The place where we spend the most time while traveling is not the local tourist spots or restaurants but the hotel where we stay.
One of the charms of traveling abroad is the opportunity to experience things that are not possible in our daily lives, such as beautiful buildings and scenery that can only be seen at the destination and local cuisine that can only be tasted there.
However, whether it’s an individual trip or a package tour, we often don’t pay much attention to the hotel where we rest, as we are often captivated by local tourist spots and delicious food.
In this article, we will focus on hotels, where we spend the most time during overseas trips, and introduce the differences between hotels in Japan and the United States.
Ensuring a Comfortable Stay in Washington, D.C.: Differences Between Hotels in Japan and the United States in Terms of Services
When traveling abroad, not only in the United States but also in other countries, many Japanese people are impressed by the high quality of service in Japan.
Japan is known as a service-oriented country worldwide, and in most cases, we can receive high-quality service without paying additional charges.
However, in the United States, services are considered as part of the product, and even services that we consider normal in Japan often come with additional fees.
This is especially noticeable in hotels classified as Luxury Hotels, where room grades are more detailed than in Japanese hotels, and additional charges are common for facilities such as Wi-Fi and refrigerators.
Moreover, tipping, which is essential in hotels, is different from Japanese hotels. In America, it is customary to tip everyone involved from check-in to check-out, which is unlike Japanese hotels.
When traveling to the United States, including Washington D.C., tipp...
Differences Between Hotels in Japan and the United States in Terms of Amenities
When staying in a Japanese hotel, they usually provide amenities such as toothbrushes and razors, so you don’t have to worry about them and can simply bring your clothes.
However, in American hotels, commonly referred to as “hygiene items,” these amenities are not provided.
This difference is due to the different perspectives on hygiene items, where Japan considers them as part of the service, while America considers directly touching hygiene items as an extension of the customer’s body.
Therefore, the American hotel’s perspective is that “the management of hygiene items is the responsibility of the customer.”
Breakfast, Which Adds Color to Hotel Stays, Shows the Most Obvious Differences Between Hotels in Japan and the United States
One of the pleasures of staying in a hotel is undoubtedly breakfast, regardless of whether it is an individual trip or a package tour.
The format of breakfast varies depending on the hotel, but both in Japan and America, it can generally be divided into two types: buffet-style and order-style.
When staying in a Japanese hotel, they usually offer Japanese cuisine regardless of the format, but in American hotels, except for some Japanese hotels, Japanese cuisine is not available.
As a result, most Japanese travelers inevitably end up eating Western cuisine, and this is where a significant difference between Japan and America lies, which is an important point to keep in mind.
Breakfast at Hotels: Continental or American
When you think of hotel breakfast, you might imagine bread, scrambled eggs or omelets, and grilled meat dishes such as ham or bacon.
When staying in a Japanese hotel, you can order Western-style breakfast, and even in buffet-style, you can freely choose and eat them.
However, in American hotels, these cooked dishes are called American Breakfast, and you may need to pay an additional fee for them.
Especially when booking a breakfast-inclusive plan, it often turns out to be a Continental Breakfast plan, so be sure to check the description carefully in advance.
Continental Breakfast refers to a breakfast style originating from the European continent, which consists mainly of non-cooked dishes such as bagels, Danish pastries, cereals, yogurt, and a fruit assortment. It is characterized by having less volume compared to American Breakfast.
Originally, in Europe, the culture of enjoying lunch or afternoon tea flourished more than breakfast, which led to naturally having a smaller breakfast volume.
To Japanese people, having a smaller breakfast volume may be dissatisfying, but this is a good opportunity to experience Western culture by “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” So, I recommend savoring the Continental Breakfast.
Embarking on a new adventure in a foreign country is an exciting pro...
To Avoid Accidental Mistakes and Be Prepared, Understand the Differences Between Japan and the United States in Advance
The United States is one of the most familiar foreign countries for Japanese people, and as a result, we tend to approach it with a mindset similar to an extension of Japan. However, due to lack of knowledge, we may unintentionally make others feel uncomfortable without realizing it.
Especially since hotels are the place where we spend the longest time during a trip, a careless mistake can not only ruin the entire trip but also leave a negative impression on other Japanese travelers who come after us.
To avoid this, it is important to have a solid understanding of the differences between Japanese and American hotels before setting off on a trip.
