Stay in Japan’s Top 10 Cultural Heritage Hotels Like the Literary Greats

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

Imagine staying in Japan’s oldest wooden hot spring inn, sipping freshly brewed tea under the eaves while admiring the exquisite beauty of a Japanese garden—such a comfortable setting has attracted countless literati throughout history. Travel operators have selected ten century-old hotels recognized as Japan’s cultural heritage properties, all certified as tangible cultural assets. Centuries have not made these inns outdated but rather turned them into timeless paradises, waiting for travelers to explore and savor at their leisure.

•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 its most traditional bathhouse atmosphere. It is 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 Yunomine Ueno-ya
Established during 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 Shimazaki Tōson. With its elegant wooden ryokan architecture, it has weathered the storms of the Meiji era and, thanks to its unique historical legacy, has appeared in many films.

•Gero Onsen Yumoto Kan
Nestled among the treetops at the mountaintop, Yumoto Kan was designed by the prominent architect Hideo Niwa. It blends traditional Japanese wooden architecture with modern Western styles, featuring primarily tea house-style guest rooms that emphasize “comfort in living.” The exquisitely arranged garden scenery allows guests to peacefully enjoy an open-air hot spring while listening to birdsong and gazing at the starry sky, along with savoring kaiseki cuisine made with seasonal ingredients.