“If money wasn’t the limit, where would you stay in Japan?”
Many people would probably think of the most expensive hotels, the newest luxury properties, or places that look impressive on social media.
But as a Japanese traveler — and someone who has spent years exploring this country — I believe true luxury in Japan has very little to do with price.
What I would choose instead are places defined by silence, nature, architecture, and the density of time itself.
Not places that add more, but places that carefully remove what isn’t needed.
What Japan’s Most Exclusive Ryokan Have in Common
The inns I’m about to introduce share several defining traits:
- Extremely limited number of rooms
- Private onsen baths in nearly every room
- Nature and architecture as the main characters
- A stay where “doing nothing” is the experience
These are places that embody quiet luxury, something Japan does better than almost anywhere else.
1. Hakone Ginyu (Hakone, Kanagawa)
Hakone Ginyu is often described as
“one of the hardest reservations to secure in Japan.”
It pioneered what many now call the Ginyu style — a fusion of Japanese aesthetics and resort-like openness inspired by Bali.
The moment you step into the lobby, your view opens completely.
Below you lies the Hayakawa Valley, above you only sky.
That instant sense of release is unforgettable.
- All rooms feature private open-air baths
- Strong “infinity” feeling blending into the valley
- A seamless balance between ryokan and resort
It doesn’t feel like a traditional inn or a hotel.
It feels like a uniquely Japanese redefinition of luxury.
Spa resort Ryokan Hakone Ginyu【Official】
2. Bettei Senjuan (Tanigawa Onsen, Gunma)
Bettei Senjuan became a member of Relais & Châteaux in 2012 — a distinction held by only a small number of properties in Japan.
Designed by architect Gunji Habuka, the building emphasizes curves over straight lines, mirroring the surrounding mountains and rivers.
One of its most striking features is the long corridor overlooking Mount Tanigawa.
Simply walking through the building becomes part of the experience.
- 18 rooms total
- All rooms include private, free-flowing onsen baths
- Surrounded by mountains, water, and profound quiet
This isn’t a hotel placed in nature.
It feels like architecture that exists as part of nature.
3. Yado Shiontei (Kaike Onsen, Tottori)
With only ten rooms, Shiontei is designed for absolute privacy.
Its most exclusive suite even includes a private garden and tea room.
Though it opened in 2021, the atmosphere isn’t modern for the sake of being new.
It is intentionally restrained — created for adults seeking silence.
- All rooms feature private onsen baths
- A refined, deeply Japanese aesthetic
- Attentive service that never intrudes
This is a place for travelers who want to disappear for a while.
4. Gekkouju Kurokawa (Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto)
Located at a higher elevation, this ryokan consists of just eight private villas, each designed with a unique concept.
As the name suggests, the theme is the moon.
At night, the ryokan reveals its true character.
- Baths positioned for moon viewing
- Minimal artificial lighting
- Silence so deep it feels tangible
Slightly removed from the lively heart of Kurokawa Onsen,
this is a place where night itself becomes the destination.
5. Takefue (Shirakawa Onsen, Kumamoto)
Set on a vast 5,000-square-meter property with only twelve rooms, Takefue offers one of the most immersive stays in Japan.
Surrounded by bamboo forests, its open-air baths feel as though they float within the landscape.
- All rooms include private onsen baths
- A setting unmatched anywhere else in Japan
- Exceptionally attentive, almost overwhelming hospitality
Here, the greatest luxury is the reassurance that nothing is required of you.
What I Would Not Do — Even If Money Was Unlimited
There’s something important I want to mention.
Even if money were no object, I wouldn’t:
- Pack my schedule with famous restaurants
- Rush between sightseeing spots
- Travel solely for photo opportunities
None of these are wrong — but they take away from what these ryokan are designed to offer: time.
What Japanese Luxury Teaches Us
Japan’s finest inns teach a different definition of luxury.
Not accumulation — but subtraction.
- Fewer plans
- Fewer conversations
- Less information
Only then do silence, nature, and time begin to feel truly abundant.
Conclusion: Choose the Quietest Journey, Not the Most Expensive One
If money weren’t the limit, I wouldn’t choose the most extravagant journey.
I would choose the quietest one.
The ryokan introduced here represent something Japan has refined over centuries:
the richness of having nothing extra.
They aren’t flashy.
But they stay with you — quietly, deeply — long after you return home.
All images used in this article are sourced from the official websites and official social media accounts of each property.
They are used here for editorial and informational purposes only.
