A authentic timber-framed ryokan dating to 1875, Chojukan is steeped as much in Japanese culture as it is in the steam rising from the natural hot springs that it's built upon. While authentically rustic, it rates four pearls for this style of accommodation, which definitely isn't for everyone. Chojukan is a 30-minute drive from the nearest town, and about three hours from Tokyo, but seclusion is part of its allure for those looking to indulge in the rustic yet sophisticated bathing practices that predate modern civilization's en-suite bathrooms -- be aware that there are few of those here, and the traditionally styled rooms that do come with bathrooms still lack showers or bathtubs. Rooms provide some 21st-century amenities like flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, but guests should be prepared to sleep on tatami mats and forgo Western food while they're opening up themselves -- and their pores -- to one of the finest, and oldest, communal bathing experiences in Japan.