Not quite sure, we were just intrigued with Noto Hanto and stumbled upon the Kagaya. There were a line of these hotels along the shore and some may even be more exclusive.

Masako san said that there are very few Westerners who came to Kagaya but around a hundred Taiwanese every year. As you recall, Taiwan was ruled by Japan upto WWII.

I learned a lot of tidbits from her. Such as the belt on yukata is worn below the belly for men and below the bosom for women. So I was wearing the belt like a woman before.:)

Here's more from the Japan Ryokan Assoc.
http://www.ryokan.or.jp/english/pdf/...y_of_terms.pdf

Thanks! - that should be authoritive enough
(bolding mine)

(There have been some viscious fights over this subject on the China forum, I'm just hoping to 'contain' it here so it doesn't get out of hand)

Err thanks....

BTW - Pochi-Bukuro (spelling).

Depends what you mean by "this subject"
I know that the China forum has seen disputes about whether it is right to tip in China. But I doubt the folks there have ever been locked in a dispute about whether there is a tradition of presenting gratuities in Japanese Ryokan. Since the tradition of gratuities in ryokan is a pretty straightforward point of fact rather than an opinion, I don't know how long anyone could sustain an argument about it...

But FT is full of surprises like that, I suppose.

Which guidebooks are British?
TimeOut, Wallpaper City Guide...

rough guides

I was being lazy. I should have been more specific and said:

"none of my (bought in British bookstores or borrowed from British libraries) guidebooks encourage me to tip"

or better still

"none of the guidebooks I've consulted (bought in British bookstores or borrowed from British libraries) have encouraged me to tip"


Putting 'British' in was to point out that I am unfamiliar with certain publications that might be popular in other countries.

what about tipping movers?
 

I get that, in general, there is no tipping in Japan. However, someone also mentioned there are exceptions.

What about movers? I just relocated to Tokyo. Will I need to tip the movers who will be unloading and unpacking my furniture and household goods? In all the other countries where I've moved to/from, the movers all expect to be tipped generously. Perhaps not in Japan?

A tip is not needed or expected. HAving said that, any group of people sweating in this heat will definitely appreciate cold drinks now and then. If the volume of stuff is massive, a couple of times offering them cold drinks in individual containers they can take and drink by the truck will likely go over very well.

Mike

Quite right, and you might include some snacks too. I often buy indivdual 500ml bottles of tea and soft drinks and let them choose (what Mike has stated is also applicable to other workers that come and spend some time at your home).

An American expat in the office did exactly this - he offered no tip but cold beer to the movers. I will do the same, except I'll have a selection of non-alcoholic drinks, as well as beer at the end (wouldn't want them handling works of art in a drunken state!). Thanks!

Here is a website that does give some guidance:

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/