Difference between ryokan, honkan and others

We are going to book several types of accommodations for our Japan trip and we noticed that certain places are categorized differently.

Can anyone help: what is the difference between a ryokan or a honkan or minshuki or a pension, guesthouse?

Is there anything special that makes them different from each other?

This page and its links will answer many of your questions
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2025.html

The only one among the names that is somewhat out-of-place is "honkan."

"Honkan" just means "main building," and is used to distinguish between the "main building" and "annex (bekkan)" of a relatively big hotel or ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).

I never knew what a Honkan was. I stayed at Iwamotoro Honkan at Enoshima (2 thumbs up!) and my impression was that it was the same as a normal ryokan hotel. It was probably called that because its genesis was a much smaller place last century.

I thought it was something different about those places but I guess it is just a naming thing.

I'll go and make my bookings then.

Thanks very much.