Hello everyone, I am planning a 2 week trip for me and my husband in October/November and we have the majority of the accommodation already booked just to secure their prices, except for our ryokan stay.
We started planning this trip a year ago, and we wanted to stay for 2 nights in the Okuhida/Shinhotaka area in Takayama, and I came across this local ryokan called Jinkuro ([maps](https://goo.gl/maps/wTnujHtuyQTZ7iiE8) / [official website](https://jinkuro.com/)). I fell in love with the place, the interior, their onsen and its view, location, and the meals, everything just looks perfect and I can’t find any downside with it.
Now I could swear that a year ago I could choose 2 nights for the same meal plan, but now when I checked again after so long on the official website I could only choose one night no matter which plan I choose? And when I searched the ryokan on [Jalan](https://www.jalan.net/yad322881/plan/?screenId=UWW3101&yadNo=322881&reSearchFlg=1&roomCrack=200000&smlCd=220302&distCd=01&stayYear=2023&stayMonth=2&stayDay=14&stayCount=2&roomCount=1&adultNum=2&minPrice=0&maxPrice=999999) and put in 2 nights it showed the breakfast plan available for a max of 2 nights, even though the same plan on their official website can only be booked for one night.
My main question comes here, ideally we wanted to book one night the sake tasting dinner and breakfast plan, and the second night the regular kaiseki meal plan, but generally if a ryokan only allows 1 night for each plan, is it expected to only be allowed to stay in the ryokan literally 1 night and then be expected to leave? or can we theoretically book 2 consecutive nights, so 2 plans 1 nights each? or would that cause issues with check-in check-out regulations.
Last question, I have seen Ryokans write on their official websites that they don’t accept foreigner reservations since they don’t speak English, which is making me wary of other Ryokans especially when they don’t have an English site. Jinkuro has an english version of their website so I am assuming they are okay having foreigners too. But as a foreigner is it possible to book through Jalan the 2 night breakfast meal if booking two separate nights not possible through their site?
I would love to contact and ask them directly but they can only be reached through telephone. Should I just give up and find another ryokan to book? I know it’s still too early to book it anyway and I plan to check again soon when our dates are available to book, but I wanted to know generally also just to keep in mind.
3 comments
Personally I would book both nights on their website, like make two booking as you said. Worst case you have to check out and check in, even change room. It might just be that people typically only go for one night.
Never had a problem booking a ryokan or minshuku as a foreigner, even places that do not have any English. Just be ready with google translate and expect to not have everything in English.
I wanted to book a nice ryokan, but the location’s website was only in Japanese. However, I was able to book a room on Agoda just fine.
Looking at the website, it seems like the sake tasting plan is weekdays only. Are you trying to book a weekday + weekend? But, besides that, the sake plan says that consecutive nights are not accepted, it seems to be a special one night only plan. You may be able to include a message when making the booking of a normal plan through their website, and ask them through there whether combining two plans is possible.
If you do two separate bookings, make sure to contact them and tell them you are the same person, otherwise you will likely change to a different room for a second night (they may send you a confirmation email with the booking, and that way you can get their email address, but sometimes they have automated emails sent out).
You can use jalan to do bookings if you like. I usually go for whatever site has the better price.
> I have seen Ryokans write on their official websites that they don’t accept foreigner reservations
I have never seen this before! I’ve had no problems with ryokans and minshuku barring me entry or anything of the sort, even ryokans that don’t have English sites. This ryokan you’re looking at likely has quite a few foreign tourists staying.