The Art of the Ryokan: A First-Timer's Guide to Kyoto's Traditional Inns

<p>Nothing prepares you for a ryokan quite like arriving in a taxi, slipping off your shoes in the genkan, and being handed a cup of green tea before you've even said hello. The ritual begins immediately.</p><p>Kyoto has over 80 traditional inns, ranging from budget guesthouses to multi-generational establishments like Tawaraya, which has welcomed guests since 1704. But the etiquette is largely the same: yukata (cotton robe) for wandering the corridors; slippers only on wooden floors, bare feet on tatami; and dinner served in your room by a kimono-clad attendant who will quietly rearrange the furniture around you.</p><p>Book a room with a private rotenburo (outdoor bath) for the full experience. Most ryokan include two meals — the multi-course kaiseki dinner alone is worth the price of admission.</p>