Quick etiquette tips and dos/don’ts for Japanese hotels

Here are quick etiquette tips and dos/don’ts for Japanese hotels:

Dos:

• Respect check-in and check-out times; punctuality is highly valued.
• Remove shoes when required, usually at the entrance or in rooms with tatami mats. Use the provided slippers indoors.
• Be mindful of noise; speak softly and avoid loud sounds as hotel walls are often thin.
• Use hotel amenities thoughtfully and avoid taking items home unless explicitly allowed.
• Express gratitude politely to hotel staff, for example by saying “Arigatou gozaimasu” (thank you).
• When staying at a ryokan, follow specific customs such as wearing yukata properly (left side over right), showering before using communal baths, and enjoying meals at a proper pace.
• Keep shared spaces tidy and quiet.
• Communicate clearly and politely with staff if you have special requests.
• Thank staff when leaving, using phrases like “Osewa ni narimashita” (thank you for taking care of me).
• Close slippers should be changed to toilet slippers when entering the restroom and changed back afterward.

Don’ts:

• Don’t wear shoes inside hotel rooms, especially on tatami mats.
• Don’t make loud noises that might disturb other guests.
• Don’t take hotel-provided items such as toiletries, towels, slippers, or yukata outside the hotel unless allowed.
• Don’t skip meals or show disrespect to the meal preparation in ryokans.
• Don’t wear swimwear in onsen (hot springs) baths; they require thorough washing beforehand.
• Don’t move furniture unnecessarily in rooms.
• Don’t tip staff; tipping is not customary in Japan.
• Don’t wear toilet slippers outside the restroom area.

Following these rules will help ensure a respectful, smooth, and memorable stay in Japanese hotels or traditional inns (ryokans) and is greatly appreciated by the staff and other guests. ^{1, 8, 10, 14}

References

• Hotel Etiquette in Japan: How to Be a Gracious Guest

• Staying in a Japanese Hotel

• Hotel Tips + Travel Essentials : r/JapanTravelTips

• What to Expect from Japan Hotels: A Guide for First-Time …

• Know Your Japanese Hotel Etiquettes

• GUIDE Understanding and Mastering Japanese Manners …

• How to Successfully Navigate Japanese Hospitality Etiquette

• Etiquette in Japan

• About Basic Etiquette, Rules, and Manners at Ryokan

• Japanese etiquette 101: Our top 10 tips [Updated]

• Five things you can do to make hotel staff happy in Japan

• GUIDE Japanese Manners Do’s and Don’ts

• Accommodation Manners - Collections

• Japanese Etiquette - Top 21 Dos and Don’ts in Japan

• The Ryokan Etiquette: How to Enjoy Traditional Japanese …

• Japan Etiquette Guide For Tourists - 15 Do’s and Don’ts …

• 31 Do’s and Don’ts in Japan: Crucial Etiquette You Need to …

• Staying at a Ryokan in Japan: Helpful Tips + Dos and Don’ts

• Planning a Trip to Japan: DOs & DON’Ts (2025)

• Japanese Etiquette Tips: Do’s and Don’ts When in Japan