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Traditional Japanese ryokan room with tatami mats and shoji screens
View of high-rise hotel buildings through a window in Shinjuku

Ryokan vs Hotel in Japan

Both are the right answer — just for different nights of your trip. Here's how to know which is which.

Photo: Unsplash

Most first-time visitors don't choose one for the whole trip — they mix both. A hotel makes sense as a base in Tokyo or Osaka, where you want convenience and don't plan to spend much time in the room. A ryokan makes sense for a night or two in a hot spring town, or anywhere you want the stay itself to be part of the experience. The comparison below is about knowing which nights are which.

Side by Side

RyokanHotel
Typical cost¥50,000–¥200,000+/night, often per person and including meals¥8,000–¥150,000/night, room only
The bedFuton laid on tatami mat flooring, set up by staff each eveningWestern bed, set and made in advance
The bathroomOften a shared or communal onsen; some suites have private in-room bathsPrivate en-suite bathroom as standard
DinnerMulti-course kaiseki meal usually included, served at a fixed timeNot included — you choose where and when to eat
Service stylePersonal, attentive omotenashi — staff may enter your room to serve tea or set up the futonStandard hotel service — more privacy, less ceremony
Ease for non-Japanese speakersVaries — some rural ryokan have limited English; check "foreigner-friendly" notes before bookingGenerally straightforward, especially international chains
Best forA cultural experience, honeymoons, hot spring towns, slowing down for a night or twoConvenience, city bases, flexibility, business trips

A Few to Start With

Ryokan picks

Hotel picks

If You Book a Ryokan, Know This First

Five small things that make the difference between feeling like a guest and feeling like a tourist.

Remove your shoes at the entrance

The genkan (entrance foyer) has a step. Remove your outdoor shoes before stepping up. You'll be given slippers for inside.

Yukata etiquette

The yukata (cotton robe) is for wearing around the ryokan, not outside. Left side over right — the opposite way is for the deceased.

Onsen rules

Wash thoroughly at the shower station before entering the hot spring bath. No swimwear in traditional onsen. Many don't admit guests with visible tattoos — check before booking.

Futon setup

Your room typically arrives as a sitting room; staff will lay the futon while you're at dinner. Don't move the low table — it signals where the futon goes.

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