THE RYOKAN COLLECTION

ryugon's communal bath is a special kind of heaven: soaking outdoors in a natural stone hot spring, while billows of steam rise up to meet falling snow or a night sky studded with far more stars than city dwellers would believe. Every now and then, the silence is broken by the gentle susurration of snow slipping from the slanted awning into the dark waters of the garden pond. The soft alkalinity of the thermal waters are said to be beneficial for muscle and joint pain, while Cotte amenities from local sake brewer Hakkaisan, made from the same snowmelt water and amino acids as the famed sake, help preserve youthful skin.