According to hotel general manager Fukuo Tamagawa, 65, the floating stage has been in place since the ryokan opened in 1989, used to welcome guests with samisen performances. "Honestly ...

Ryokans weren't born as five-star retreats ... Junichiro is said to have crafted chapters of A Cat, A Man, and Two Women. Artifacts from those days, including handwritten mementos and artful ...