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Ryokan hotel room with traditional style
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Where to Stay: A Guide to Boutique Hotels in Japan

Posted on:July 7, 2025

Planning your trip to Japan? Once you’ve mapped out your must-visit cities, the next step is just as important—finding the perfect…

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Hi, I’m Lauren

This is your go-to for Japan travel tips, hidden gems, and inspiration. Each post is crafted by me (and sometimes my team!) to help you explore Japan with ease.

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chasingjapanvibes

🇯🇵 Helping you explore Japan beyond the crowds
✨Off the beaten path & Ghibli vibes
🌸 Hidden gems, foodie eats, & boutique stays
When most people think of Japanese food, they stop When most people think of Japanese food, they stop at ramen and sushi… but Japan’s comfort foods run deep, these underrated dishes deserve their moment. Here are 4 foods you HAVE to try on your next trip, especially if you want to eat like a local: 1️⃣ Unagi（うなぎ) Freshwater eel, charcoal-grilled until the outside is crisp and the inside melts like butter. 
A secret sweet-savory tare sauce passed down for generations.
Hands down, my favorite dish in Japan. 2️⃣ Chawanmushi（茶碗蒸し) A savory steamed egg custard with the smoothest texture you’ll ever taste.
It’s subtle, delicate, and somehow always hits the soul.
If you love comfort food, this will ruin all other egg dishes for you. 3️⃣ Udon（うどん） A bowl of udon is the definition of simple but unforgettable and I personally think it’s better than ramen. 
Those bouncy noodles + a clean, umami-rich broth = absolute heaven.
And every region of Japan makes it differently, so you can try it again and again with. 4️⃣ Japanese Curry（カレー） Creamy, rich, and slightly sweet… with that slow-simmered depth that tastes like it cooked all day.
It’s not spicy like Indian curry or bold like Thai curry—
It’s Japanese home cooking that comforts your soul. 💬 What’s YOUR favorite Japanese dish? Tell me in the comments. 
I love discovering what people are obsessed with in Japan! 🇯🇵 Save this for your next trip and skip the obvious choices. The underrated foods might become your favorites. #japantravel #japantravelguide #japanfood #japanfoodie #udon #udonnoodles #unagi #japanesefood #japanesefoodculture #japanesefoodlover
Kyoto is iconic… but it’s about to get even pr Kyoto is iconic… but it’s about to get even pricier with the new tourism tax increases + rising hotel rates. The result of OVERTOURISM is a up to 900% hotel tax increase for tourist starting March 1st 2026. If you’re craving the peaceful, traditional Japan from movies + old stories, try these Kyoto alternatives that feel just as magical — without the crowds (or the cost): 🌿 Kanazawa — “Little Kyoto” vibes with samurai history, teahouses, and one of Japan’s best gardens. 🍶 Gifu (Takayama + Hida-Furukawa) — historic wooden streets, morning markets, family-run sake breweries + real slow-life charm. ⛩ Kurashiki — preserved historic canal streets + local crafts. 🏯 Ozu (Ehime) — castle town calm, riverside walks + warm hospitality. 🍵 Uji — quiet tea town with matcha heritage stronger than Kyoto itself. Kyoto is beautiful — but Japan is so much bigger than one city. I know it can be overwhelming to step outside of the golden route in Japan, especially if you’re not familiar with the language. ⭐️💬 If you want help planning a trip that feels meaningful, calm, and culturally rich, comment “Trip” and I can send you details to what services we provide for our guides and trip planning services. #hiddenjapan #japan #japantravel #kyoto #japantravels #japantrips #japanguide
Everyone’s talking about Japan’s Golden Route Everyone’s talking about Japan’s Golden Route — Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka… but after traveling to Japan multiple times, I realized it’s time to redefine what “golden” really means. 
✨ Tokyo — where creativity and calm coexist in hidden alley cafés and endless shopping 
🌿 Kofu — a peaceful onsen town framed by Mt. Fuji and vineyards (yes, Japan has wine country 🍷). 
🍜 Nagoya — Japan’s underrated industrial hub turned cultural hotspot, where innovation meets comfort food like miso katsu and unagi. 
🏯 Ozu — the town that stole my heart, with castle stays, kind locals, and a pace that feels like time travel. This city is definitely worth swapping out for Kyoto! 
Japan isn’t one story — it’s a thousand moments off the beaten path. This is my Golden Route. 🌸 I’m Lauren, sharing off-the-beaten-path Japan travel so you can experience the magic beyond the tourist crowds. 
#JapanTravel #HiddenJapan #OffTheBeatenPathJapan #TokyoTravel #OsakaJapan #OzuEhime #TravelCreators #japantravel #JapanItinerary #japan #traveljapan
POV: You meet the love of your life through matchm POV: You meet the love of your life through matchmaking… fall deeply in love… get married… and fly to Japan for your honeymoon 🇯🇵✨ That first trip changed everything. 
We fell in love with Japan’s culture, beauty, and way of life — the slow mornings, the bowing, the simple meals made with care, the peace in every shrine. So we went back… again and again. In one year, we traveled across Japan multiple times, exploring hidden towns, meeting locals, and realizing that the most meaningful moments happen off the beaten path. That journey inspired us to create our Japan travel brand — helping others explore the real Japan through culture, mindfulness, and connection. 🌸 And now, our biggest adventure yet begins…
👶 Baby coming March 2026. We can’t wait to bring our little one along as we continue to share love, travel, and slow, intentional experiences around the world. 💫 ✨ Follow for hidden gems, soulful travel, and the next chapter of our Japan journey — now as a family. 
 #japantravel #SlowTravel #HiddenJapan #BabyAnnouncement #TravelFamily #japantravels #pregnancyannouncement #japan #contentcreator #momtobe
Our last chance to convince our parents to move to Our last chance to convince our parents to move to Japan - Part 4: Osaka.  Osaka is a HUGE city — and after 3 others, the crowds hit hard. 🍽 We ate at @timeoutmarketosaka , which ended up being really cool. 
🚤 Took a boat ride through Dotonbori instead of walking.
🏯 Visited Osaka Castle (meh).
🚃But then…a day trip to Hiroshima. I’d love to go back to spend more time since I loved the old school vibe of the city. I explored Nakazakicho, a quiet neighborhood with old Showa buildings and no crowds. It felt like stepping back in time. I met up with a friend for photos and had the best onigiri lunch. That one day made Osaka feel worth it. Before heading out to the airport, we needed to get out of the city and end the trip with a bang. So we found Ryokan Onsen on the way to the Osaka airport. The soaking, food, and view of nature was worth it! ⭐️Japan didn’t convince my parents that it could be home, because they were a bit intimidated by learning the language and the culture difference. But they definitely want to come back and visit more of the places outside of the 3 popular tourist cities.  👇 Would you visit Osaka — or skip it for somewhere smaller? #japantravel #traveljapan #japantravelguide #japantraveltips #japantravels #osaka #osakajapan #osakatravel #osakacastle #osakafood Family trip to Japan | Osaka
Everyone talks about Japan’s trains, temples, an Everyone talks about Japan’s trains, temples, and sushi… but staying at a ryokan onsen is where the real magic happens. 🌸 Ryokans range anywhere from $400–$1000+ a night (for 2 people) — but here’s why it’s worth it:
✨ It’s a full cultural immersion: sleeping on tatami mats, soaking in onsen baths, and eating seasonal kaiseki dinners.
✨ It’s all-inclusive: dinner, breakfast, and unlimited bathing.
✨ You get incredible Japanese hospitality (omotenashi) that makes the entire experience feel sacred.
✨ Rooms are HUGE compared to city hotels — it’s your chance to fully slow down and rest Compared to a US luxury hotel, these ryokans are a great value. 📍Where to stay:
Hakone is the most popular, but underrated gems like Kofu, Yufuin (Kyushu), Kurokawa Onsen (Kyushu), and Nagano have incredible ryokan experiences without the crowds. 💡 Pro Tip: Avoid cherry blossom season and major holidays for better rates. February is my favorite — nothing beats sitting in an outdoor onsen with snowflakes falling. ❄️🛁 #japantravel #traveljapan #japantraveltips #japantravels #ryokan #onsen #hiddenjapan #japanhotel #hotels #luxuryhotels
Part 3: I wasn’t excited for Kyoto… but it sur Part 3: I wasn’t excited for Kyoto… but it surprised me 🍵
I didn’t love Kyoto the first time I went. But this time, I knew where NOT to go. We ate at a fav restaurant, wandered Nishiki Market, and then I snuck away to a hidden tea house in the forest (total dream). 
 ✨ We saw a real-life Maiko (Geisha) — a top moment for me.
 ✨ Took a tea class with a true tea master, Mr. Kanda.
 ✨ Skipped the Bamboo Forest and explored a quiet shrine instead. Lesson? Kyoto is way better when you slow down and get off the main path. Stay tuned for the final city of our trip.  🎒Save this if you’re planning a trip. #japantravel #traveljapan #japantravelguide #japantraveltips #japantravels #japantrip #kyoto #kyototrip #kyototravel
Part 2 | POV: You love Japan so much, you brought Part 2 | POV: You love Japan so much, you brought your parents… 😅 After the busy Tokyo, we headed to a town tourist NEVER visit: Kofu  This city is famous for Mt. Fuji views and wineries 🍇. We stayed at a Ryokan with a beautiful Japanese garden and koi pond that sat right in the heart of the property. We had a view from our room.  We felt like royalty: the super friendly and attentive staff, lounging in the most spacious, traditional tatami villas, unwinding in our exquisite private onsen, and feasting on the most delicious and generous kaiseki meals for breakfast and dinner. Probably the most food we’ve ever had!  The next day would be our only full day in Kofu, so we rented a van to explore Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato, the traditional japanese village.  Seeing Mount Fuji for this first time, so close up during drive was breathtaking! 💡TIP:  In a smaller town like this, driving is the best way to get around; just be careful because they drive on the opposite side of the road! The Ryokan experience is the most expensive part of the trip, but it’s sooo worth it every time! ⁉️Do you think we convinced them to move to Japan with this experience? Follow for Part 3 of our 14-day trip to Japan with our family! Dreaming of Japan? 🇯🇵✨ Don’t just dream it—make it real. We help you plan unforgettable trips beyond the crowded, viral spots. 🌸 #japantravel #traveljapan #japantravelguide #japantraveltips #japantravels #offthebeatenpath #hiddenjapan #japantrip #traveljapan🇯🇵 #kofu #mountfuji #ryokan #onsen #onsen♨️ #onsenjapan #mountfujijapan

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