THE JAPAN TRAVEL QUIZ COMPETITION CLOSED ON 02/10/2021 3:00 PM AEST

What is it like staying at a traditional Japanese inn?

A stay at a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn – is a peek back into Japan’s history and a must-try experience on your trip! Rooms in a ryokan typically have tatami mats and futons instead of western-style beds and are very comfortable. Often found in serene hot spring resorts, ryokans are also popular for beautifully presented Japanese cuisine using ingredients local to the area. The highlight for many is the opportunity to soak in the large public baths (usually with hot spring water) and the cozy lounges where you can relax and enjoy a slow-paced holiday.

Thanks to the KNT-CT Partners Association, the 5 winners of the accommodation voucher draw* will each receive a one night stay in one of the 5 ryokans below. The stay includes dinner and breakfast, and each resort is located just a couple of hours away from Tokyo.

These ryokans off the beaten track are a perfect way to stay in and experience a traditional Japan and Japanese hospitality.

*If the entrants choose the accommodation voucher draw. T&Cs apply.


5 ryokan accommodations

Yorokobi No Yado TAKAMATSU

pin Kusatsu, Gunma
Yorokobi No Yado TAKAMATSU

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Kinugawa Park Hotels

pin Kinugawa, Tochigi
Kinugawa Park Hotels

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Hotel Sekifu

pin Isawa, Yamanashi
Hotel Sekifu

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Hotel Oyanagi

pin Tagami, Niigata
Hotel Oyanagi

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Shoho

pin Matsumoto, Nagano
Shoho

About this accommodation

Yorokobi No Yado TAKAMATSU (Kusatsu, Gunma)
ryokan takamatsu exterior
ryokan takamatsu dine
ryokan takamatsuroom

© Yorokobi No Yado TAKAMATSU

Kusatsu Onsen is one of the most famous hot spring resorts in Japan, located at an altitude of about 1,200 metres above sea level in Gunma Prefecture. The symbol of the town is Yubatake (hot spring water source), where 4,000 litres of hot spring water gush out every minute! Yorokobi no Yado Takamatsu is a four-hour bus ride from Tokyo and a five-minute walk from Kusatsu Bus Terminal. All rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi. The large bathroom has an open-air bath with a wooden deck, and the hot spring water is supplied by the yubatake. The restaurant on the top floor offers a view of Mount Shirane on clear days. The hotel is ideal for hiking to Mount Shinrane, visiting Sai-no-Kawara Park and watching Yumomi performance.
Address 312 Kusatsu, Kusatsu Town, Agatsuma County, Gunma Prefecture
Access from Tokyo Approx. 3 hrs 10 mins by train / 4 hrs by bus
Website www.h-takamatsu.com/en/
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Kinugawa Park Hotels (Kinugawa, Tochigi)
ryokan park hotels exterior
ryokan park hotels bath
ryokan park hotels room

© Kinugawa Park Hotels

Kinugawa Onsen is located along the Kinugawa Valley in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, surrounded by a rich natural environment. Kinugawa Park Hotel is about a two-hour train ride from Tokyo and a five-minute walk from Kinugawa Onsen Station. The hotel has unique large bath houses such as the ancient cypress bath with its rich wooden aroma, the Oedo Ukiyo bath where you can enjoy ukiyo-e prints. Free Wi-Fi access is available in public areas. The restaurant serves local cuisine made with ingredients from the mountain villages of Tochigi, including the famous Nikko Yuba. The hot spring resort is perfect for visiting Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls and Edo Wonderland.
Address 1409 Ohara Kinugawa-onsen, Nikko-shi, Tochigi, Japan
Access from Tokyo Approx. 2 hrs by train
Website www.park-hotels.com/english/
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Hotel Sekifu (Isawa, Yamanashi)
ryokan sekifu exterior
ryokan sekifu garden
ryokan sekifu room

© Hotel Sekifu

Isawa Onsen is located in the centre of the Kofu Basin in Yamanashi Prefecture and is known for being the largest producer of peaches and grapes in Japan. Hotel Sekifu is about a one hour and thirty minute train ride from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. It features free Wi-Fi in all rooms, a 1,000-square-meter Japanese garden, spacious public baths and open-air baths. Pink peach blossoms bloom in the spring, and fruit picking can be enjoyed from August to October. The area is also known for its wine production, and winery tours are one of the most popular attractions. The hotel is also close to Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, making it an ideal base for sightseeing in Yamanashi.
Address 195 Isawachohatsuta, Fuefuki, Yamanashi 406-0023
Access from Tokyo Approx. 1 hr 30 mins by train
Website www.hotel-sekifu.co.jp/en/
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Hotel Oyanagi (Tagami, Niigata)

© Hotel Oyanagi

Hotel Oyanagi is located in Niigata Prefecture, a region rich in nature, surrounded by the sea, mountains, and seasonal delicacies. The hotel sits on top of a small hill and overlooks the vast Echigo Plain. An infinity outdoor bath on the top floor opened in 2020. In addition to the large baths, there are also many private baths. You can also enjoy coffee made with hot spring water in the lounge. The rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi. The area is one of Japan’s leading producers of fine Western tableware, hardware and cutlery, and has a 400-year history. In the lobby, guests can enjoy the products of the artisans who represent this Tsubame-Sanjo area.
Address 1322-1 Oh-aza Tagami Otsu, Tagami-machi, Minami Kanbara-gun, Niigata Prefecture
Access from Tokyo Approx. 2 hrs 30 mins by train
Website www.oyanagi.co.jp/lg_en/
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Shoho (Matsumoto, Nagano)

© Shoho

Hotel Shoho is located in Utsukushigahara Onsen, a tranquil hot spring resort surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Nagano Prefecture. The hotel sits on a hill overlooking the historic city of Matsumoto, and you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Japanese Alps from the lobby, lounge, and throughout the hotel. The property is listed as one of the 100 best hotels in Japan and also ranked as a 5-star by Kanko Keizai Shimbun newspaper. All rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi and a free shuttle bus runs from JR Matsumoto Station to the hotel. It is easy to access sightseeing spots such as Matsumoto Castle, a national treasure, and Utsukushigahara Plateau.
Address 390-0221, Japan Oaza-Satoyama 527, Matsumoto, Nagano
Access from Tokyo Approx. 2 hrs 30 mins by train
Website www.hotel-shoho.jp/en/
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From KNT-CT Partners Association, the prize supplier

Greetings,

It is a pleasure that Kanto-Koshinetsu Alliance of KNT-CT Partners Association provides hotel accommodations for KIE Oceania’s Japanaroo 2021 event prizes.

We are pleased to provide you with inns that come with natural hot springs, “Onsen Ryokan”, selected from among the five prefectures of Gunma, Tochigi, Yamanashi, Niigata and Nagano of our association.

Each inn will provide you with a moment of relaxation through heartfelt hospitality “Ömotenashi”, focusing on local cuisine that makes the most of the local seasonal ingredients.

Finally, we look forward to welcoming you and hope that it will be an unforgettable moment of appreciating the ever-changing scenery of Japan from season to season.

Sincerely,

Kanto-Koshinetsu Alliance
KNT-CT Partners Association

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