• Staying at a Ryokan
• Check-in
• Tipping
• Rooms
• Amenities
• Toilets
• Baths
• Dinner
• Exploring the Area
• Breakfast
• Checking out
• Quick Reference

Amenities

The rooms often include a hot water dispenser as well as a set of cups and a pot for making green tea and senbei rice crackers or sweets for your enjoyment. Once you’ve settled into your room, the okami may come and make tea for you as she explains the finer points of staying at her ryokan to you.

Do not put your luggage in the tokonoma alcove that is raised one step above the tatami floor, inset in the wall at the back of the room. This is a sacred place that may be adorned by a hanging scroll, a vase, or flower arrangement.

The futon and bedding are stored away by the ryokan staff in the closet during the day and laid out for you in the evening. A separate closet may be provided for your personal items and clothing near the entrance to the room.

Each guest is given a yukata robe. The robes are meant to be worn to and from the baths, to bed and may also be worn to meals. Yukata and slippers should not be worn outside of the inn itself.

Guests are also provided with a small hand towel, toothbrush, toothpastes, comb, razor and shampoo. There should be a drying rack for the towels so they can be reused in the morning.

Your room may have a television. In room telephones are rare, but a pay phone is often available in the common lounge areas.