100 things to know before you travel in Japan

Ryokan is a Japanese traditional style hotel. The accomodation is surved with Japanese traditional life style, culture, foods, and hospitality. You can also feel a Japanese spirituality by its unique atmosphere. There are approximately 55,000 ryokan in Japan (http://www.ryokan.or.jp/index_en.html). They offer a different system from the general hotels, and therefore, it's important for you to know it: Nakai-san (Name of room waitress); In general, you and your room are taken care of by one lady called "Nakai-san". She will have responsibility to provide you a wide range of service. You can ask where you should go, what you should eat, how you can enjoy your vaction in Ryokan. There are two main service that you need to know; bedding and meal. She will ask you about these two things during your stay. For bedding, Japanese traditional style bed is called "Futon" that is a kind of mattress on the "Tatami"(see another page) floor. Futon is required to set up before going bed, and clean up after waking up. You are asked by Nakai-san when is the best time for you to prepare and take off your bedding. Usualy, it's around 8 am in the morning, and 8 pm in the evening. For the meal, you can have your breakfast and dinner at your room. You can enjoy food with a personal enviroment. She may ask you what time she can bring your meals, which are usualy 8 am in the morning after the cleaning up the bedding and 6 pm in the evening. Some people pay tip to Nakai-san for the personal services. They offer personal services to you by remind your name. When you go out and come back, they come to you and say hello to you. You need to deposit your room key when you are out, and put your key back when you come back. Don't be surprised that your shoes are lost... they keep your shoes in a shoe box, and take them to you when you go outside! Enjoy the unique Japanese services!