A first ryokan stay is exciting but unfamiliar. What should you pack? What should you watch out for? This one guide covers it all — just follow along from booking through check-out.
Remember just three things and you're halfway there: ① confirm what meals are included, ② if you have tattoos, book a place with a private bath, ③ call ahead if you'll arrive late.
Before You Book
- Meals: Does the rate include dinner and breakfast, breakfast only, or no meals at all? The kaiseki dinner is the highlight, so this is worth double-checking.
- Party size and kids: If traveling with a young child, check the policy on sharing a bed, kids' menus, and age cutoffs. Families tend to find a private bath more convenient.
- Tattoos: If you have any, look for a private bath or an in-room outdoor bath option. (See our guide to tattoos and onsen.)
- Transportation: Check how easy it is to reach from the nearest station or airport, and whether a shuttle is offered — public transit can be spotty in some onsen towns.
- Cancellation policy: During peak season and holidays especially, check the cancellation fee schedule in advance.
What to Pack
Ryokan tend to stock the essentials well, so you'll likely need to pack less than you think.
- Usually provided: towels, a yukata, a toothbrush, shampoo, body wash, and a hair dryer. A small onsen towel is often included too.
- Worth packing: your own skincare products, any medication you take, contact lens supplies, and an extra pair of socks (for tatami floors and geta).
- Skip: heavy pajamas (the yukata covers it) and indoor slippers (the ryokan provides them).
What a Day Looks Like (Quick Version)
- 1Check in around 3 PM → welcome tea.
- 2Change into a yukata and take your first soak.
- 3Kaiseki dinner at a set time.
- 4Futon turndown → a night soak.
- 5Morning soak → breakfast → check-out between 10 and 11 AM.
Things Not to Do
- Skipping the pre-bath shower before entering the onsen — an absolute no. (See our guide to onsen bathing etiquette.)
- Dipping your towel in the bath water, or swimming, being loud, or taking photos in the bath.
- Wrapping your yukata right-over-left (the way the deceased are dressed for funerals).
- Bathing after drinking alcohol, or arriving late without notice.
Money, Payment, and Tipping
- No tipping culture: there's no need to tip your nakai-san separately.
- Payment: Ryokanear shows and charges every price in Korean won (KRW), so what you see is exactly what your card is billed, and cancellation and refund policies are clearly explained in English.
- Cash: Small shops in onsen towns don't always take cards, so it's worth carrying a bit of yen in cash.
💡 If you're nervous about your first stay, look for a room with its own outdoor bath plus dinner-and-breakfast included. You get the onsen and the meals without any pressure around communal bath etiquette — it's a safe bet every time.
That's everything. Learn a handful of unfamiliar rules, and your first ryokan stay becomes a trip you'll remember for a lifetime.
Where can you experience this?
Book directly at Japan's best onsen towns with Ryokanear.