Staying at a hotel in Japan

A stay in a Japanese hotel is much like anywhere else, with a few differences that surprise first-time visitors. These are general customs; each hotel has its own rules, so check its website or ask at the front desk.

Before you book

• Check-in and check-out. Check-in is usually from 14:00 or 15:00 and check-out around 10:00–12:00. Most hotels keep your luggage before check-in and after check-out. Where the official website states the times, we show them on that hotel's page.
• Room sizes. City-centre rooms in Japan are often smaller than you may expect. Room sizes are usually given in square metres (m²).
• Accommodation tax. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and some other places charge a small accommodation tax per person per night, sometimes paid at the hotel.

Large baths (daiyokujo)

1. For hotel guests. Many Japanese hotels have a large shared bath, separate for men and women, marked 男 (men) and 女 (women). Some use natural hot spring water (onsen).
2. Wash first. Undress in the changing room, then wash your body and hair at a washing station before getting into the bath. You bathe without swimwear.
3. Keep towels out of the water. Take a small towel in with you, but do not put it in the bath.
4. Tattoos. Many Japanese baths limit or refuse people with tattoos; some allow tattoos covered with stickers the hotel provides. Where a hotel's official website states its rule, we show it on that hotel's page. If it does not, ask before you book.

In the room

• Slippers and shoes. Some rooms have tatami or a raised area (koagari) where you take off your shoes. Never walk on tatami in shoes or slippers.
• Yukata. Many hotels put a cotton robe called a yukata in the room. Wrap the left side over the right. Some hotels let you wear it to the large bath.
• Tipping. Tipping is not expected in Japan.

Words you will see

大浴場	Large shared bath (daiyokujo)
温泉	Hot spring (onsen)
露天風呂	Outdoor bath (rotenburo)
男湯 / 女湯	Men's bath / women's bath
和室	Japanese-style room with tatami (washitsu)
和洋室	Japanese-Western room, with beds and tatami
小上がり	A raised area of tatami or wood (koagari)
浴衣	Cotton robe (yukata)
フロント	Front desk

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