How do you use an oshibori towel?

Unfold the towel, wipe your hands gently, and place it back on the tray or holder. In traditional Japanese restaurant etiquette the towel is for the hands, not the face, table, utensils or menu. In Japan, returning it folded is considered courteous.

Do you use an oshibori before or after eating?

Before. The oshibori is offered as a welcome and to clean the hands before the meal. Some restaurants also offer a fresh one between courses or at the end of the service.

Can you use an oshibori on your face?

In traditional Japanese restaurant etiquette, an oshibori is intended primarily for the hands, not the face, table, utensils or menu. In spas, gyms, airlines and outdoor hospitality settings, a refresh towel may also be offered for the face or neck when the host or service context makes that purpose clear, and never the same towel that touched the hands.

How do you reheat an oshibori at home?

Dampen the towel, roll it tight, and warm it for about 30 seconds in the microwave or 5 minutes in a warming drawer. Always check the temperature before serving.

Oshibori towel served on a tray at a restaurant table

A Short Guide

How to Use an Oshibori Towel

A few quiet rules. Warm or cold, hands first, returned folded.

Designed in the USA

Individually sealed for hygiene and freshness

Trusted by hotels, restaurants and private aviation

The Basics

Three steps, no more

Receive. Take the rolled towel from the tray with both hands when offered. A small bow or a thank you is the right reply.
Unfold and wipe. Open the towel and clean your hands gently. In traditional Japanese restaurant etiquette, the oshibori is intended primarily for the hands, not the face, the table, the utensils or the menu.
Return it. Refold the towel and place it back on the tray. The service team will collect it before the first course.

Temperature

Hot in winter, cold in summer

Warm oshibori

Steamed or warmed to a gentle heat. Offered in cooler months and at evening service. The warmth eases tension in the hands and signals welcome before the first word.

Chilled oshibori

Cooled and lightly scented with citrus or green tea. Offered in summer, on flights, by the pool, on yachts. A quiet refresh at exactly the right moment.

Etiquette

A few quiet rules

In a traditional Japanese restaurant, use the oshibori for your hands, not the face, table, utensils or menu.
In spas, gyms, airlines and outdoor hospitality settings, a refresh towel may also be offered for the face or neck when the host or service context makes that purpose clear.
Do not wipe the table, your cutlery or the menu with it.
Return it folded, not crumpled. It is a small mark of care.
If a fresh oshibori is offered between courses, accept it. The pause is part of the meal.

In Service

How hospitality teams serve oshibori towels

In fine dining, the oshibori is presented before the menu, often on a small wooden or stone tray. The temperature follows the season. The scent, when one is used, is light enough not to compete with the food.

In hotels and resorts, oshibori appears at check-in, at the spa, by the pool, and on the turndown tray. Each touchpoint is a small gesture, repeated quietly across the stay.

In private aviation and on yachts, oshibori is part of the welcome and the meal service. Sealed, single-use, easy to chill or warm.

For deeper background, see what an oshibori towel is. Want to try the ritual at home? Follow our guide on how to make an oshibori towel at home, including how to make a hot towel at home in under five minutes.

Frequently Asked

Common questions

For Business

Serve oshibori to your guests

Designed in the USA. Sealed, scented, ready for service. Request samples or wholesale pricing.

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