In Residential Tokyo - Is There Really a Ryokan Where Half the Guests are Foreign?

Ryokan Kangetsu is located 35 minutes on train south of central Tokyo (two minutes walk from Chidoricho Station, Tokyu-Ikegami line). Walking up the stepping stones and going through the entrance gate, you will see a Japanese garden which helps create a typical Japanese atmosphere. This is a very cozy ryokan of which 50 percent of the guests are foreign.

Though this is not a business area, why do so many foreign guests stay here? Mr. HASEGAWA Satoshi, director of Kangetsu says "It is only very recently that foreign guests increased." Ryokan Kangetsu is a long established ryokan which was built in 1929 when there were only a few hotels in Japan and ryokan took the main role in Japan's accommodation industry. However, time and the changes in the Japanese lifestyle gradually reduced business for ryokan. Kangetsu was not an exception. The ryokan used to accept groups such as school excursions and was once used by IBM trainees which was located close to Kangetsu, but IBM moved and the groups decreased.

While Mr. Hasegawa was facing difficulties, he met Mr. SAWA Isao, the former chairman of the Japanese Inn Group, an organization created by small ryokan. Mr. Sawa runs a ryokan called "Sawanoya" and as a charismatic personality in the ryokan business, he has himself been successful in attracting foreign guests to his ryokan. After receiving some valuable advice from him, Mr. Hasegawa decided to work to increase foreign guests to Ryokan Kangetsu.

Mr. Hasegawa says "Although we started to invite foreign guests through Internet several years ago, only a few stayed in the beginning, but now, the share of foreign guests has increased to half. The greatest number of guests come from the U.S.A. (about 30 percent), followed by Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Spain." Regarding the type of guest, Mr. Hasegawa says, "There are more couples. It is not only men and women, but also male and female pairs including friends and fellow travelers. Since rooms are not so expensive, there are many backpackers of teenage and people in their 20's, but on the other hand, many family groups stay. The guests are really varied."

All Guests want Japanese Rooms
The secret of the ryokan's popularity seems to be in the Japanese rooms. Ryokan Kangetsu has 70 rooms and 50 rooms are Japanese. All foreign guests prefer the Japanese rooms. The 4.5 and 6-tatami mat rooms are very clean and yukata or Japanese bath robe are provided in each room. As the open bathrooms are also furnished, one can relax and enjoy the traditional Japanese atmosphere for a while.

For added convenience, PCs are set up in the public area for guest use. In spite of all these services, the room charge (excluding meals) is reasonable from 5,250 yen for one person and 9,000 yen for two people in the same room.

Most Japanese guests are young Japanese businessmen. While foreign guests often gather in the lobby and enjoy chatting with the other guests, Japanese guests hesitate to join the circle. When asked whether there have been any interesting episodes, Mr. Hasegawa replied, "There are not any episodes since the guests who stay here know what ryokan are. But to mention one, some guests do not know where the Japanese sandals we provide should be worn." Mr. Hasegawa says that they are providing Japanese sandals instead of slippers, and some guests take them off at stairsways or in the garden.

An American man who was checking out said, "It is nice that one can stay here and relax, like a B & B (Bed & Breakfast). I will tell my friends about how enjoyable this ryokan is."

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