It’s no secret that Japan is one of my absolute favorite countries. The two weeks Rob and I spent there was just magical. Apart from the typical mysteries of Japanese traditions and beauty of the cherry blossom buds, the Japanese-style rooms, or washitsu, added to the uniqueness of the country.
During our 5-city tour, Rob and I stayed in hostels. Many of the hostels gave guests a choice to stay in a western-style room or in a Japanese-style room. Of course, Rob and I went for the full experience as often as we could.
The first door you enter to your room is just a formality for the lock and key. Once you’re through that initial door, you enter a small space where you leave your shoes before sliding open the paper screen into the main room.
The room is essentially bare with tatami (wood chip boards) mats for flooring. The mats have a very slight given rather than being hard like our wood floors.
All the furniture, really just a low tea table, can be moved to wherever you might need it. So you can have tea, or some sake, and then move the table to the side for bed.
One of our hostels even had a TV stand with a few channels of nothing but silly dating game shows. After a few sips of sake, they became extremely entertaining.
When you’re ready for bed, you have unroll your futon bedding from the closet where it is folded neatly away. Different hostels had different amounts and fluffiness to their futons, meaning some were much more comfortable than others.
Pile up the futons, throw on the blankets, and fluff the flat pillows right on top of the tatami mats.
With all the camping Rob and I have done, sleeping on these thin futons wasn’t a struggle for us. That being said, once morning came, I was ready to get up and stretch out rather than stay in bed longer.
Once you’re up, roll and fold the bedding back up, tuck it into the closet, and set your table in place for your morning tea!
What I loved most about the washitsu rooms was their minimalistic nature. Nothing more than what you need used in a completely functional way!
RQ: Would you like to try a traditional Japanese style room and bed?
I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
Love this travel log! What a wonderful adventure. You have made me want to visit Japan, for sure.
You and Dad have to try and get over there. It’s such a wonderful country!
That sounds so cool. Hey, Japanese game shows are the best hahah!
I would love to try a traditional Japanese room!
They are really fun! I love the simplicity of them.