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- ETIQUETTE FOR AN ENJOYABLE STAY AT A RYOKAN
ETIQUETTE FOR AN ENJOYABLE
STAY AT A RYOKAN
Guest room etiquette
Getting to your room
- Although it may not be the case depending on the ryokan, a room attendant will usually show you to your room.
- At some ryokans, guests take their luggage to their rooms themselves.
Taking off your shoes
- At a ryokan, you take your shoes off before going into a guest room. At some ryokans, you take your shoes off in the entrance hall.
Slippers off in guest rooms
You shouldn't wear slippers in the guest rooms.
Don't drag luggage around on the tatami mats
Tatami mats easily get damaged when large pieces of luggage are dragged around on them, so please do be careful.
The alcoves are not places to relax
The alcoves ("tokonoma" in Japanese) are places which are decorated with flowers and art in order to help guests enjoy their stays even more. People don't go into them or sit in them.
Don't put luggage in the alcoves
Beverages in rooms
The Japanese tea and snacks you will find in your room are free of charge.
Don't hang wet towels on the tops of the door frames
Hanging wet towels on them can make the door frames moldy.
Guests sleep on futons. Bedding is kept in the closet.
* Futons are laid out by a member of the ryokan staff.
* Some ryokans have beds.
A member of staff will take care of getting your futons out and putting them away
Don't run around or make a lot of noise in the corridors.
Yukatas
You can walk around inside the ryokan dressed in a yukata (Japanese cotton robe) and slippers.
If the ryokan has a shop in it, you can use it dressed in a yukata and slippers.
* The rules do vary from ryokan to ryokan, so please check with the staff first.
If the ryokan has a restaurant in it, you can use it dressed in a yukata and slippers.
* The rules do vary from ryokan to ryokan, so please check with the staff first.
You cannot go outside the building wearing a yukata and slippers.
* The rules do vary from ryokan to ryokan, so please check with the staff first.
Change into yukata and slippers in your room and head to the bathhouse.
When you've finished with your yukatas, don't take them home with you, but fold them lightly and put them all together.
It's bad manners to wear a yukata loosely, so do be careful.
Meals
Depending on the ryokan, meals may be served in your room, in a dining hall or in a separate restaurant.
* In some cases, dinner and breakfast may be served in different places.
