Property Types: Apartments | Ryokan

Apartments
Apartment-style accommodation offers a flexible alternative to hotels. Apartments will typically have their own kitchen or kitchenette enabling guests to cook whatever and whenever they want. Typically apartments will have a living area allowing guests to have space to relax and depending on the selection more than one bedroom, something rarely available in hotel rooms. This type of self-catering accommodation is available in a wide range of destinations, from convenient city-centre locations to waterfront resort-style accommodation.

Apartments offer incredible value for money and are available in many sizes. As the majority of hotels cannot provide interconnecting or quad rooms apartments become an ideal alternative for parties of 3 and more people and are especially suited for friends, couples or families wishing to stay together. With units ranging from studios through to 5-bedroomed apartments, all properties are fully furnished and many are offered with maid service, linen and towels. It is common that fully equipped kitchens are provided complete with cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. Some units are also able to offer a washing machine, and/or tumble dryer. Pets are welcome at a variety of properties.
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Ryokan
A typical ryokan is an old-fashioned Japanese-style inn and is an excellent way to really enjoy traditional Japanese customs and foods. A night at a ryokan is to relax, rest, enjoy the local cuisine and experience bathing in a natural setting, often in healing mineral waters. The buildings are usually a more traditional style and often have beautiful gardens or views of the surrounding area. The emphasis is on maintaining the special, traditional atmosphere rather than providing all the latest modern conveniences for the guests. An experience not to be missed in Japan!

How to get there?
Ryokans are usually in rural areas and are most popular at hot spring resorts. Although a car is handy to explore, the ryokan staff will usually come and pick guests up from the nearest station if the guests call to let the ryokan know that they have arrived. Similarly, a lift is usually provided back to the nearest station after your stay.
Check our individual ryokan information to see if this service is offered.

Ryokan Customs

• Once guests arrive, shoes are removed either when entering the ryokan or your room and slippers are provided for use inside. For a short stroll outside, guests can also use the ryokan wooden clogs (geta) provided instead of shoes.
• Slippers are not used in your room on the straw mats (tatami). Step on the tatami with bare feet or socks only.
• Ryokan rooms are simply decorated in traditional Japanese style with features such as a low wooden table, legless chairs or flat cushions (zabuton), a sitting area near the window, and decorative features such as a flower arrangement or Japanese wall hanging. By night, the table will be moved away and your quilts (futons) will be laid out on the floor for sleeping. By day, the futons will be put away in large wardrobes in your room. There are no beds in a typical Japanese style room.
• Many of the traditional ryokans will have Japanese staff wearing kimonos. These personalized maid staff will be assigned to each room, and they will bring you refreshments on arrival, may cook and serve your meals in your room, and organize your bedding.
• You too, can try a Japanese style cotton “yukata” garment, which will be provided in your room. Guests usually change into this once they have experienced the hot spring baths and it helps to unwind. It can be worn in your room, around the ryokan and for short walks outside the ryokan.
• Meals may be served in your room or taken with other guests in the communal dining area.

How to use the bath
At most ryokans there is a bathroom in each room with a bathtub, but should you wish to relax you may use the large communal baths. The most important thing to remember when using them is that a Japanese bath is for relaxing, not for getting clean.
Just remember these simple points and you can’t go wrong!

• A good time to take a bath is before dinner and each ryokan will usually have a large communal hot spring baths, which can be inside, outside, or both.
• Most ryokans have separate bathing areas for men and women.
• Once you enter the bathing area, use the baskets or lockers to leave your clothes in. Take your yukata with you if you would like to change into it after your bath.
• A hand towel will be provided – take this with you but remember not to rinse it in the baths, as others share the water. The locals often wear it on the head.
• All washing is done outside of the bath and usually shampoo and soap will be provided.
• It is customary to fill bowls with water and pour it over yourself before and after an all over body scrub.
• The water is usually very hot, although there might be several baths of varied temperatures. It is very relaxing, and you can soak as long as you like.
• You can repeat washing and dipping as many times as you like.
• Bath soaps, oils or large towels are not used in the main bath or pools.
• Do not pull the plug (if there is one) as the bath water is not changed for each bather!
• Once you have finished bathing, return back to the locker area to change – there usually are other amenities such as hair-dryers and hairbrushes provided.

Meals at the Ryokan

• Ryokan dinners specialize in fresh, seasonal produce that is prepared to be eaten almost immediately so dinner times are rarely flexible.
• The foods are traditional Japanese dishes in a set menu and there is not usually a menu for guests to choose from except for drinks.
• Meals can be served either in your room or at the dining hall depending on the ryokans
• A typical Japanese breakfast is rice, Japanese miso soup, grilled fish, and Japanese pickles. Other dishes will include local specialties, and some dishes may be served and cooked in your room for you.

Important Information!
Check-in is usually after 15h00 and checkout time will be early, around 10h00 (with no chance of late check-out like hotels).

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