Ryokan(旅館) is constructed from two different kanjis. Ryo (旅) means travel, whereas kan (館) means building.
The biggest difference between regular hotel and ryokan is that ryokan usually has Japanese-style architecture and facilities. Therefore, Nihon ryokan is referred to as "Japanese inn" in English. Generally, women staff (in Japanese called Nakai-san) will guide you to your room and give assistance during your stay. She will bring the food to your room, change the futon. (Detailed service depends on the inn)
There are medium to large-scale ryokan. There are ryokan owned/managed by individual or family, small-scale. If the ryokan has similar looks/architectures like regular houses and if its host has ryokan only as his side business, you can call this ryokan as Minshuku (民宿)
As part of your fun trip to Japan, I recommend you to stay at ryokan, experience Japanese culture, and hang out in the ryokan while wearing yukata! Sounds great, right?
Use sentences below when you visit Japan!
Example:
● Koko wa ryokan desu ka?
● Is this ryokan?
● Nihon no ryokan ni tomaru to yukata o kiru koto ga dekimasu ka? "If you stay in Japan of the inn, or you can wear a yukata?"
● If I stay at Japanese inn, will I have chance to wear yukata?
Do you remember them? Don’t forget to use the words when you come to Japan!
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いただきます・ごちそうさま(Itadakimasu・Gochisousama) Fun! Japan Words vol.78
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