Stays & baths
Shoes off & ryokan
Shoes come off before you step onto a raised floor. The step itself is your signal — and in a ryokan a few more small customs follow.
Photo: Fg2 / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Where shoes come off
- Homes, ryokan and many guesthouses.
- Restaurants with tatami rooms, some clinics and old-style shops.
- Temple halls and castle interiors.
- Fitting rooms in clothes shops.
Common mistakes
- Missing the signs: a step up, shoe lockers or a row of slippers all mean shoes off.
At the entrance (genkan)
Step by step
Take your shoes off at the lower floor, before the step.
Step up in socks — don't put your shoes on the raised floor.
Turn your shoes to face the door, or put them in the locker.
Common mistakes
- Stepping on the raised floor with one shoe still on.
- Leaving shoes in the middle of the entrance where others walk.
Slippers
Step by step
Slip on the house slippers for corridors.
Take them off before stepping onto tatami — walk on it in socks or bare feet.
Toilets often have their own slippers. Wear them only inside the toilet and swap back when you leave.
Common mistakes
- Walking back into the room still wearing the toilet slippers.
In a ryokan
Step by step
Wear the yukata left side over right — right over left is for the dead.
Staff may lay out your futon while you're at dinner.
Meals are often at a set time. Tell the front desk if you'll be late.
Common mistakes
- Wrapping the yukata right over left.
On HAKOBUNE Spot
Ryokan, machiya and guesthouses that welcome visitors, with house rules written out.
Sources
Sources (checked 2026-11-04). Facts, numbers and prices on this page come from these official pages.
- Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)Japanese Customs and Etiquette (Responsible Travel Guide)(opens in a new tab)JNTO: Japanese customs and etiquette for responsible travel
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