👘 [Japanese Week] 🗾 My Experience in a Ryokan (Japanese Traditional Hotel)

皆さん、こんにちは and welcome to this year's Japanese Week, where I'm going to post daily about movies, books, personal experiences, and more about Japan and the Japanese language.
I've used this label a lot during the past years so you'll be able to find both proper 👘 [Japanese Week]'s post as well as not, so feel free to click it for more reviews (especially Tv Series ones).

So, today I wanted to start with a personal experience I've been able to enjoy a few times during my stay in Japan and is something anyone will suggest you to try: Japanese traditional hotels, known as ryokans (旅館).

These kinds of hotels are usually wooden structures nearby a thermal water source and their rooms are minimalistic in both design and decoration, recreating the interiors of old Japanese households.

There you won't find beds, but futon (布団), rolled up mattresses stocked up in a wardrobe and properly arranged for you by the hotel staff when it's nighttime.
Another aspect that characterizes ryokans is the meals' menù: it's the same for everyone, you don't get to choose and the products are local (almost all of them), so it's a great way to experience Japanese traditions at 360°.

My first time sleeping in a traditional hotel has been in April 2018 when I stayed in Shingenkan Onsen Ryokan, in Yamakita-machi, Kanagawa prefecture. 
It was one of those spring's cloudy/rainy days but that didn't undermine the beauty of the place...if possible, it made it even more 'fairytale' like.

The place is famous for its thermal area and legend says an ancient warrior has been basically brought back to life thanks to them (since it has been a few years, I don't clearly remember the legend so I could be mistaken).

The staff was efficient and very welcoming and the room tidy and clean. The hotel offers both a public hot spring as well as private rooms, each with a wooden tub filled with hot water and also, on the lower floor, an outdoor swimming pool.

The hot spring area is detached from the room area and in between the two there's one of the most beautiful little gardens I've ever seen: a few trees all around a koi carp pond, I could have stayed watching them for hours.

The hot spring's design 'hits' the guest as soon as they enter the changing room: is very spacious and well organized and there are single stations where one can dry his/her hair and fix their makeup once they're done bathing.

Once inside the hot spring, there are two pools: one indoor and another one outdoor, with a stunning view over the woods surrounding the ryokan and it's just like heaven. I have been very lucky because there were only a few customers at that time so at some point I was completely alone!

I really liked my staying and I definitely suggest the visit. Unfortunately, the area isn't very touristic maybe it's not the best option when you first visit Japan but if you have already visited the main cities you should consider the idea of spending a couple of days here, detoxing from the hustle and bustle that's today's daily life and relaxing in a calm and quiet environment. 

Ph: all pictures are my own