Staying at a Ryokan: What to Expect at a Traditional Japanese Inn

A night in a ryokan — a traditional Japanese inn — is one of the most memorable experiences of any trip. It's about hospitality, seasonal food, and slowing down. Here's how a typical stay unfolds.

Arriving

• You'll usually remove your shoes at the entrance and change into slippers.
• Staff show you to a tatami-mat room, often with a low table and floor cushions.
• You may be served a welcome tea and sweet as you settle in.

The room & yukata

• Rooms are traditionally furnished; you sit on cushions and sleep on futon bedding laid out on the tatami.
• A yukata (light cotton robe) is provided — you can wear it around the inn, to dinner, and to the baths. Wrap the left side over the right, and tie the sash.
• Futon are often laid out by staff while you're at dinner, and put away in the morning.

Meals: a highlight

• Many ryokan include dinner and breakfast, often multi-course meals showcasing local, seasonal ingredients (kaiseki-style).
• Dinner may be served in your room or in a dining area, depending on the inn.
• If you have dietary needs or allergies, tell the ryokan in advance — meals are often set menus prepared ahead.

The bath (onsen)

• Many ryokan have communal baths, sometimes fed by natural hot springs (onsen). Some offer private baths (kashikiri) you can reserve.
• Follow onsen etiquette: wash before entering, no swimsuits, keep your towel out of the water.
• It's common to bathe in the evening and again before breakfast.

Rhythm of a stay

A classic ryokan evening: arrive and relax with tea, take a bath, enjoy a leisurely dinner, sleep on a comfy futon, wake to another bath and a beautiful breakfast. It's a gentle, restorative ritual.

Good to know

• Check-in and check-out times can be earlier/less flexible than hotels — confirm when booking.
• Many ryokan are cash-friendly, though cards are widely accepted; check in advance.
• Tattoos may be restricted at communal baths — ask about private-bath options if needed.
• No tipping is expected.

Book a ryokan for at least one night of your trip — it turns a place to sleep into an experience you'll always remember.