Japanese Ryokans

[NYTSKY]

Im about to book my accommodation in Japan,and have chosen the Ryokans i wish to stay at while in Osaka and Tokyo.

It seems they both have shared bath facilities.This isnt really a big drama but are there special rules i need to abide by?

For example: what footware,how much you can "show".

In the photos there are shower heads on one side of the room and a BIG square bath in the middle.

Any help appreciated.

[m3gtr]

lol, mate thats a normal set up for a japanese bath. How much can you show?? get your kit off...if you aint nude, your bein rude.. Wearing a bathing suit is actually a cultural no no. You will most definitely be in seperate rooms if you are travelling with a woman. Girls and guys have their own baths.

Dont dive bomb the pool, just walk in. The towel they give you is "modesty towel" but it doesnt cover much. You keep that. remember to scrub up good before you get in the bath and rinse off completely. Soak for as long as you can stand, onsen and sento can be notoriously hot, 5 minutes is sometimes enough.

It wont be unusual to have 3 or 4 baths in one night. Make sure you have one before dinner. Itd be rude not to.

ive stayed in dozens of ryokan and they are the best way to spend a night if youre here...normal western style hotel rooms just dont cut it.

Enjoy!

[m3gtr]

oh and youl get a pair of slippers to walk around in while youre there so dont worry about footwear.

shared may in actual fact mean that there are certain times men can use the bath and certain times for women only. Its very rare these days to find an onsen with mixed bathing.

[NYTSKY]

Ive seen guys wear budgie smugglers in these baths before so i assume thats ok.As long as i still have the "modesty" towel to walk arouns in.

[akeenan]

go naked! dont be a girl!

[m3gtr]

Ive seen guys wear budgie smugglers in these baths before so i assume thats ok.As long as i still have the "modesty" towel to walk arouns in.

LOL! you dont have a modesty towel to "walk around in"! ..its just to put on your head when your in the dip!

youll get into a yukata before and after the bath and underneath it youll be free as a bird! no pun intended.

let it all hang out i say!

[Mr. Keets]

Ive seen guys wear budgie smugglers in these baths before so i assume thats ok.As long as i still have the "modesty" towel to walk arouns in.

Budgie smugglers are never o.k...except if you Borat

[sewid]

I've stayed in ryokan and western style hotels in Japan and ryokan are fine once in a while but I couldn't stand to be there for extended periods. You can get ryokan with western style attached bathrooms these days too. I've stayed in one it was pretty nice but it was way out in the sticks.

About the best part of staying in a ryokan is kaiseki ryori - the traditional multi course meals you are served which is usually included in the price.

Most of all ryokan are usually a bit more expensive that a standard hoteru so I avoid them now.

Overall my advice is to book a few nights if your curious.