Answers to frequently asked questions regarding Japanese culture
Yes, As we are a Japanese-style accommodation, this culture is carried out at B&B Koyuki as well. Japanese households tend to separate their lives in "pure" and "unclean" areas. The touching points of these areas are kept as low as possible. For example, the interior of the apartment/house is regarded as being "pure", while the exterior is "unclean". For the subdivision to maintain, one takes off the shoes when entering an apartment/house, so that the "unclean" shoes do not touch the "pure" area.
Inside the house spaces are separated the same way, e.g. slippers are taken off when entering a tatami (straw mats) room. The same is true for the restroom, where the house slippers are exchanged with toilet slippers.
Wikipedia gives a good overview of Japanese Culture: Wikipedia - Culture of Japan