A ryokan (旅館) is a traditional Japanese inn.
Staying in a ryokan is an experience that is very elemental. The materials found inside are few: wood, glass, and the straw of the tatami (traditional mats used for flooring).
The simple rooms are a changing environment used for working, eating, and sleeping with the staff making adjustments to the configuration at the appropriate time for each. During winter the ryokan is particularly cozy when the futon is brought out at bed time.
