Manners at Ryokan (hotel) in Japan
At hotels and ryokan in Japan, there are certain rules and manners that probably are unique and unfamiliar to you.
Let me point out essential tips useful when staying Japanese accommodations.
1. Check-In at Ryokan.
First, latest time you should be arriving at "Ryokan" is 18:00.
This is because chef, waitress, and room attendant are standing-by to serve cuisine at its best.
So, will be polite to give them a call if you think you'll be late.
Second, check where to take off your shoes.
This is really simple, its where pairs of slippers are located. If you are unsure, just ask them by saying "Kutsu Wa Dokode Nuidara Iidesuka?"
Where to take off shoes depends on each ryokans, at building entrance or entrance of room.
Third, register at the front and ask staff to carry your luggage to your room by saying "Nimotsu Onegai Dekimasuka?"
Finally, to rank up your manner, let's say "Arigatou gozaimasu" or "Arigatou" when they open doors and arrange your shoes.
2. Japanese floor, Tatami.
A tatami is a mat used to cover floor in a Japanese room and often seen in old traditional houses and ryokan.
It's made of bundled straw and covered with woven rushes (Igusa) and is a rectangular mat about 1.8m x 0.9m (approx. 6' x 3'). In Kansai region use slightly larger size, and slightly smaller in Tokyo.
It is a standard to take off your shoes, and indoor footwears, but not socks. Some says you should feel tatami with your bare feet but it's totally OK to wear socks. This would be where you can sit and lay bedding (Futon) to sleep on, so keep it clean.
3. Futon and Shitsurae (interior setting).
Futon is Japanese bedding which is used to lay on floor.
You can normally leave Futon without folding in the morning. If you spilled drink or damaged it, just let staff know.
As long as the damage is unintentional and notified, they are highly unlikely to charge you for it.
Shitsurae is interior setting used in Japanese-style room.
You will notice that lots of "paper" is used in the room; screens, sliding doors, lightning shades, wallpapers, etc.
Those paper materials are called: Washi.
Washi is traditional paper in Japan used for such interior setting and also umbrella. They are stronger and more durable compared to ordinal paper.
But not all papery materials are made of Washi, so be careful.
Some may be easy to be tore and get dirt.
4. Yukata (informal kimono).
Yukata is a kind of Japanese garment. When compared to Kimono, it is lighter and worn in informal situations. It is often worn in summer festival or to go out, before and after bath, and when to sleep.
Surely, you can wear it inside ryokan and go out to town wearing if its not too chilly.
You can change to Yukata during the stay.
You can use Yukata as pajama and go out wearing.
When Chabaori (outer robe) is provided, you can wear it over Yukata.
Make the left collar to come in front for both men and women.
5. Meal (informal kimono) in Ryokan.
Washoku is formal name for traditional Japanese food.
It is registered in UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
There are various rules and manners when having eat Washoku, same as you do in your own countries. Not to worry too much, even Japanese have not mastered it perfectly.
You'd come across with ingredients that you've never seen or eaten before.
Give it a shot at least for once. (If you are allergic to it, DON'T!)
As mentioned in above, rules can be quite complex, so let me point out essentials briefly.
1. Use a wet towel.
At the table, wipe your hands with wet towel. Not your face or other part.
(It makes me sick some Japanese senior wipe their faces.)
2. Start with "Itadaki masu".
Before start eating your dishes, put your palms together and say,
"Itadaki masu". (means: I gratefully receive)
3. Eating order.
There is no particular order of which to start, so pick your favorite.
4. Pick up plate or not.
Normally, small plates and bowls to be picked up and lead close to your mouth about 30cm (approx. 1ft) away.
Larger plates and when its shared with others, on the other hand, are not to be picked up. Also, it is polite to use the opposite end of your chopsticks or dedicated serving chopsticks, and move food to your own plate.
5. Empty your dish.
It is considered as polite and good style to empty your dishes completely, to very last grain of rice. If you dislike or cannot eat the food for your own reasons, replacements may be served if you tell them in advance. (Depending on places.) If not, just leave it.
6. Finish your meal.
Return all dishes to how they were.
For example, replace the lids on dishes and put your chopsticks back on its rest or paper holder. This helps staff or room attendant to clean up your table.
7. Conclude with "Gochisou sama deshita".
Conclude your meal with a phrase, "Gochisou sama deshita".
This means "Thank you for the feast" and shows gratitude not only to the chef and waitress but also food that is consumed.
* Blowing your nose at the table.
Blowing nose, burping and audible munching with your mouth open are considered bad manners in Japan.
If you see Japanese doing so, don't copy.
6. Check-Out from Ryokan.
Most ryokan should accept credit cards but it is also possible they don't accept credit card issued in overseas.
This is because Japan is cash-based society.
Still, many people haven't even heard of "debit". So, make sure to carry adequate Japanese yen at least for one night.
On the other hand, hotels accept major credit cards such as VISA, Master card, and American express. Some don't accept Diners.
7. About chip at Ryokan and hotels.
There is no custom of chipping in Japan, and your treatment or service will NOT be changed if you pay chip or not.
Service charge is normally included in your bill.
Well, similar to it, there is an act called "kokorozuke" that is to pay around 10% of room charge to room attendant in ryokan, and should be wrapped when given.
This happens when you asked something extra, troubled ryokan staff, damaged interior, or brought small kids and troubled other guests.
"Kokorozuke" is an act of free will, do or don't , or even a rate is not fixed.
The difference is:
>Chip
is a part of price for the service.
>Kokorozuke
is an act of showing gratitude for the service and to be wrapped in paper, envelope, or tissue.
In Japan, polite way of receiving gifts, especially money is to say "No" at the first, and if the giver insists, receive it with gratitude.
So, ryokan staff would say "No" once, it is custom to offer again. If they say "No" again, they won't take it.
Expression note:
1. "Kutsu Wa Dokode Nuidara Iidesuka?"
= "Where can I take off my shoes?"
Kutsu = shoes
Wa = is
Dokode = where
Nuidara = take off
Iidesuka = can I
2. "Nimotsu Onegai Dekimasuka?"
= "Could you please carry my luggage?"
Nimotsu = luggage
Onegai = please
Dekimasuka = can you do (take care)
* Words order and choice would sound strange, but trust me, this is really polite way to ask your luggage to be taken care of.
If you want to carry by yourself, just make sure not to damage delicate floor with heavy suitcases.
3. "Arigatou gozaimasu" = "Thank you very much"
"Arigatou" = "Thanks"
4. "Itadaki masu" = "I gratefully receive"
5. "Gochisou sama deshita" = "Thank you for the feast"
* Both 4 and 5 are often used when the chef or staff, friends who cooked your dish is nearby. You will notice people at dining hall, cafeteria, or any shared eating space don't say.
This happens because Japanese tend to avoid get embarrassed.
Well, who doesn't? Many Japanese over react nowadays.
When I was a kid, my parents were very strict with manners, especially outside the house.
It is nothing wrong to show your gratitude to anybody in any way, no matter where you are. Just don't say it too loud, though.
Thanks for reading.
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