Japanese Hot Springs Onsen

Japanese Onsen or the Hot Springs of Japan

In a country with so many thermals and volcanic activity, you’re never too far from a hot spring. In Japan, onsen are enjoyed au naturale and are revered for their purported curative or healing powers.

A visit to an onsen is a fantastic way to experience Japan and once you get over any initial reservedness you’ll begin to understand why they are beloved in Japan. Onsen refer to the hot springs themselves but where there is a hot spring, aside from the most remote or unforgiving areas, a hot springs ryokan will likely be nearby. Onsen have become destinations in and of themselves and in some areas there will be multiple inns enticing guests with the same onsen waters, and these may operate alongside public onsen which might be enjoyed by day-trippers to the area. Onsen are usually divided into men’s and women’s separate facilities.

There are certain simple points of etiquette to bear in mind when bathing in Japan that apply not just to onsen, but which may be unfamiliar to visitors to Japan. The first is that communal bathing is done without clothing or bathing suits.
You’ll usually enter into a changing area with baskets or cubicles for you to store your clothing while you bathe. If you have a large bath towel, you would leave it here. Take off your clothes here.

It is usually best not to remove jewelry before entering the bath, particularly if it uses hot springs water. You may wish to leave valuable jewelry in the room safe. The high mineral content of the water can discolor certain jewelry or metals. If you have a ring that can not be removed, you may wish to cover it with medical tape when bathing to protect it.

Once you have removed your clothes, you make your way into the bathing area. If you have a smaller towel you may bring this with you. You can use this smaller towel for modesty, and to give yourself an initial toweling down when exiting the bath. You should not put the towel in the water. It is usually set aside outside the water.

You will likely see a number of washing stations with a hand held shower sprayer, possibly with a mirror, a low stool before it, which may be topped by a small basin. Usually there are shampoo, conditioner, and body wash provided here. It is at this station that you do your washing.

Be sure to wash thoroughly from top to toe and be sure to rinse off every trace of soap. It is crucial that you wash yourself well before entering the bath because the waters are used by all. Once you have washed away all traces of soap and are clean, you are ready to enter the bath.

The water will likely be quite warm. If you are not accustomed with baths this warm, you may want to make a shorter foray into the onsen on your first visit. Some onsen may have a cooler bath for you to bring down your body temperature.

Now, sit back and relax and enjoy taking the waters!

People with tattoos may not be allowed in the baths. Please don’t hesitate to ask us if you have any concerns. There are some communal baths, onsen or onsen resort areas that do not have restrictions on entry to tattooed visitors.