Formal — to staff
Sento · Public · Bath
You
あの、すみません。この木札の鍵って、どうやって閉めるんですか？
あの、すみません。このきふだのかぎって、どうやってしめるんですか？
Excuse me, how do I lock this wooden locker key?
Romaji: Ano, sumimasen. Kono kifuda no kagi tte, dō yatte shimeru ndesu ka? / Reply Romaji: Tobira o shimete kara, ura no mizo ni sono kifuda o oku made sashikomu to rokku saremasu yo.
Reply
扉を閉めてから、裏の溝にその木札を奥まで差し込むとロックされますよ。
とびらをしめてから、うらのみぞにそのきふだをおくまでさしこむとろっくされますよ。
Once you close the door, slide that wooden plate all the way into the slot on the back, and it will lock.
Gesture & etiquette
Show the wooden key to the staff while gesturing towards the locker door.
Do not force the wooden key or twist it. These traditional locks ('Shoji-lock') are delicate and require sliding rather than turning.
#sento#bathhouse#locker#traditional