Ryokan are traditional Japanese inns. They are often made of traditional materials: wood, bamboo and rice paper. Others use more modern materials while retaining the Japanese aesthetic.
The rooms are Japanese-style
(washitsu), with sliding partitions
(fusuma and shoji), a coffee table
(kotatsu) in the middle of the room and
a decorative alcove
(tokonoma) displaying hanging scrolls
(kakemono) or a floral arrangement
(ikebana).
The floor is generally covered with tatami mats made of rice straw, and
guests sleep on a futon unrolled before bedtime by the chambermaids.
Ryokan also have hot baths. The water sometimes comes from thermal springs located beneath the ryokan: this is known as an onsen. The baths are shared, with some periods reserved for women and others for men.