By train, then the inn's car
A ryokan is rarely at the station. Many collect guests there, often free, but the car usually runs at set times or by arrangement, so the inn needs your train. Wanosato's shuttle leaves Takayama station at 14:20, 15:20 and 16:20; Fujiya Inn's car meets trains at Oishida at about 13:30 or 15:30 for the 40-minute drive to Ginzan. At Gora Kadan you simply call from Gora station and the car comes in about five minutes.
Others have no pickup, and a taxi is the way: from Shuzenji to Asaba it is seven minutes, and The Hiramatsu Sengokuhara books taxis from Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto. A few arrivals are part of the stay: Hoshinoya Kyoto takes guests up the Oi river in its own boat from the Togetsukyo bridge, between 14:30 and 17:45.
How far ahead to ask depends on the inn.
Who collects, and how much notice they need
The list below is from each inn's own access information. The inn needs your train or flight; where the notice is several days, that matters most.
On our list
On the day3
Gora KadanGora, Hakonecall on arrival at Gora station; the car comes in about five minutes, no booking needed
ShoraisoYudanaka Onsenfree from Yudanaka station, 15:00 to 18:30; booked ahead, but same-day requests are taken
Booked ahead21
Beniya MukayuYamashiro Onsen, Kagafree shuttle from Kaga-Onsen station, 15 minutes, booked in advance
The other 16
Hoshinoya KyotoArashiyama, Kyotothe inn's boat from the Togetsukyo bridge, 14:30 to 17:45, booked ahead
Kanshukuen EshikotoShimojohoji, Eiheijipick-up at Eiheijiguchi for trains leaving Fukui between 13:25 and 15:25, asked for when booking
Naoshima Ryokan RokaNaoshimafree shuttle from the ferry at Miyanoura or Honmura; give your ferry when booking
Niseko Konbu Onsen Tsuruga Besso Moku no ShoKonbu Onsen, Nisekopick-up from JR Niseko station, by reservation only
Nishimuraya HonkanKinosaki Onsen, Toyookathe ryokan association's free bus meets certain limited express trains; send your arrival time
Sanyo-soIzu-Nagaoka Onsen, Izunokunifree shuttle from Izu-Nagaoka station every half hour, 14:00 to 17:00, booked ahead
Simose Art Garden VillaHarumi, Otakecar from Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport or Shin-Iwakuni, Otake or Kuba station, 13:00 to 20:00, on advance request
TakefueManganji, Kurokawa Onsenfree from the Kurokawa Onsen or Yu Station bus stops, asked for when booking
The Hiramatsu GinozaMatsuda, Okinawafree pick-up from the Ginoza IC stop of the airport express bus, on request
The Hiramatsu KashikojimaUgata, Ise-Shimafree from Kintetsu Kashikojima station, 14:00 to 17:00, with your arrival time
Tobira Onsen MyojinkanTobira Onsen, Matsumotofree shuttle from Matsumoto station at 15:15 or 16:30, booked ahead
Yamagata The TakinamiAkayu Onsen, Nanyofree shuttle from Akayu station at 14:30 and 15:30, on reservation
The day before4
Araya TotoanYunogawa, Kagafree shuttle from Kaga-Onsen station, 13:30 to 18:00, at least a day ahead
Kofuyuden BeniyaAwara Onsenfree shuttle from Awara-Onsen or Awara-Yunomachi station, 14:30 to 18:00, by the day before
Satoyama JujoOsawayama Onsen, Minamiuonumaa flat-fare taxi from Echigo-Yuzawa booked by the inn, with your arrival time the day before; or a free car from Osawa at 14:30, booked ahead
Suimeiso at Wataya BessoUreshino Onsenfree scheduled shuttle from Ureshino-Onsen station, booked by 15:00 the day before
Two to five days ahead9
Akan Tsuruga Bessou HinanozaAkanko Onsen, Lake AkanAkanko Express shuttle bus seats, October to March, at least five days ahead
Iki Retreat Kairi Murakami by Onko ChishinYunomoto Onsen, Ikifree shared pick-up from Iki's ports and airport, at least three days ahead
Kinnotake SengokuharaSengokuhara, Hakonecars from Odawara, Hakone-Yumoto, Haneda or Narita, three days ahead
Kinnotake TonosawaTonosawa, Hakonecars from Odawara, Hakone-Yumoto, Haneda or Narita, three days ahead
The other 4
Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Bessou Ao no ZaShikotsuko Onsen, Lake Shikotsufree shuttle from JR Chitose and New Chitose Airport, by 19:00 three days ahead
OchiairoAmagi Yugashima Onsen, Izufree shuttle from Shuzenji at 14:15, 15:15 and 16:15, at least three days ahead
Shikotsuko Tsuruga Besso KohakunoshoShikotsuko Onsen, Lake Shikotsufree shuttle bus from JR Chitose station via New Chitose Airport, three to five days ahead depending on the site
The Hiramatsu Karuizawa MiyotaShiono, Miyotafree shuttle from Miyota station, at least two days ahead
A week ahead1
WanosatoIchinomiya, Takayamafree shuttle from Takayama station at 14:20, 15:20 and 16:20, at least seven days ahead
Sending luggage ahead
Inn cars, mountain trains and tatami rooms all suit a small bag better than a large case. Japan's courier service, takkyubin, will carry a suitcase from one hotel to the next: JNTO notes that most large hotels arrange it at the front desk, convenience stores take bags too, and counters marked 'Hands-Free Travel' at airports and elsewhere handle it for visitors. Ask the inn first that it will receive it, and send it in time to arrive before you do.
Hakone has its own service: leave bags at the counter in Hakone-Yumoto station between 8:30 and 12:00, and they reach participating inns after 15:00. On the Tokaido, Sanyo, Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, a case of 161 to 250 cm in total dimensions needs a seat reserved with an oversized-baggage area. At Sekitei, luggage can be left at Anagomeshi Ueno by the Miyajima ferry while you visit the island.
Some guests skip the train altogether.
By car or taxi
Most rural inns have parking, and many will book a taxi, sometimes at a flat fare: Satoyama Jujo books one from Echigo-Yuzawa and Asaba one from Mishima, and Ochiairo arranges taxis from Mishima or Shuzenji. Driving has its own warnings. Miyamasou asks drivers to take the Kurama road and avoid the narrow Momoi Pass, with winter tyres in winter; at Satoyama Jujo heavy snow can need four-wheel drive for the last few hundred metres; Myojinkan's forest road to the Venus Line is closed from 19 October to 25 December 2026, and then for winter.
In towns, a car can sometimes come to the door: at Ryokan Kurashiki, along the river to unload.
When to arrive
Check-in is usually from 15:00, and the pickups run in the afternoon to match: Kofuyuden Beniya's from 14:30 to 18:00, The Hiramatsu Kashikojima's from 14:00 to 17:00. The later limit is dinner. Nishimuraya Honkan's last check-in is 17:00, Asaba's 18:00; at Gora Kadan dinner must start by 19:00, and later arrivals may be given a bento; Tsukihitei serves no dinner to guests arriving after 19:00.
So aim for a train that reaches the station between about 14:00 and 16:00, and allow for the car. What happens next is in our guide to how a ryokan stay works.