1.
welcome back; welcome home (very polite)
A very polite greeting said to someone returning to a place. Most often heard from staff at hotels, ryokan, traditional restaurants, and high-end shops welcoming guests back. The most formal level of the おかえり / おかえりなさい family.
おかえりなさいませ、お客様。
Welcome back, valued guest.
Adds the polite imperative ませ to おかえりなさい, lifting the register to one used by service staff toward customers. Family members would never use this form among themselves.
LEVELS OF "WELCOME BACK":
- おかえり: casual; family or close friends
- おかえりなさい: standard polite; family, neighbors, colleagues
- おかえりなさいませ: very polite; service staff to customers, or formal household contexts
Typical settings
- Ryokan and hotels welcoming returning guests
- Department stores and high-end boutiques
- Maid cafés (a stylized signature greeting)
- Traditional restaurants where regulars are recognized