Japan's Ryokan Hotels

Before 1988, this sleepy city in the foothills of the Japanese Alps was known chiefly for its seventh-century temple, Zenko-ji. Nagano was three hours by train from Tokyo, so visitors curled up for the night on futons in centuries-old ryokan, then rose to see the temple, ski in the surrounding mountains, and soak in one of the nearby onsen, or hot springs. Then came the Winter Olympics, the bullet train—and day trips. Read the article