2009 Ryokan Rankings in five sectors

The Travel Economic News, the weekly newspaper focused in travel business released annual survey of "250 Best Ryokans" (without ranking) and each ranking in five sectors - cuisine, service, bath, establishment, and atmosphere. 250 ryokans are too many for me to make a list, and I made lists of top 10 rankings in each sector in 2009.

Subject of this survey isn't consumers, but professionals like travel agents and travel related organs, and they might have some business relationship with these ryokans and hotels. I feel the following rankings contain more big scale places compared to other ryokan rankings. Linked are Official websites in English.

◆Cuisine

1. Hotel Syusuien, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
2. Akan Yukunosato Tsuruga, Akanko Onsen, Hokkaido
3. Ibusuki Hakusuikan, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
4. Kagaya, Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref.
5. Yamatoya Honten, Dogo Onsen, Ehime Pref.
6. Yufuin Tamanoyu, Yufuin Onsen, Oita Pref.
7. Otani Sanso, Nagato-yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Pref.
8. Suimeikan, Gero Onsen, Gifu Pref.
9. Inatori Ginsuiso, Inatori Onsen, Shizuoka Pref.
10. Nishimuraya Honkan, Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo Pref.

◆Service

1. Akan Yukunosato Tsuruga, Akanko Onsen, Hokkaido
2. Kagaya, Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref.
3. Ibusuki Hakusuikan, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
4. Otani Sanso, Nagatoyumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Pref.
5. Yamatoya Honten, Dogo Onsen, Ehime Pref.
6. Hotel Syusuien, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
7. Unzen Miyazaki Ryokan Unzen Onsen, Nagasaki Pref.
8. Inatori Ginsuiso, Inatori Onsen, Shizuoka Pref.
9. Nishimuraya Honkan, Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo Pref.
10. Yufuin Tamanoyu, Yufuin Onsen, Oita Pref.

◆Bath

1. Ibusuki Hakusuikan, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
2. Akan Yukunosato Tsuruga, Akanko Onsen, Hokkaido
3. Kagaya, Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref.
4. Daiichi Takimotokan, Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido
5. Suimeikan, Gero Onsen Gifu Pref.
6. Otani Sanso, Nagato-yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Pref.
7. Yamamizuki, Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto Pref.
8. Yamatoya Honten, Dogo Onsen, Ehime Pref.
9. Tsurunoyu Onsen, Nyuto Onsenkyo, Akita Pref.
10. Yukyonohibiki Yusai, Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto Pref.
    

◆Establishment

1. Kagaya, Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref.
2. Ibusuki Hakusuikan, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
3. Akan Yukunosato Tsuruga, Akanko Onsen, Hokkaido
4. Otani Sanso, Nagato-yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Pref.
5. Yamatoya Honten, Dogo Onsen, Ehime Pref.
6. Shiratamanoyu Kahou, Tsukioka Onsen, Niigata Pref.
7. Suimeikan, Gero Onsen, Gifu Pref.
8. Arima Ground Hotel, Arima Onsen, Hyogo Pref.
9. Dogokan, Dogo Onsen, Ehime Pref.
10. Yahataya, Bobata Onsen, Fukushima Pref.
    

◆Atmosphere

1. Ibusuki Hakusuikan, Ibusuki Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.
2. Akan Yukunosato Tsuruga, Akanko Onsen, Hokkaido
3. Yufuin Tamanoyu, Yufuin Onsen, Oita Pref.
4. Nishimuraya Honkan, Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo Pref.
5. Yamatoya Honten, Dogo Onsen, Ehime Pref.
6. Otani Sanso, Nagato-yumoto Onsen, Yamaguchi Pref.
7. Yamamizuki, Kurokawa Onsen, Kumamoto Pref.
8. Myojinkan, Tobira Onsen, Nagano Pref.
9. Kagaya, Wakura Onsen, Ishikawa Pref.
10. Tsurunoyu Onsen, Nyuto Onsenkyo, Akita Pref.

I can't label each prefecture because "The combined length of all the labels must be at most 200 characters".

Tips to avoid Wani & unpleasant experience at mixed baths

Are these alligators or crocodiles? Many Japanese inluding myself can't recognize the difference. (Oniyama Jigoku, Kannawa Onsen, Beppu City, Oita Pref. in Jan.2008)

The number of Wani is said to be increasing at mixed baths in Japan. The Japanese word "Wani" stands for both crocodiles and alligators.

Maybe you say "Hey, you share an onsen bath with crocodiles and alligators in Japan? Isn't it too dangerous?" Well, wani appearing at onsen is different from ordinary wani and often described as "Wani Otoko" (Crocodile Man or Alligator Man) as well. Many Japanese except onsen enthusiasts doesn't know its existance yet. It has following characteristics.

Spices: Homo Sapience

Gender: Male only (as far as I know)

Habitat: Gender mixed baths, especially open-air baths not far away from big cities (within 2-3 hours).

Action: Spends long time in mixed bath, waiting for female soakers. Sometimes brings in big bottle of water or tea preparing for hours of soaking. When a target comes, it gazes at her body with eyes wide open, without blinking. Sometimes it follows and approaches victims without a word. Usually they don't make  groups, visits mixed baths by themselves. It's easy to recognize them as they have sharp eyes like real wani. (,,ﾟДﾟ)∩

Of course most soakers are well-mannered, but many female soakers I talked with say they met wanis more often recently. As for me, I saw some wanis in last few years including the Kawaranoyu, Tsubame Onsen, Niigata Pref. in Aug.2008. (left)

They threaten our custom at the mixed bath of "not to see, not to show" and the number of the mixed bath is decreasing  in inverse proportion of the the mannerless people.　（*｀へ´*）

Followings are tips for ladies to avoid wani and unpleasant experience at mixed bath. If you have other suggestions, please leave a comment.

1) Go with your husband or boyfriend.
Wani never stares at ladies with male partners.

2) Go with your friends.
I think three or four of you is enough to drive wani out. Just stare at him and chuckle.

3) Choose day and time
Less possibility to meet wani on weekdays, in the early morning, and in the night. Some onsens with mixed baths set "ladies only time".

4) Towel wrapping
Soaking towels in the bath tub is generally against bathing manner in Japan, but many onsens with mixed bath allow ladies to wrap their body with bath towels.

5) Choose muddy bath
Some onsens aren't transparent. If you soak yourself in a muddy or milky white onsen, you don't have to care about being watched at least while soaking.

6) Inform the manager
He or she will drive wani out, I hope. But wani knows unstrict onsens and onsens without managers.

7) Talk to wani
If you meet a wani unfortunately, just talk to him "Wani desuka? (Are you a wani?)" I think he will leave. But if he answers "Yes, so what?" I have no idea what to say next.

8) Dare not go
There are many good gender separated onsens in Japan. If you just want an onsen experience, you don't have to persist with a mixed bath.

9) Swimsuites bathing
Go to the onsen allow swimsites bathing. But swimsuites bathing is different from our onsen culture. The onsen is to soak in a bath in your birthday suites, not in a pool with swimsuites, I guess.

Finally, I want to suggest wanis to take advantage of their special talent in different fields. How about trying a Guiness World Record of "Keep eyes open without blinking"?

First Anniversary

"Onsen Soaker" celebrates first anniversary today. Thanks for visiting my blog from all over the world. The Flag Counter on this page tells this blog has visits from 100 different countries. Your visits always cheer me up. Some websites and blogs even mention and link this blog. I really appreciate it.

Let me explain why I started this blog. There are too many onsen related website in Japanese including mine, but it's hard to find practical and up-to-date information in English. I had been considering setting up a website in English for years, at the same time I had told myself again and again "Well, I'll start the English site after brushing up my English writing skills enough", and done nothing.

My father's death in Nov. 2008 made me realise I couldn't make an excuse and waste time anymore, and I started this blog. I've been struggling writing in English still now, but I believe I made right decision. I'll try to update more often.

Hope to share information on hot springs world wide, as my enthusiasm for onsen isn't limited to Japan. I want to visit hot springs in your country, too!

Tonosama-yu, Nigatsuden Onsen, Kagoshima Pref.

Remaining old bath for "daimyo" or lords. general soldiers were prohibited to enter this bath.

History of the Tonosama-yu（殿様湯）, or the Lord bath located at Nigatsuden Onsen（二月田温泉）, south of Kagoshima Prefecture, southernmost prefecture in the Kyushu Island dates back to the edo period in 1831. The 27th head of Shimazu Clan (see Wikipedia for more info on Shimazu Clan) moved their onsen bath to here at Nigatsuden, near more famous Ibusuki Onsen（指宿温泉）.


Bath for men in use now. Round shape bath is for cooling hot spring.

Although it's unsoakable, you can see the part of the old bath at the backyard of the Tonosama-yu even now. Western style tiles were so precious in the edo period as Japan was under "sakoku" or locked country policy, and trading with other countries were very limited at that time.


Appearance of Tonosama-yu looks much popular now.

Unfortunately, I visited there on their holiday. I couldn't soak myself but nice ladies (probably mother and daughter that manage the place) allowed me to enter and take pictures. They even turned pump on and made me taste their sodium hot spring. It tasted slightly salty with rusty metal flavor. (*ﾟoﾟ*)


You can see name list of serial Shimazu Clan's heads from 13th century. The mark "cross in round" on top is the family symbol of the Shimazu Clan.

◆Tonosama-yu, Nigatsuden Onsen （二月田温泉殿様湯）

Type: Gender separated indoor baths, day visit only

Address: 1408-27 Nishikata Ibusuki-city, Kagoshima Pref.
　　　　　（鹿児島県指宿市西方1408-27）

Location: 31.256571,130.626055

Business hour: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Holiday: Second and fourth Friday of every month

Admission fee: ¥270

Equipment:Nothing particular, no complementary soap and shampoo. Hot spring for drinking at the outside of the bath house.

Access:7~8 minutes walk from the Nigatsuden Station of the JR Ibusuki-makurazaki line（指宿枕崎線）. If you travel with special rapid train（特快）, get off at the Ibusuki Station and take a taxi as the special rapid train doesn't stop at the Nigatsuden. Or you can lent a bicycle at the Ibusuki Station like me. They offer discount for JR passengers. Ask "Raku-chari（楽チャリ）" at the Ibusuki Station.

It takes less than an hour from Kagoshima-chuo Station to Ibusuki with special rapid train. If you take a local train to Nigatsuden, it takes about an hour and 15 minutes from Kagoshima-chuo.

Link: Map of the Tonosama-yu in English (scale changeable)