The Ryokan Collection, made up of 38 luxury traditional Japanese inns and small hotels, is now represented in Australia by Inspired Luxury.
Hiroki Fukunaga, founder and CEO of The Ryokan Collection, was in Australia recently to meet media and trade with Lynne Ireland, founder and CEO of Inspired Luxury, a tourism sales, marketing and communication agency. Inspired Luxury is tasked with raising the profile of The Ryokan Collection throughout the Australian travel industry, and with consumers.
“We are looking forward to working with Lynne and her team to promote Japanese culture and introduce Australians to our warm- hearted local people. We would like to help Australians find a new appreciation of Japanese culture through experiencing the ultimate luxury lifestyle,” said Hiroki Fukunaga who founded the group in 2004.
In 2018, 500,000 Australians visited Japan, staying on average longer, and spending more, than other nationalities.
The history of Japanese ryokan dates back 1,300 years. From hot springs to Geisha, the small inns (many family-owned) provided visitors with premium experiences across Japan. Each ryokan is rigorously assessed before it can be incorporated into the collection to ensure it can provide exceptional service, attention to detail and a bespoke traditional experience unseen almost anywhere else in Japan.
The ryokans within The Ryokan Collection fall into three different styles – heritage, traditional and contemporary.
“The Ryokan Collection is a stunning boutique property group with an amazing heritage and are a recognised leader in the luxury sector. We are looking forward to introducing Australians to these traditional properties for an unrivalled taste of Japanese culture,” said Lynne Ireland.
A Ryokan usually offers two meals for each night’s stay, breakfast and dinner. Chefs source fresh local ingredients daily in order to serve meals as freshly as possible. Ryokans are usually located outside of the big cities, surrounded by nature and close to hot springs. If requested, guests can also tailor their stays, requesting to stay in a Western bed or mixing up dining experiences outside of the ryokan.
Zenses, a joint-venture between The Ryokan Collection and H.I.S Co. Ltd (one of the largest travel agents in Japan) is a service that operates tailor-made itineraries for its customers. Guests staying at The Ryokan Collection can utilise the expertise of Zenses that can provide expert guides and escorts; luxury transportation; private admission to famous temples, shrines and gardens; dinners and events at World Heritage-listed sites; private meetings with local artisans; and private admission to galleries and museums.
TOP IMAGE: The Ryokan Collection Japan – Atami Fufu Lobby
