On August 11, 2026, Taiwanese media China Times reported that discussions are ongoing online regarding unique customs performed when staying at hotels in Taiwan, sparked by a Japanese traveler's SNS post.

Recently, a Japanese traveler posted a question on Threads on SNS, asking if customs such as greeting by saying "I will be staying from today until [month] [day]. Thank you in advance," or knocking before entering, truly exist when staying at hotels in Taiwan.

According to the article, there are "Three Great Superstitions (Customs)" related to hotels in Taiwan: first, the custom of knocking on the door three times and saying "Excuse me" before entering; second, the custom of flushing the toilet immediately after entering; and third, the custom of immediately lifting the bed covers and disturbing their shape to prevent sleep paralysis.

Discussions arose among Taiwanese net users regarding these customs, with some occult/superstition proponents interpreting them as "showing respect to spirits and washing away evil spirits," while realists explain them as "avoiding awkwardness from double bookings and checking the functionality of plumbing facilities."

Furthermore, there seems to be an opinion that these are merely personal habits and not performing them is not a breach of etiquette.

According to the article, ahead of the "Ghost Month" in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which is considered "the month when the gates to the afterlife open" in Taiwan, fortune teller Wang Kunshan (ワン・クンシャン) proposed specific entry procedures. He recommends that knocking before entering is unnecessary; after opening the door, do not close it immediately but leave it slightly ajar for spirits to exit; turn on all the room lights, open the curtains, face south, and inwardly convey, "I am staying today. If I am disturbing you, please leave," then chant an exorcism three times, and then close the door. (Edited and translated by Kawajiri)