Step back in time for an authentic Japanese experience.
That’s the message from the Nagano Tourism Organization as it campaigns for more Australians to book stays in traditional ryokans, some being generations-owned family establishments.
These forms of inn date from the eighth Century and have hosted sword-carrying samurais among its elite guests needing a good night’s sleep and rejuvenation in natural hot springs.
“Every time you walk through the doors of a ryokan you are stepping back to an era when guests were seeking a bit of wellness before an elegant meal,” said Helen Wong, Australian representative for the Nagano Tourism Organization.
“The walls may have been paper thin, but they have plenty of stories to tell from bygone years,” she said.
“A stay in a ryokan presents an immersion into Japanese culture, through relaxing in a traditional straw tatami-mat room with paper shoji screens and decorative tokonoma alcove.
“Here, guests are encouraged to lounge in a light cotton yukata robe, soaking in a rejuvenating bath and indulging in a sumptuous feast of elegant Japanese food.”
Nagano tourism officials believe stays in these traditional inns will further entice arrivals from Australia which have reached record levels to Japan in 2026.
Almost one million Aussies visited the country in the 12 months leading up to July 2026, marking an 8.5 per cent increase year-on-year according to the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) Travel Trends Report.
Several factors have driven this surge, among them favourable exchange rates with the weaker yen and strong flight connections. Additionally, Australians can enter for up to 90 days for tourism without a visa, making spontaneous and flexible travel easier than ever before.
Japan is consistently a highly‑ranked destination among Australians, based on safety, cultural depth, skiing opportunities, food, and ease of travel.
For night stays in Nagano, more than 140,000 were taken from January till the end of August 2026, ensuring Australia remains the number 2 international market after Taiwan.
Located 250km north-west of capital Tokyo, Nagano Prefecture has over 1000 ryokans, found almost everywhere from bustling urban onsen resort towns to quiet remote solitary inns deep in the mountains, a haven for Australian skiers and snowboarders in winter.
In an Ode to its Grandest Ryokans, the Nagano Tourism Organization has selected a dozen most notable ryokans to highlight the variety of choices – all year round.
Among them is the Sakaya Ryokan, a family-owned, medium-sized, modern ryokan with indoor bath in the heart of the onsen village of Nozawa Onsen.
Standing out in Yudanaka is Yorozuya with its Momoyama Bath, a massive outdoor spring with formal garden, and the venerable Shoraiso guestroom wing.
