform listings. They change with the date, season and room, so the price you see on the booking site is the one that counts. Where an article quotes prices, it shows when they were checked.
Why we do not accept paid reviews
No ryokan can pay for inclusion, position or favourable wording. We do not accept payment, sponsored stays or a higher commission in exchange for coverage.
Our affiliate disclosure
Booking links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Our accommodation partners are Agoda, Booking.com and Trip.com, and tour and activity links go to Klook and Viator. The order of the booking buttons is chosen from measured performance and partner terms; we test different orders from time to time, so it can differ from one inn to another. It is never set by payment from an inn. Full details are on the About page.
What we do not claim to know
We are not Japan's only voice on ryokans, and we do not claim expertise we do not have. When a page relies on another source, it names that source. If we get something wrong, tell us and we will correct it and note the date.
Corrections and contact
If you spot an error, a stale price, or a ryokan that has changed character since we published — please write. Corrections are not a complaint, they are how the guide stays useful.