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.
Marc Matsumoto is a Tokyo-based chef, author, and TV host. Below, he spells out five rules to remember if you don’t want to run afoul of a Japanese chef.