Abroad in Japan · Friday, September 4, 2026
Chris Broad recommends staying in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn, as the one thing everyone must do in Japan. He describes it as a comprehensive experience encompassing Japanese aesthetics, natural materials, shoji windows, tatami mats, hot springs, and kaiseki dinners, all contributing to a uniquely immersive cultural experience.
“That's an obvious one. Stay in a ryokan, stay in traditional Japanese in.”
“Because it's sort of the combination of all the best things about Japan. You've got the aesthetic. You go into a room, you've got all the beautiful natural materials, the shoji, um, the shoji paper doors, and the tatami straw mats. And the illumination coming in through the shoji windows at night. It's nice.”
“And then as you're relaxing in the room, you put on your yukata and you go in the hot spring. And you have a nice kaiseki multi-course dinner. Usually with locally sourced food.”
“So yeah, a good ryokan. It's like all the best things of Japan folded into one experience.”