Bathing and staying overnight

Bathing at home: washing, soaking and the room around them

Staying at a ryokan: rooms, meals and baths

Futon: bedding that can leave the floor clear

A Japanese futon can be the mattress underneath the sleeper or the quilt above. Used with a pillow and covers, foldable bedding can be put away so a room serves other purposes during the day.

Onsen water: groundwater, heat and use

Onsen water is an underground resource shaped by water sources, heat, flow paths and dissolved constituents. Japanese classification uses source temperature or specified composition. Water at the source and water treated for a bath describe different stages.

Shoes at the genkan: crossing into the house

A genkan is an entrance transition in a Japanese home. Commonly, outdoor shoes are removed on the lower floor before stepping onto the raised interior. The step, indoor footwear and detailed rules vary between homes and other places.

Snow country: weather, streets and everyday life