Ryokan (inn) Ryokan (inn) A is a type of traditional Japanese inn that has existed since the eighth century A.D. during the Keiun period, in which the oldest hotel in the world, Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, was created in 705 A.D. Another old ryokan called Hōshi Ryokan was founded in 718 A.D and was also known as the world's second oldest hotel. Such inns also served travelers along Japan's highways. They typically feature "tatami"-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner. Ryokan are difficult to find in Tokyo and other large cities because
Asamushi Onsen Asamushi Onsen Asamushi Onsen () is the site of a hot spring, in Aomori City in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It was developed as the downtown beside the onsen town and is sometimes known as "Atami in Tohoku" after the famous Atami Onsen in mid-Japan. According to tradition, the hot spring was discovered by Ennin in 876, during the Heian period. It was first used for steaming ("mushi") hemp (Cannabis or "asa"), leading to the name, though the "kanji" character used for the name differs. When Hōnen visited in 1190, he popularized the custom of bathing in the hot spring. During