Staying at a ryokan is much more than just stopping off at a Japanese hotel. It is a journey in time where the visitor is a guest in old Japan. The picture of a world long thought lost is offered with only a few compromises to the modern age into which the visitor is immersed freed from the banality of everyday life. Thus a ryokan is a combination of Japanese art and culture of bygone centuries. The reader will find: architecture, painting, color woodblock printing, ceramics, lacquer work, ike-bana, sho, everyday utensils, traditional clothing and exquisite cuisine. Additionally, the reader will learn about the traditional rituals, ceremonies and pleasures such as the Way of Tea, no theater, the martial arts, seasonal festivals, The Way of the Samurai as well as legends and customs. This publication brings to life and gives insight into the history, traditions, and arts of Japan.