Stay in Japan’s Top 10 Heritage Lodges Like a Literary Giant

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department

Imagine staying at Japan’s oldest wooden hot spring inn, sipping freshly brewed tea under the corridor while admiring the exquisite beauty of a Japanese garden — such a cozy setting has long attracted scholars and poets throughout history. Travel agencies have handpicked ten century-old heritage hotels in Japan, all certified as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. Centuries have not made these lodges outdated; instead, they’ve become timeless havens, waiting to be savored by every visitor.

•Sekizenkan (Main Building)
Located in Gunma Prefecture, Sekizenkan Hotel is said to be Japan’s oldest wooden hot spring inn, built in 1691. For 300 years, it has quietly stood here, witnessing the passage of time while retaining the most traditional hot spring inn ambiance. It has been listed as an important cultural site in Gunma Prefecture and also served as one of the inspirations for the design of Yubaba’s bathhouse in “Spirited Away.”

•Yugawara Onsen Yuugenya
Established back in the Edo period, it was frequently visited by notable figures, including Tokugawa Mitsukuni.

•MASUYA RYOKAN
Masuya Ryokan is famed for its association with the renowned poet Shiki Masaoka. This elegant wooden ryokan has weathered the trials of the Meiji era and, thanks to its unique historical legacy, has appeared in numerous films.

•Gero Onsen Yunishigawa Onsenkan
Nestled among the treetops on a mountaintop, Yunishigawa Onsenkan was designed by the prominent architect Hideo Niwa. Blending traditional Japanese wooden architecture with modern Western styles, the ryokan primarily features tea house-style guest rooms, emphasizing “comfort in living.” The exquisitely landscaped gardens allow guests to peacefully enjoy the open-air hot spring baths while listening to birdsong and gazing at the starry sky, all accompanied by kaiseki cuisine made with seasonal ingredients.