weekly photo challenge: room
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. On first entry into the room – there is no bed. While guests are out of an evening, the house keeping will sneak in and prepare the futon on the tatami mat flooring.
This was our room in a ryokan in Hakone, Japan. Surprisingly, it was a very comfortable sleep we had!
wise monkeys abroad 
June 10, 2014 at 3:14 pm
I’ve never slept in a ryokan; but it sure looks quite comfortable. Is it?
June 10, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Yes, it was surprisingly very comfortable 🙂
June 9, 2014 at 11:18 am
I miss those rooms. But we would pile up the futons so the bed was softer. And after a while, our legs would cramp on us at the table, mostly because we’re old! 🙂 Great memories.
June 9, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Yes, we experienced cramping up when we had dinner in the restaurant that way too…. Eating 7 courses of Japanese food on the ground can get a wee bit uncomfortable. 🙂
But still an experience worth having!
June 8, 2014 at 10:20 pm
Love your take on this week’s challenge. I’ve always been a fan of traditional Japanese beds and bedrooms. They are so uncluttered and spacious…makes rooms for more sweet dreaming. And it’s so convenient to turn bedroom into another room 🙂
June 8, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Thanks Mabel! That is a very good point 🙂 How versatile using one room for two purposes!!
Clutter is never good, right?
Have you ever stayed in a ryokan?
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!!
June 8, 2014 at 10:28 pm
I also love simple, un-messy rooms as I find I think better here. Just me and my thoughts, and maybe a stuffed monkey too 😉
Never stayed in a ryokan, but that will be on my to-do list when I travel to Japan someday!
June 8, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Well, we certainly hope you get to Japan one day 🙂
June 8, 2014 at 10:09 pm
The Ryokan looks lovely! I didn’t stay in one because I was accompanying my sister on an escorted tour. I hope to return someday with hubby and ‘do’ Japan my way 🙂
June 8, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Well we hope you do get to experience a ryokan when you do Japan your way 😉
We love Japan and would love to go back again one day!!
June 8, 2014 at 3:05 am
Wonderful glimpse into a faraway world. Great entry.
June 8, 2014 at 7:04 am
Thank you 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Looking more and more forward to travel thanks to your pictures 🙂
Let’s see how we will later manage japan as my wife is Chinese and usually can only go through tour groups or some special invitations to that country.
June 7, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Sounds like we are inspiring you to travel which we are always happy to hear 🙂
We just hope that you do get a chance to do plenty of travels and go to where you wish when things change.
June 7, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Wow! I have read so much about tatami mats and japanese culture. Nice to see a real picture.
June 7, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Glad our pictures are helpful! It is a very cool experience – we highly recommend it 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 4:55 pm
It looks so serene. My sister is a teacher of Japanese language at a high school and one day we hope to travel to Japan with her. I’d like to try staying somewhere like this.
June 7, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Oh, we hope you do get to do this one day!! It is a lot of fun and is so serene. This particular place also had a bath that used hot spring water – truly incredible! 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 5:19 pm
If we do get there I will ask you where it is.
June 7, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Yikes!! Will have to look it up… Can’t quite recall!
June 7, 2014 at 6:22 pm
Don’t worry. It’s not planned for the foreseeable future.
June 7, 2014 at 4:13 pm
I never stayed in one of them! In fact I didnt even know they existed… But I would love to stay in one and have this new experience! Cool, thanks for sharing! 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 5:18 pm
Ooooh so glad you like it 🙂 If you ever get around to trying it one day, please do!!
June 7, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Im very curious to see how it is!!! Will do it as soon as I have the chance 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 12:25 pm
I’ve never stayed in one, and certainly would try it after seeing your pictures!!
June 7, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Definitely a fun experience 🙂
June 7, 2014 at 11:41 am
ahhh you’re lucky – the futons are a little thick! great pic!
June 7, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Thank you 🙂 – the futons were thick and comfy!
June 7, 2014 at 10:23 am
Are they more or less expensive than other kinds of rooms, with beds and other furniture?
June 7, 2014 at 10:32 am
They were a little more expensive than normal rooms with furniture – we like to think we were paying for the ‘experience’ 😉
June 7, 2014 at 9:45 am
Thank you for posting this!!!! This is so cool. I have always wondered about those rooms… This just confirms what I already thought— they’re totally awesome! Beautiful and simple. Love it.
June 7, 2014 at 9:49 am
You are so very welcome!! We are so pleased to hear you like our post. If you ever get to Japan, it is worth experiencing. There are the traditional robes and slippers for you to put on and walk around the hotel in as well. It is as you describe “totally awesome” 🙂
Thank you for your extremely lovely comment!
June 7, 2014 at 8:32 am
Love the simplicity of this room.
June 7, 2014 at 8:33 am
Yes – the rooms are definitely simply. Very basic yet so cosy somehow 🙂