Plainly put, simply grand

　　Japan's charm is often compared to that of the ideal beauty, subtle and elusive¹ - you can hardly resist it even though you cannot fully² understand it. Here, beauty lies in the depth of simplicity³ and comes in tiny packages: the dessert plates on dinner tables, the straw smell of the tatami mats on the floor.

　　This is a world of quiet luxury, with nary a trace of flashiness, every detail deliciously exquisite⁴ in its utter simplicity.

　　I got to experience this understated elegance⁵ and luxury at Asaba, one of the country's best onsen ryokans (Japanese-style inn with hot springs), during my recent trip to Japan.

　　Nestled in the mountainous town of Shuzenji on the Izu peninsula, about two hours by train from Tokyo, the 510-year-old inn has been run by the Asaba family for 10 generations and is a good marriage of history and nature, of the traditional and the modern.

　　The entrance is so inconspicuous - a wooden gate at the end of a narrow path - we think we have wandered up to the front door of someone's house.

　　However, as with many things in Japan, size quickly becomes unimportant amid the expansive charm and elegance we encounter inside.

　　Japanese hospitality fills every nook and cranny. Kimono-clad staff greet us like old friends, with their gracious deep bows and pleasant smiles. The personalized service of the housemaids is unobtrusive and effective.

　　Plainly put, simply grand

　　Slippers⁶ appear as soon as we take off our shoes at the door. Hot towels, green tea and sweets appear one after another while we wait in the lobby. Guided by another round of bows, we are led to our suite⁷. No language is needed - everything is perfectly⁸ understood.

　　Built in traditional Japanese style, the complex is defined by its intricate, carved landscape. A well-tended garden, surrounded by a bamboo grove⁹, with a pond at its heart, is like a piece of living artwork, every detail meticulously¹⁰ crafted. Beyond the pond is a stage, built with cypress¹¹ wood at the end of Meiji era (1868-1912), where traditional Noh plays and modern productions are staged.

　　A large open-air pool, enclosed by smooth rocks, juts¹² into the pond. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape while taking a dip in the steaming water of a natural hot spring.

　　Creaking wooden corridors and stairs lead to 19 guest suites¹³, each with a poetic¹⁴ name - instead of a number - and each with a fantastic view. Inside, the room's minimalist style features clean, uncomplicated lines. Woven-rattan chairs covered in indigo-cotton cushions are arranged around a low lacquered table. A recessed¹⁵ alcove¹⁶ with a hanging scroll¹⁷ serves as the centerpiece.

　　Plainly put, simply grand

　　Asaba may be ancient, but it certainly is not outdated¹⁸. It has quietly moved with the times while preserving its proudest traditions. From the floor heating to the modern bathrooms, visitors can sense a comfort that rivals that of any five-star hotel around the world.

　　On a table next to the pebbled¹⁹ entranceway, I notice a black leather Hermes desk pad. Kazuhide Asaba, the family's eldest²⁰ son, says he wants to transform the inn into the kind of place he himself would want to stay in. A bar-cum-reading-room outfitted²¹ with Bertoia chairs and a collection of books on art and fashion photography hints at his ambitions.

　　"Every year we keep improving our suites to meet the market demand," says Airi Asaba, Kazuhide's younger sister and the only English-speaking staff member in Asaba. The 40-year-old had once worked with Japan Travel Bureau in Tokyo, and the experience has helped a lot with the management of Asaba.

　　Most of the ryokans in Shuzenji, a town of 17,000, are family businesses. Local tourism was severely²² hit by the global economic downtown last year. About 20 of the ryokans were closed, leaving only 20 still in business. Asaba also saw a 15 percent decrease in business.

　　Usually, the inn receives about 8,000 visitors every year, most of them Japanese. To expand its potential market, Asaba has recently cooperated with Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo. The two-night Asaba Package, promoted by Shangri-La, is expected to bring more new guests to this age-old inn.

　　"We had been looking for a partner ryokan for a long time. Asaba's age-old history, picturesque²³ location and high-quality service make it a jewel among thousands of ryokans," says Stanley Tan, sales and marketing²⁴ director of Shangri-La, Tokyo.

　　The apex²⁵ of our short stay in Asaba is the dinner. Sitting in our yukatas (Japanese cotton garment) at a low table, we are served plate after plate of local delicacies²⁶. Each is arranged on special ceramic²⁷ plates and lacquer ware²⁸.

　　The 12 courses, including steamed yuba (tofu skin), fried bamboo shoot, sashimi of tuna, grilled²⁹ lotus, eel³⁰ sushi with black rice, chicken soup, and pumpkin³¹ and ginger³² ice cream, are a feast for both the eyes and taste buds.

　　No appetite will go unsatisfied here and the unique and tranquil³³ dining experience can enchant³⁴ the most jaded³⁵ gourmet³⁶.

　　For years Asaba has drawn³⁷ the rich, the powerful and the famous, including former President of France, Jacques Chirac.

　　Of course, the $400 a night charge may be too much for most travelers. But the sheer delight of staying somewhere so lush in its simplicity and experiencing the best of Japanese hospitality is worth every penny.

　　Life> Travel

　　Plainly put, simply grand

　　By Ou Shuyi (China Daily)

　　Updated: 2010-04-05 08:52

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　　'As soon as the water touches my skin, all stress melts away'

　　Asaba Ryokan's outdoor hot-spring pool has a sign that says, "No swimming suits".

　　Intimidated³⁸ at first - it is too embarrassing to strip down in front of a bunch of strangers - I decide to have a go early in the morning.

　　I'm up at 6 and head to the pool. It is raining and a little bit cold, but the pool is absolutely empty.

　　Perfect! Actually, even better than perfect. The thin drizzle³⁹ shrouds⁴⁰ the garden and the bamboo grove around the pool in a mist, even as steam rises above the piping hot water, creating a magical, dream-like scene.

　　I lower myself gingerly into the water and as soon as the water touches my skin, I feel all my stress melt away.

　　Bathing is serious business in Japan. The Japanese insist that their springs, located in one of the most volcanically⁴¹ active zones on Earth, can ease everything from arthritis⁴² to skin disease.

　　"We Japanese find few things more relaxing than taking a hot bath," says Airi Asaba, executive manager of Asaba Ryokan.

　　The hot springs in Shuzenji, where Asaba is located, are one of the oldest in the country. According to folklore⁴³, a Buddhist⁴⁴ monk⁴⁵ Kukai magically transformed the rushing waters of a river from cold to hot, some 1,200 years ago.

　　For centuries, legions of stressed-out Japanese have traveled to this small town to take a curative dip.

　　Sitting alone in the steaming pool, I close my eyes and let the water work its magic. Barring the steady plop of raindrops, nothing breaks the silence as every muscle in my body goes limp with contentment.

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