Ryoso Kawaguchi Miyajima — the 300-year family ryokan with the highest score on the island
If Miyajima Island is one of Japan's unmissable experiences, Ryoso Kawaguchi is the answer for anyone who wants more than just a bed. This isn't simply budget accommodation — it's a 300-year-old wooden building still run by its owners with their own hands. With a score of 9.7 from 359 Booking reviews (couples give it 9.9), guests return time and again saying it felt like staying with relatives in Japan — warmth and genuineness that no chain hotel can replicate.
Ryoso Kawaguchi sits in the heart of the old village of Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima — roughly 7 minutes' walk from both Itsukushima Shrine and the Miyajima Ferry Pier. That location means you can step outside early in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive, and walk to the iconic floating torii gate in near solitude. The kind of moment you can only have when you actually sleep on the island.
"The owners were so kind it felt like staying with family. The homemade kaiseki was delicious. Clean room, comfortable futon — hard to believe you get all this at this price."
What sets Ryoso Kawaguchi apart from any ordinary ryokan is the 300-year-old wooden building itself. Thick timber walls, a gentle creak underfoot, the faint scent of aged wood — every detail tells you this place has witnessed centuries. Guest rooms are traditional Japanese-style: tatami mat flooring, a proper Japanese futon that sleeps beautifully, and a private bath in the room. The quiet, unhurried atmosphere is exactly what many travellers spend an entire Japan trip searching for.
The main reason the score sits at 9.7 is simple: the owners run everything themselves and treat every guest like family. Repeat guests describe owners who recommend lesser-known village restaurants, help map out a personalised day's itinerary, and check in to make sure everything is going well. That level of care is simply not available at large-chain hotels, and it's the single biggest reason couples award a near-perfect 9.9.
On the food — the kaiseki dinner here is homemade by the owners, not turned out by a hotel kitchen serving fifty covers at once. Seasonal ingredients, cooked with genuine attention. Many guests say it was the most memorable meal of their entire trip. And at ¥14,000 per night for two people — already including both the kaiseki dinner and breakfast — this is the most affordable option on the Miyajima ryokan list.
A few things worth knowing before you book — Ryoso Kawaguchi is a very small ryokan with a limited number of rooms. It fills faster than anywhere else on this list. If you have it in your sights, book well in advance. Also, there is no large communal onsen or spa bath; guests use a private bath in their room. If a full onsen experience is your priority, another property on the list will suit you better. But if what you want is the authentic ryokan experience Japan has offered for centuries, this is the place.
To be honest, Ryoso Kawaguchi does not sell luxury. There is no spa, no swimming pool, no torii-gate view from the bedroom window. What you do get is warmth, authenticity, and a memory that outlasts any five-star hotel — guests who have stayed consistently say it made their visit to Miyajima feel genuinely meaningful.
If you're visiting Hiroshima and planning to cross to Miyajima by ferry — picture waking up, walking seven minutes to the torii gate in the soft morning light before anyone else arrives, then returning to a 300-year-old wooden inn for a breakfast the owners made for you. If that image matches what you're looking for, Ryoso Kawaguchi from ¥14,000/night, meals included, is extraordinary value for what you receive.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Family-run owners create a warm, home-like atmosphere
- ✓ 300-year-old wooden building — genuinely traditional ryokan experience
- ✓ Homemade kaiseki dinner and breakfast included from ¥14,000/night for two
- ✓ 7-min walk to Itsukushima Shrine and the ferry pier
- ! No large communal onsen — private bath in room only
- ! Very few rooms, fills fast — must book well in advance
- ! Simple traditional amenities, not a modern hotel
- ✓ Owners give personal restaurant tips and local insider knowledge
- ✓ Clean tatami room, comfortable futon — restful sleep
- ✓ Price including meals is exceptional value for Miyajima
- ✓ Wake up and reach the torii gate before the day-trippers arrive
- ! Small ryokan with very limited rooms — book early
- ! No large onsen — suited to those prioritising atmosphere over spa facilities
- ! Historic building — amenities are simple by modern hotel standards
- 💡If a large communal onsen is a must-have — Ryoso Kawaguchi only offers a private in-room bath → look at another ryokan on the list that includes a full onsen facility.
- 💡If you're travelling in peak season — this is the smallest property on the list and fills fastest → book 2-3 months or more ahead, especially for cherry blossom and autumn foliage periods.
- 💡If you need modern hotel amenities — this is a 300-year-old building with a traditional character → if you need a contemporary fit-out, this property may not match your expectations.