What to Wear in a Ryokan (Without Feeling Awkward)

Wondering what to wear in a ryokan? This guide covers yukata, slippers, onsen rules, and packing tips so you know exactly what to bring.

Staying in a ryokan is one of the best parts of a Japan trip, but a lot of people get stuck on one simple question: what do you actually wear? Do you bring pajamas, stick with street clothes, or just use what the ryokan offers?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything, from the yukata to what goes underneath, to how you dress for dinner or the onsen. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to pack and what to expect.

What clothing does a ryokan provide?

Here’s the part most people don’t realize at first. You really don’t need to pack much.

Almost every ryokan provides a yukata, a lightweight cotton robe that becomes your go-to outfit for the entire stay. You’ll usually change into it soon after check-in and stay in it through dinner, around the ryokan, and often even to sleep.

Along with it, you’ll typically find:

• An obi sash to tie it closed
• Slippers for walking around indoors
• Towels and a small tenugui cloth for the onsen

In colder seasons, most ryokans also provide a tanzen, which is a padded outer robe you layer over your yukata. Some places offer a shorter haori jacket instead, but the idea is the same. You stay warm without needing your own clothes.

Some ryokans also include tabi socks (the split-toe kind), which are surprisingly comfortable and work perfectly with slippers.

Once you’re in, you’ll notice how little you actually need. The whole experience is designed to feel easy and taken care of.

How to wear a yukata correctly

There’s really only one rule you need to remember here: left side over right, always.

The right panel wraps against your body first. Then the left panel goes over the top of it. If you do it the other way around, that’s how yukata are worn at funerals in Japan.

Here’s how I usually put it on:

1. Slip the yukata on like an open robe
2. Wrap the right side in first, then the left over it
3. Tie the obi sash around your waist (women usually wear it higher, men lower)
4. Adjust the collar so it sits neatly at the neck

If the length feels off, tuck a fold of fabric at the waist before you tie the sash. And if the size isn’t right for you, just ask at check-in. Ryokans always keep different sizes on hand.

What to wear under a yukata

Most people keep it really simple.

Regular underwear is completely fine. That’s all you really need. If you want a bit more comfort, a light cotton T-shirt or camisole works well too.

I usually add a camisole. It just feels softer, especially if I’m wearing the yukata for the whole evening.

In summer, less is better. The fabric is designed to breathe, so adding too many layers just makes it feel heavy.

In colder places though, it’s worth thinking ahead. If you’re heading somewhere like Hakone or Kurokawa Onsen in winter, I always bring a thin thermal layer. You’ll notice the difference when you’re walking between baths at night.

For your feet, plain socks are fine. If your ryokan provides tabi socks, try them. They fit perfectly with slippers and feel like a small but memorable part of the experience.

Can you wear a yukata to dinner and breakfast?

Yes! Please do.

At most ryokans, the yukata isn’t just something you wear in your room. It’s what you wear to dinner, to breakfast, and around the property. You don’t need to change into anything else.

Dinner is usually a kaiseki meal, a multi-course experience that’s carefully prepared and beautifully presented. You’ll either have it served in your room or in a private dining space.

The first time I did this, I thought I should probably change into something nicer. But when I arrived and saw everyone else in yukata, it made sense. This is the appropriate way to dress here.

Breakfast is the same. You show up in your yukata, sit down at a low table, and ease into the morning slowly.

If you’re staying somewhere like Kinosaki Onsen, you’ll notice this extends beyond the ryokan too. In the evening, guests head out in yukata to visit different bathhouses around town.

What to wear walking around an onsen town

This is easily one of my favorite parts of staying in a ryokan.

In onsen towns like Kinosaki Onsen, Gero Onsen, or Yudanaka Onsen, evenings are built around slow walks between baths.

You change into your yukata, slip on your sandals, and head out. You’ll hear wooden geta on stone paths, see lanterns lighting the streets, and pass other guests doing the same quiet loop between bathhouses.

Your ryokan will usually provide geta (wooden sandals) or zori (flat sandals) for outside. Just check at check-in, because not every place includes them automatically.

One thing I learned quickly: take shorter steps. Yukata naturally limit your stride, and walking in wooden sandals takes a bit of getting used to.

Check out our guide to Japan’s best onsen towns if you’re still deciding where to go.

What to wear to the onsen

Nothing. That’s it. That’s the rule.

No swimsuits, no shorts, no anything. Onsen bathing in Japan is done completely nude.

I know this is the part that makes most people hesitate. It did for me too. But once you’re actually there, it feels much more natural than you expect. Everyone is focused on relaxing, not looking around.

Before you get into the bath, take your time at the shower stations. Sit down, rinse off thoroughly, and wash properly. This step matters more than anything else.

If you’re feeling unsure about going into a public bath, you’re not alone. A lot of first-timers feel the same way.

I’d look for a ryokan with a private onsen. Some have reservable baths you can use on your own, while others include an open-air bath right in your room. A few places that do this really well are Yoshiike Ryokan (Hakone), Konansou (Kawaguchiko), and Yamamizuki (Kurokawa Onsen).

The first time I stayed somewhere with a private onsen, it completely changed the experience for me.

If that sounds more like your kind of stay, it’s worth booking early. Rooms with private onsen tend to be the first to go, especially during the cherry blossom and autumn seasons.

What NOT to bring to a ryokan?

Overpacking is probably the most common mistake. Here’s what I always skip:

• Pajamas. You won’t need them. The yukata is designed to be worn all evening and to sleep in. Most people end up preferring it.
• A heavy bathrobe. The ryokan handles everything for the bath and the room. A bulky robe in your bag is just dead weight.
• Strong perfume or scented products. Onsen water is sensitive to additives, and many ryokans ask guests to avoid them before bathing.
• Too many outfits. Once you’re at the ryokan, you’ll mostly stay in your yukata. Extra clothes usually go untouched.
• Fancy toiletries. Most ryokans provide really good Japanese skincare and bath products. Check the amenities list before you duplicate things you don’t need to bring.
• Formal dinner wear. Unless your ryokan specifically says otherwise, there’s no need to dress up.

Ryokan packing checklist

By now, your list should feel pretty minimal. Here’s what I actually pack:

• Underwear and socks for each day
• A thin cotton T-shirt or camisole (optional, but I like having it)
• Thermal layers for colder destinations
• One extra pair of tabi socks, just in case
• Hair ties or clips (you’ll need them for the onsen)
• A small waterproof tote for carrying things to the bath
• Simple clothes for when you’re outside the ryokan

Which ryokan should you choose?

If it’s your first time staying in a ryokan, the biggest difference isn’t what you wear. It’s how comfortable the experience feels.

Here’s how I’d think about it:

If you feel nervous about onsen etiquette
Start with a ryokan that offers a private bath. Places like Yoshiike Ryokan (Hakone) or Konansou make it really easy to enjoy the experience at your own pace.

If you want the full “walk around in yukata” experience
Stay in a proper onsen town like Kinosaki Onsen. You can move between bathhouses in your yukata, and the whole town is built around that rhythm.

If you want something quieter and more traditional
Look at places like Yamamizuki in Kurokawa Onsen. It’s slower, more secluded, and feels closer to what people imagine when they think of a classic ryokan stay.

If you’re traveling during cherry blossom season, autumn, or weekends, I’d book as early as you can. The best rooms, especially ones with private onsen, tend to go first.

Ready to find the right ryokan? Browse our hand-picked ryokan recommendations by region.