Tatami Lifestyle, Sitting on the Floor and Are You Limber?
A Japanese ryokan, or traditional Japanese inn are usually a very enjoyable experience. All the Japanese customs and ritual regarding bathing, wearing a yukata (a light, kimono-like robe) and a multi-course dinner served right in you own room is rather exotic and you will definitely feel like you are indeed in a far off and different land.
You will spend most of your waking time in a ryokan sitting on the floor, on tatami mats. Of course there are cushions to sit on.
Are you used to sitting on the floor?
Are you comfortable sitting cross legged?
Are you limber?
This is one thing that you will want to beware of, you need good legs and joints for this! Sitting cross legged on the floor can be uncomfortable, especially for older people with stiff joints. Even many older Japanese have a hard time at a ryokan. Ryokan staff are used to this and usually have short chairs available for use while eating dinner.
Not all ryokan or rooms will have this, but there is often a small sitting room next to the window and this room usually has two western style chairs in it.
Some ryokan, especially cheaper ones serve meals in a common dining room and guests may be seated at tables with chairs or on the tatami mat floor.
When my parents came to Japan my father who has stiff joints had a rough time with ryokan. He did tough it out and enjoyed it.
How long will I be sitting on the floor?
Not as long as you might think. Even if you have never slept on a futon, ryokan usually have pretty thick futon and you can usually ask for two. So, you should be very comfortable with horizontal, when you are asleep.
Once you arrive at the ryokan you usually take a quick bath, change into a yukata, maybe go for a walk around the neighborhood and then have dinner. Dinner is probably 90 minutes or so long. This would be the most uncomfortable time when you won’t really be moving around. After dinner, you probably go back for another bath.
You have had a big meal, probably some to drink, a bath or two and are probably tired from sightseeing and traveling, so you will probably be early to bed. Also, ryokan expect you to leave early in the morning, breakfast is usually offered between 7 and 8 am.
If you have time, practice and prepare.
If at all possible, I think that you will want to have the ryokan experience. If you are not sure you are up to sitting cross legged on the floor, try it at home before your trip.
If you can enjoy a movie while sitting on the floor at home, I think that you will have no trouble at a ryokan. In preparation for your trip to Japan, start watching the news while sitting on the floor. When you can do that, try movies.
