Finding a non-chain hotel in Tokyo is challenging. Thank heavens for the ryokan , a Japanese-style B

Regular readers of Mapplr know that when it comes to hotels, I prefer to stay in places that do not belong to a chain. I like small, intimate hotels or B Bs whose owners pay a lot of attention to design, atmosphere and personal service. Last winter, I had a chance cheap online travel to go to Japan for the first time. I was invited to speak at a wireless conference in Fukuoka and decided to stay an extra week to visit Tokyo and Kyoto.
Finding a non-chain hotel in Tokyo is challenging. Thank heavens for the ryokan , a Japanese-style B B. There are many ryokans in Tokyo and Kyoto, but some accept only Japanese guests because they do not have English-speaking staff. Fortunately, ryokans are becoming more popular among foreign visitors so finding one that accepts foreigners isn t a problem anymore. What to expect from a ryokan : tatami mats, sitting on the floor at a low table to drink and eat, sleeping on a futon which the ryokan staff roll out at night (and roll back into a closet during the day), Japanese breakfasts, a Japanese bath on the premises, and in more luxurious ryokans , kaiseki breakfasts and dinners served in your room.