Ryokan
A traditional inn, and a first night on tatami that can feel unfamiliar.
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. Guests sleep on futon laid over tatami floors, wear a cotton robe called a yukata, and usually eat a set dinner and breakfast in the room or a dining room. Many ryokan have a shared or private onsen bath.
How does a ryokan stay work?
You arrive in the afternoon, remove your shoes at the entrance and are shown to your room. Dinner is served at a set time, often a multi-course kaiseki meal. While you eat, staff lay out the bedding. In the morning it is put away and breakfast follows.
Because meals are prepared in advance, the inn needs your arrival time and any dietary needs before you come. See why dinner time matters.
What should Malaysian travellers think about?
Most families have not slept on the floor before. The mattress is thin, and standing up from floor level is hard for older guests. Winter rooms can also be cooler than you expect.
Dietary needs matter too. Set menus use fish stock and sometimes mirin, so Muslim-friendly guests should raise this early, and we cannot promise a menu the inn has not confirmed.
What should you ask before booking?
Ask about beds, meal timing, bath rules and the walk from the entrance to the room. Our guide to questions to ask before booking a ryokan lists them, and ryokan or hotel with onsen helps you decide if a ryokan is right for this trip.
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