Minshuku are Japanese style inns which are generally family run businesses. Visitors staying at minshuku get the chance of meeting a Japanese family and experience their ways of living. The rules for staying at minshuku are much similar to that of the ryokan. The guest is supposed to take off his shoes while entering these inns. The host of the Japanese house keeps a slipper ready for the visitor which he wears while stepping onto the tatami mattress, spread on the floor.
There are two types of toilets found here, Japanese style and Western style. The bathroom in a minshuku consists of two rooms. The room at the entrance is provided with a sink where you can undress yourself while the proper bathroom is fitted with a bath tub and shower. In minshuku , the lavatory is totally separated from the bathroom. In recent times, western style toilets have increased a lot in tourist locales, in Japan. Apart from taking a bath in the bathroom, the Japanese people consider it to be there relaxation.
The Japanese people have the habit of sitting upright on the tatami mattresses, spread on the floor. Meals are generally served to the visitors on a low table on the tatami floor, set with cushions. The breakfast served in these inns include rice and miso soup which are a unique feature of minshuku. These inns are known for their different types of dishes and local specialties like onigiri, sashimi, sushi. The other delicacies include seafood, noodle, yoshoku dishes and many more. The tea service is a special feature at the minshuku's.
The guests sleep on the futon on the tatami floor, just like in ryokan. The conventional Japanese style bed, futon is spread out on the floor during night. The rates for minshuku's vary in between 5,000 to 9,000 per person, per night.
