As a whole, Japan’s hotels have long been thought of as restrained and innocuous. But there are emotions to be found. You just need to know where to look.

As a whole, Japan’s hotels have long been thought of as restrained and innocuous. But there are emotions to be found. You just need to know where to look.
Thirteen hundred years after the first ryokan opened, the formula for these Japanese country inns remains as appealing as ever, and plenty ripe for reinventing. Not that it needs any.
The oldest hotel in the world is a ryokan. These traditional Japanese inns date back to medieval times and weary samurai travelers. Some ryokans have turned an eye toward the future. Others, like Nishimuraya Honkan, have not.
All throughout 2019 we’ll be introducing selections of unique attractions designed to help inspire your next big trip. Volume 2 explores destinations that are worth seeking out in Colombia, Japan, Iceland, and California.
Japan is a country where the people go to great lengths in the name of hospitality. But there are lines that can be crossed — especially in restaurants. Tokyo-based chef and food blogger Marc Matsumoto outlines the five rules you need to remember if you don’t want to run afoul of a Japanese chef.