I happened to have translated an essay (from an unknown Japanese source) about manners of staying in traditional Japanese hotels and think that it may be useful to those who are new to Japanese Ryokan. The essay is like this:
 |
| Alcove |
When you arrive at a Japanese style hotel, please take away your shoes and change to slippers at the entrance. The hotel staff will then take you to the tatami matted room. Please take off your slippers before entering the room.
The rooms are not numbered, instead, they are named with auspicious flowers and plants. Inside the room, there is an alcove with flower arrangements and hanging scroll. Please do not step on the alcove or put things on it.
There is a closet in the room where bedding is stored. If you open the paper door opposite to the closet, you will find a balcony where you can enjoy the scenery of the garden. Room attendants will serve tea and sweets in the room and the manager may ask you to sign on the guest book.
After that, you may change into causal kimono and the hotel staff will lead you to the public baths. The bathrooms are separated to male and female, please make sure you enter to the right one. When you return to the room after bathing, dinner will be ready. Standard Japanese meal includes miso soup, various pickles, appetizer and fish.
It may be a good idea to have a walk in the garden after dinner. During this time, room attendants will clean up the dinner table and set the futon for you. They will come again in the morning to put away the futon before breakfast. Breakfast includes pickles, seaweed, egg, dried fish, miso soup and rice.
 |
| Example of Ryokan breakfast |
Overseas travellers may find that the manners of Japanese style hotel are complicated at their first stay. However, once they get used to them, it will be an enjoyable experience.
沒有留言:
發佈留言