No shoes
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DO
If you notice that there is a raised floor just inside the entrance of your ryokan, you will need to remove your shoes before stepping up.
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DO
Then turn your shoes, facing the toes out towards the door.
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DO NOT
It is bad manners to step on the lower part without your shoes.
Slippers on, slippers off
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DO
Anywhere there is tatami, you need to remove your slippers. Only bare feet, socks or stockings should be worn on tatami.
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DO
There are separate slippers that are designated for the restrooms. They can be found in the restroom entrance.
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DO NOT
Do not wear the restroom slippers outside of the restrooms.
Tatami Floors
Punctuality
To help you enjoy your time in Kinosaki to its fullest, we recommend arriving a little before your check-in time.
This will give you some more time to explore the town and see some of the sights before nightfall.
It is also a good idea if you ordered dinner with your reservation to arrive early so that you won’t miss your dinner time.
Many of the ryokans serve dinner around 6 pm.
This allows guests more time to relax and enjoy the town after dinner and before the shops close for the night.
Full bed turn down service
When you enter your room you may notice that there is no bed.
Not to worry, the beds are stored away in the room’s closet until they need to be used.
You do not need to take out the beds.
The staff will prepare your bed for you when it is time.
Free shuttle
Ryokan guests can take a free shuttle bus from the train station to the ryokan.
The shuttle bus does not have an official time schedule.
It runs in accordance with the arrivals and departures of limited express trains.
Generally the bus is available between 12:30pm and 6pm.
To take the shuttle, look for staff waiting outside the station.
They will be asking people if they are staying in Kinosaki.
Tell them the name of your ryokan and they will direct you to the bus and notify the driver where to drop you off.
If there are no staff outside the station when you arrive, cross the street to the other side and you will see the Kinosaki Onsen Ryokan Service Center.
Please inform your ryokan what time you expect to arrive at Kinosaki Onsen Station.
Luggage storage
If you arrive early and want to walk around before you check-in, you can bring your luggage to the Kinosaki Onsen Ryokan Service Center.
They can then hold onto your luggage for you or even take it to your ryokan when possible.
There may be a small fee for this service.
Onsen Pass(Yumepa)
Visitors to Kinosaki who are staying at a ryokan will be given a free onsen pass at check-in (also known as the yumepa).
The pass has a barcode and will give you free access to all seven hot springs.
Just scan at the entrance and you can use any public hot spring.
Note that your pass will only be valid until 3:30 pm on the day of your checkout.
The public hot springs have regular holidays.
Please check this schedule: ONSEN TIMES AND INFORMATION
Other
- Tipping is rarely done in Japan and is not expected. However, if you do wish to present a tip, the most polite form is to place the tip inside an envelope and hand it to the person who you think deserves it. Handing cash to a person directly is considered rude. This is also why there are money trays at registers.
- Some ryokans include dinner and breakfast with reservations. Check with the ryokan to see if the meals will be served in your room or in a common area.
Most of the rooms in the ryokan have tatami (woven straw mats).
These mats are fragile and can be easily damaged. Please do not drag your suitcase across these floors.
Please carry your luggage instead.