When entering Izakayas or restaurants in Japan hand towels are always given to customers when they are shown to their seats.
From simple things like moist towelettes to moistened towels and so on at restaurants and Izakayas are given to customers.
One type among the “Oshibori” in use, warm wet towels are called “atsushibo” and cold “Oshibori” are called “tsumeshibo.”
Oshibori actually has a long history. It is said that wet cloths were provided to guests by the nobility during Heian period.
In the later Edo period, the use of hand towels or “tenugui” spread, temporary stuffed towels and towels are prepared at the entrance of the inn called “Hatago,” and the customers soaked the towels in the water of the tub. It is said that customers wiped dirty hands and feet.
This act of “squeezing” is said to be the origin the practice and beca･･･