Hiiragiya Ryokan travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Should you be given the distributing news that you are officially dead, do not panic. You have probably just tied your yukata (house robe) right over left – kimono speak for ”deceased”- and need to retie it. More than 300 years old, Hiiragiya Ryokan is a historic inn that is widely regarded as the pinnacle of style and traditional hospitality. Look closely and you will see the wooden hitching posts, used by traveling feudal lords who arrived on horseback, on the long clay walls. Such grand arrivals might e a thing of the past, but theater comes with the territory, and thanks to the six generations of the same family, service is as sharp as samurai sword. Photo by: Rob Gruhl

After a flurry of bowing on arrival, a personal maid leads guests to their rooms. These are measured in units of tatami mats; the largest sleeps seven. Some come with a delightful cedar tub, which keeps water hot for hours. Rooms are simple, but attention to detail is faultless, and to maintain an air of authenticity some do not have televisions. Photo by: risotto al caviale

Bedfellows spend far too much time bathing and eating to miss that, though. The traditional kaiseki meal is the highlight of the stay there and demands both an empty stomach and a sense of adventure. Ryokans are fertile ground for cultural faux pas, but once you have entered into the spirit and begin to relax, it can be great fun to don the geta (wooden clogs) and flip-flop around wearing the yukata to the communal bath and to dinner. Photo by: bestbeon

The maid will fill your tub, roll out your tatami, and should you need it – assist with tying that robe. Location: Kyoto, Japan. Photo by: RicciHull

Photo by: melissamatlins