Japan is home to many remarkable ryokan that are still largely unknown to international travelers. In this feature, the Japan of Japan editorial team—having visited and reviewed countless ryokan across the country—introduces the Top 5 Ryokan You Should Stay at in Aizu, ranked by the total views of our feature videos.
What Is Aizu Like?
Aizu is located in the western part of Fukushima Prefecture, a region where Japan’s original landscapes and samurai culture are still very much alive. Historic townscapes centered around Tsuruga Castle, nature that changes beautifully with the seasons, and the quiet moments created by snow and hot springs all come together to shape Aizu’s unique atmosphere.
Aizu is also defined by its food and its people. Local dishes such as kozuyu (Soup) and basashi(Horse Meat), traditional crafts like lacquerware and sake brewing, and above all, the warm yet understated hospitality leave a lasting impression. Even on your first visit, there’s a comforting sense of familiarity—as if you’ve somehow returned home.
For those who wish to step away from the noise of everyday life and experience the essence of Japan, Aizu is a place that gently welcomes you.
Top 5 Recommended Ryokans
The Irori lodge -Ashina-
Tucked away in Higashiyama Onsen in Aizuwakamatsu City, The Irori lodge -Ashina- is a small hot spring ryokan with just seven guest rooms. Its Showa-era retro interior sets the stage for the inn’s signature experience: an irori kaiseki dinner, grilled over a private sunken hearth. Local ingredients such as river fish (iwana) and Aizu chicken are prepared slowly over the fire, allowing you to fully appreciate the rich flavors of the region. It’s a deeply Aizu-style ryokan, where food, atmosphere, and tradition come together.
Ashina is the kind of ryokan where you feel like opening up and talking about life. The charming head proprietress, along with the irori hearths and tatami floors, lets you truly feel the spirit of old Japan. Rather than being modernized, the ryokan has been carefully preserved, making it one of the rare places in Japan that truly embodies “The traditional Ryokan.”
From the tatami-matted rooms and irori hearths to the calming hot springs, this ryokan is filled with traditional Japanese charm. The hospitality is exceptional, and whether you’re visiting from Japan or abroad, it’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again.
Accommodation Information
Accommodation Name： The Irori lodge -Ashina-
Address：232-1 Shimohara, Yumoto, Higashiyama-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima 965-0814, Japan
LAKE SIDE HOTEL MINATOYA
Set along the shores of Lake Inawashiro, LAKE SIDE HOTEL MINATOYA is a lakeside resort where you can truly unwind in nature. Highlights include a tent sauna with direct access to the lake—yes, you can jump straight into the water—and a rooftop glamping-style BBQ with views of Mount Bandai. It’s the perfect place to relax, refresh your body and mind, and spend quality time with friends or family away from the busy city.
Lake Inawashiro is famous for its incredibly clear water. Enjoying a sauna by the lake and watching the sunset surrounded by nature feels truly special. The rooftop BBQ is also highly recommended.
Sauna experiences are becoming very popular in Japan, and MINATOYA offers something truly unique. You can stay at a Japanese-style hotel while enjoying a tent sauna in the middle of nature. It’s a rare experience that you can only have here.
Accommodation Information
Accommodation Name：LAKE SIDE HOTEL MINATOYA
Address：870 Nagahama, Okina-zawa, Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima 969-3285, Japan
The inn of sincerity -Hoshinoi-
Located in Yunokami Onsen, Magokoro no Yado Hoshinoi is a small hot spring ryokan with just eight guest rooms and the closest ryokan to Ouchi-juku. The ryokan offers 100% natural hot spring baths, handmade local dishes, and its signature Ouchi-juku Night Tour, available only to guests. With heartfelt hospitality, warm atmosphere, and unique local experiences, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again.
Hoshinoi is the number one ryokan where you can truly feel magokoro and omotenashi—the heart of Japanese hospitality. Their exclusive night tour after dinner feels like a small adventure, and it’s an experience that guests often come back for.
The pride of Japanese hospitality lies in magokoro, or sincere care for others. At Hoshinoi, it’s not just the tatami rooms, food, or hot springs—the genuine kindness and attentiveness of each staff member stays with you long after your visit.
At Hoshinoi, it’s not only the tatami-floored rooms, carefully prepared cuisine, and soothing hot springs that make an impression — the heartfelt hospitality and warmth shown by each member of the staff linger in your heart long after your stay ends.
Accommodation Information
Accommodation Name：The inn of sincerity -Hoshinoi-
Address：783-1 Yunokami, Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima 969-5206, Japan
Kotani Hot spring -Fudokan-
Located in Ashinomaki Onsen、 Kotani Hot Spring – Fudokan is a traditional ryokan overlooking the stunning Okawa Gorge. Guests can enjoy free-flowing hot spring baths sourced from the ryokan’s own spring, along with a seasonal kaiseki dinner featuring around 12 dishes made with fresh ingredients from the mountains and the sea. Surrounded by dramatic nature, this ryokan offers a deeply relaxing stay that nourishes both body and soul.
The moment you step into the lobby, you’re greeted by breathtaking views of the vast gorge. The open-air baths, surrounded by greenery and accompanied by the gentle sound of the river below, are incredibly soothing. It’s a ryokan whose grandeur truly captivates you.
This elegant ryokan is set amid majestic mountains and a clear-flowing river. It’s well suited for both small and large groups, and the hinoki-wood hot spring baths are especially memorable. Relaxing in the bath while taking in the spectacular scenery is an experience you won’t forget.
It’s well suited for both small and large groups, and especially in the hinoki-wood hot spring baths, you can truly unwind while taking in the breathtaking views.
Accommodation Information
Accommodation Name：Kotani Hot spring -Fudokan-
Address：2498-2 Yunotaira, Kotani, Oto-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima 969-5146, Japan
NUMAJIRI PLATEAU LODGE
Set within Bandai-Asahi National Park, Numajiri Kogen Lodge is a quiet hot spring lodge surrounded by pristine nature. The lodge was renovated from a former mountain retreat associated with renowned mountaineer Junko Tabei, and today offers a refined stay that blends comfort with the wilderness. Guests can enjoy a creative kaiseki course that highlights seasonal ingredients from Aizu and the wider Tohoku region, with careful attention given to each dish—one plate at a time. Combined with the lodge’s exceptional hot spring water, the experience is both deeply relaxing and memorable.
@japan_of_japan_ 📍Location: Numajiri Kogen Lodge Numajiriyamako-2864 Kogai, Inawashiro, Yama District, Fukushima 969-2752, Japan #japan #inawashiro #fukushima #japanese #injapan ♬ original sound – Japan of Japan
When you hear “lodge,” you might imagine a simple mountain hut, but this place feels more like a private villa in nature. The food is outstanding, and the quality of the hot spring water is among the best in Japan. It’s truly one of the top places to stay in Fukushima.
Are you looking for an experience unlike anything you’ve tried before? At Numajiri Kogen Lodge, you can enjoy a high-quality stay along with a special Numajiri Motoyu Tour, where you explore the powerful natural hot spring sources rising directly from the earth. It’s a rare and unforgettable experience.
At Numajiri Kogen Lodge, guests can enjoy not only a refined stay, but also a unique “Numajiri Motoyu Tour,” a special experience that takes you to the natural hot spring source rising directly from the earth.
Accommodation Information
Accommodation Name：NUMAJIRI PLATEAU LODGE
Address：Numajiriyama Ko 2864, Kaiko, Inawashiro Town, Yama District, Fukushima 969-2752, Japan
Summary
The essence of Japan can still be felt in Aizu—quietly and naturally. Each of the five ryokan introduced here offers its own unique appeal, from irori hearths and hot springs to seasonal cuisine, nature, and heartfelt magokoro hospitality. What they all share is the same feeling: they are places you’ll want to return to. These are not just places to stay, but places where you can experience the time, care, and spirit of the land itself. Step away from the rush of everyday life and set out on a journey to discover the real Japan. Along with our videos, we invite you to find your own ryokan worth staying at—right here in Aizu.
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