June 21 / Japanese Ryokan and Okami
Ryokan 旅館 (or Inn) are traditional Japanese lodging facilities available throughout the country.
Regardless of its size, Ryokan is often associated with Onsen thus naturally it's called Onsen-ryokan.
The lodging fee usually includes dinner and breakfast but of course it can also go without expensive meals.
(Beef Shabu-Shabu Dinner. More commonly Ryokan usually offer local foods, fish, vegetables)
In case of traditional Japanese Ryokan with "Tatami" (straw mat floor) rooms, guests take off their shoes at the "genkan" (interior entrance area).
Depending on Ryokan, you may find Western style rooms without Tatami floors where you do not need to take off shoes.
When you enter your room, you will find "Yukata 浴衣 ゆかた" ( casual Kimono robes ) designed to be worn in your room or within the ryokan if you feel like.
(At the Onsen bath changing room)
Some Ryokan even allow guests in Yukata dine within ryokan's inhouse restaurant. And sometimes you see people in such Yukata going out for a casual walk. It's all up to you what to wear underneath.
Japanese-style Ryokan (inns) are steeped in traditional Japanese culture. And standing at the center of a tradition of hospitality kept alive over the ages is the "Okami 女将 (おかみ)", proprietress, landlady, or mistress. Okami could be called the Ryokan version of a hotel manager. What specially characterizes a ryokan's Okami is that traditionally this position is held by a woman who is a complete professional in high quality hospitality .... and she does know how to satisfy guests ......
Here's one Onsen Okami doing her good jobs at her Ryokan .....
Regardless of its size, Ryokan is often associated with Onsen thus naturally it's called Onsen-ryokan.
The lodging fee usually includes dinner and breakfast but of course it can also go without expensive meals.
(Beef Shabu-Shabu Dinner. More commonly Ryokan usually offer local foods, fish, vegetables)
In case of traditional Japanese Ryokan with "Tatami" (straw mat floor) rooms, guests take off their shoes at the "genkan" (interior entrance area).
Depending on Ryokan, you may find Western style rooms without Tatami floors where you do not need to take off shoes.
When you enter your room, you will find "Yukata 浴衣 ゆかた" ( casual Kimono robes ) designed to be worn in your room or within the ryokan if you feel like.
(At the Onsen bath changing room)
Some Ryokan even allow guests in Yukata dine within ryokan's inhouse restaurant. And sometimes you see people in such Yukata going out for a casual walk. It's all up to you what to wear underneath.
Japanese-style Ryokan (inns) are steeped in traditional Japanese culture. And standing at the center of a tradition of hospitality kept alive over the ages is the "Okami 女将 (おかみ)", proprietress, landlady, or mistress. Okami could be called the Ryokan version of a hotel manager. What specially characterizes a ryokan's Okami is that traditionally this position is held by a woman who is a complete professional in high quality hospitality .... and she does know how to satisfy guests ......
Here's one Onsen Okami doing her good jobs at her Ryokan .....
8年前
