A. The purpose of most hotels is to provide a place to sleep. However ryokan provide space mainly for relaxation by offering unique baths and cuisine. Providing sleeping facilities is their secondary function. Ryokan are individual resort spots that often compete against each other to offer the best bathing experience and cuisine to guests.

The reason that ryokan are located in onsen or hot spring resorts is that onsen are the most attractive resource for bath-loving Japanese. Ryokan mostly provide Japanese-style rooms, but some ryokan also offer western-style rooms. However, the buildings are built in Japanese style and have a Japanese garden nearby.

After arriving at a ryokan, you change into a yukata, or summer kimono. Then you take a bath, not for cleaning your body, but to relax. Most ryokan have some unique baths such as a large rock bath, a Japanese cypress bath and an open-air bath.

After your bath, delicious cuisine comprised of local food from the ocean or the mountains will await you. The quality of the food and bathing facilities plays a very important role in attracting guests.

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