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Japanese Hotels - October 2008
Like anywhere around the world, Japan offers a variety of accommodation – from traditional Japanese style inns to modern capsule hotels, Japan certainly has some unique types of hotels. This month Tracey will explore some of the more unusual hotels that Japan has to offer.
I have always found Japanese culture, customs and traditions (geisha girls, samurai, tea ceremonies, kabuki theatre and such) intriguing, so on my travels the desire to experience elements of Japanese culture was high on my priority list
I found that experiencing some of this culture and tradition in Japan didn’t necessitate lining up at tacky tourist attractions –all you had to do was choose your accommodation wisely and it was possible to immerse yourself into Japanese culture.
My first port of call was a stay at a ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional inn, typically featuring Japanese-style rooms with tatami flooring and communal baths.
At ryokans, guests sleep on futon on the tatami floor, which are rolled up and stored in cupboards during the day. Meals are normally included at a ryokan and are a great way to experience traditional Japanese food. (Fish & rice is a typical breakfast, and although delicious can be a bit hard to take early in the morning).
There are some Japanese rules and etiquette that should be considered when staying at a ryokan. There are set meal times and often a curfew that must be observed if you don’t want to be locked out. Ryokan owners typically don’t speak much english, with the exception of a few basic words. In my case, I could speak Japanese so had no problems communicating, but it can be amusing to watch ryokan owners struggle to communicate with the more linguistically challenged. In one such instance, I remember the inn-keeper chasing my non-Japanese speaking husband down the hallway clutching a pair of slippers that they were trying to insist that he wear. Now, it is a Japanese tradition to always remove one’s shoes when entering a house and put on a pair of slippers. This is something that we were both well aware of – the only problem was the slippers in question were about half his size with no chance of squeezing much more than half a foot in. Regardless, the wearing of slippers was a rule, and so this charade was carried out each time we returned to the ryokan.
At ryokans, guests sleep on futon on the tatami floor, which are rolled up and stored in cupboards during the day. Meals are normally included at a ryokan and are a great way to experience traditional Japanese food. (Fish & rice is a typical breakfast, and although delicious can be a bit hard to take early in the morning).
There are some Japanese rules and etiquette that should be considered when staying at a ryokan. There are set meal times and often a curfew that must be observed if you don’t want to be locked out. Ryokan owners typically don’t speak much english, with the exception of a few basic words. In my case, I could speak Japanese so had no problems communicating, but it can be amusing to watch ryokan owners struggle to communicate with the more linguistically challenged. In one such instance, I remember the inn-keeper chasing my non-Japanese speaking husband down the hallway clutching a pair of slippers that they were trying to insist that he wear. Now, it is a Japanese tradition to always remove one’s shoes when entering a house and put on a pair of slippers. This is something that we were both well aware of – the only problem was the slippers in question were about half his size with no chance of squeezing much more than half a foot in. Regardless, the wearing of slippers was a rule, and so this charade was carried out each time we returned to the ryokan.
Taking a bath at a ryokan also involves a few rules. The most important thing to remember is a Japanese bath is for relaxing, not for getting clean. You must fully wash yourself before entering the bath as the bath water is not changed for each person in a communal bath.
There are some 55,000 ryokans in Japan, with most of them located in country/scenic areas rather than big cities (with one exception being Kyoto). My experience was at a ryokan in Hiroshima, and with its beautiful castle-like architecture and traditional gardens, it certainly embodied the spirit of Japan.
There are some 55,000 ryokans in Japan, with most of them located in country/scenic areas rather than big cities (with one exception being Kyoto). My experience was at a ryokan in Hiroshima, and with its beautiful castle-like architecture and traditional gardens, it certainly embodied the spirit of Japan.
Moving on from the traditional, to the ultra-modern, Capsule Hotels are one of Japan’s innovative answers to the shortage of space within its overcrowded cities.
Capsule Hotels are one of the most unique type’s of accommodation in the world. Typically, the room is a capsule unit made of reinforced plastic with capsules stacked on top of each other. Facilities inside the capsule unit range from televisions, radios, alarm clocks and lighting. They are normally targeted towards busy businessmen, but are a unique experience for any traveller, (unless of course you are claustrophobic!)
Capsule Hotels are one of the most unique type’s of accommodation in the world. Typically, the room is a capsule unit made of reinforced plastic with capsules stacked on top of each other. Facilities inside the capsule unit range from televisions, radios, alarm clocks and lighting. They are normally targeted towards busy businessmen, but are a unique experience for any traveller, (unless of course you are claustrophobic!)
Love Hotels, easily identified by their neon lighting and interesting design, are hotels that offer rooms for short periods of time. Although hotels that rent rooms by the hour can be found worldwide, Japanese Love Hotels are well worth a look at. There is usually no public foyer or visible reception as they are designed so guests can remain anonymous. The interesting thing about Japanese Love Hotels is the themed rooms, often elaborately decorated and designed to be selected from a panel of buttons at the entrance of the hotel. You can choose rooms themed on anything and everything, from movies or cartoon characters to the not so wholesome kind of themes. Rotating beds, PlayStations, karaoke machines, and spa baths are some of the facilities that can be selected with the room.
Temple accommodation or Shukubo is another accommodation option in Japan. Shukubo are usually located within a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine. The experience is fairly similar to a ryokan, but the food is vegetarian and it is possible to participate in activities such as Zen meditation. They provide a great opportunity to observe a Buddhist or Shinto ceremony.
Each of these accommodation forms reflects an acute understanding of the particular needs and purposes of their markets, whether it be those looking for a traditional cultural experience or those looking for an anonymous pay-by-the-hour Fred and Wilma Flintstone “cultural’ experience. Identifying an accommodation market and delivering a model that uniquely suits that market have been the keys to the successes and high profile that these quintessentially Japanese hotel forms enjoy.
All of these unconventional hotels are well worth checking out, with an abundance of culture and magical atmospheres waiting to be discovered!
~ Tracey Fletcher
