Japan offers a wide variety of places to stay, ranging from traditional inns to ultra-modern hotels. For those looking for a cultural experience, ryokan provide a Japanese-style stay with tatami mats and futons, along with local classic cuisine, while minshuku offer a more home-like experience with home-cooked meals. Western-style options such as city hotels and business hotels are available throughout the country and offer familiar amenities, often at reasonable prices. Unique experiences can also be found in capsule hotels, temple stays known as shukubo, and countryside pensions. Each type offers a different perspective on Japanese hospitality.
Tipping is not a part of Japanese culture and is generally unnecessary, even at high-end hotels. In fact, offering a tip might lead to confusion or polite refusal. Instead of tipping, a sincere thank you, such as “Arigatou gozaimasu,” is the best way to show appreciation. Japanese service is typically attentive and respectful, regardless of gratuity.
When you arrive at the reception desk, a polite way to ask for check-in is “Check-in onegaishimasu.” This phrase communicates your intention clearly and respectfully. The word “onegaishimasu” is a common expression used when making a request and fits well in hotel settings. You can also use this structure to request other services by replacing the noun. For example, say “タクシーおねがいします (takushi onegaishimasu)” to request a taxi or "かぎ おねがいします (kagi onegai shimasu)" to ask for your key.
During your stay, you may need to make simple requests. In such cases, you can use the same phrase pattern as “Check-in onegaishimasu.” For example: 「ルームサービス おねがいします」 (Rūmu sābisu onegaishimasu) – “Room service, please.” / 「ランドリー おねがいします」 (Randorī onegaishimasu) – “Laundry, please.”
Hotel staff may respond with phrases like “Shoushou omachi kudasai,” meaning “Please wait a moment,” or “Kashikomarimashita,” meaning “Certainly.” You may also hear “Onamae o oukagai shimasu,” which means “May I have your name?” These polite expressions are part of Japan’s formal customer service language and help make interactions smooth and respectful.
If something in your room isn’t working, you can say “Wi-Fi ga tsukaemasen,” which means “I can’t use the Wi-Fi.” This sentence uses the potential negative form of the verb “tsukaimasu,” meaning “to use.” You can replace “Wi-Fi” with any item, such as “shawa” (shower), “terevi” (TV), or “kinko” (safe), to report other issues.
In case of specific problems, you can use phrases such as “Doraiya ga kowareteimasu,” which means “The hair dryer is broken,” or “Heya ga samui desu,” meaning “The room is cold.” These expressions help clearly communicate the issue to the hotel staff. If you accidentally left something behind, you can say “Heya ni sumaho o wasuremashita,” which means “I left my smartphone in the room.”
It’s common in Japan to remove shoes before entering certain accommodations, especially in traditional lodgings like ryokan. This custom comes from practical reasons such as cleanliness, climate, and cultural habits. Floors may be covered with tatami or polished wood, and guests are expected to either walk barefoot or use provided slippers indoors.
If you lose something during your stay, you can say “Kagi o nakushimashita,” meaning “I lost the key.” If you forget an item, use “wasuremashita” instead. These simple but important verbs allow you to deal with common travel situations confidently.
When you’re ready to leave, the phrase “Check-out onegaishimasu” is used to request checkout politely. If staff ask, “Oshiharai wa dou nasaimasu ka,” they are asking how you would like to pay. You can reply with “Kaado de onegaishimasu” if you prefer to use a credit card. These interactions are common and straightforward once you learn the basic phrases.
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Japanese language educator with over 15 years of experience in higher education and curriculum development. She currently teaches at Knox College and advises language learning initiatives such as gokigen japanese. She has held teaching roles at institutions including Valdosta State University, and has a strong background in cultural programming, instructional design, and Japanese language education. Education: M.A. in Japanese (Pedagogy), Florida State University. Certification: Passed Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test. Completed the 420-hour Japanese Language Teacher Training Course.
