Ryokan Etiquette: What Not To Do and What To Do

Above, the Hotel Fukudaya in the Shibuya section of Tokyo. This was the first ryokan I stayed at. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan have several kinds of accommodations to choose from. They range from capsule hotels, budget hotels, business hotels, luxury hotels, youth hostels, some temples and ryokans.

This blog post will focus on the ryokan (Japanese inn).

Generally, ryokans are family owned and operated. They can be found in big cities or in small towns. I have stayed at three different ryokans and enjoyed each of them.

Rocket News 24 via Trip Advisor Japan has an article on the proper etiquette visitors should be know and practice while staying at a ryokan.

The article begins with:

Ryokan are traditional Japanese hotels whose roots can be traced back to the Edo Period (1603–1868). Although nowhere near as ubiquitous as they once were, there still exist thousands of such establishments, which are most often associated with relaxation, hot spas and, of course, good Japanese food and drink. Even those who would ordinarily choose a bed over a futon would be wise to experience staying at a ryokan at least once during a visit to Japan, but there are a number of dos and don’ts that visitors – both Japanese and otherwise – really ought to know before setting foot inside one. 

Trip Advisor Japan has helpfully published a list of tips, designed to look like set of cards teaching the characters from the Japanese syllabary, which instructs visitors on the right way to enjoy a Japanese inn. Some are as obvious as telling guests not to take stuff home with them, but there are others that really ought to be given your full attention.

 To read the article to make sure that your visit to a traditional Japanese inn is "faux pas-free," go here.