Japanese Hot Springs: A Beginner’s Guide to Onsen Etiquette
Japanese hot springs, or onsen are a staple of Japanese society and are deeply rooted within Japanese culture. Men and women, young and old, all love a dip in the medicinal waters of Japan’s natural mineral hot springs. We would highly recommend every visitor give onsen a try as we are sure you will fall in love. However, we know that many find onsen an alien concept and may be unsure of trying it out which is why we’ve put together this beginner’s guide for you!
Now you may need to take a breath here and gather some courage… Onsen are to be enjoyed au naturale, in your birthday suit! Don’t worry, they are gender segregated so be sure to look out for the correct entrance. A red curtain with the symbol for woman (女) and a blue curtain with man (男) will be hanging over each entrance. Once you pass through the gender curtain, you will enter a locker room where you undress and get ready to take the plunge!
After you’ve claimed a cubby hole or locker and left all your worldly goods as well as your large bath towel behind, take your small hand towel and step bravely into the onsen bathing area. The most important step to take before enjoying the healing waters of the hot spring is to ensure you’ve cleansed yourself thoroughly. Being careful not to splash your neighbours, scrub yourself with your towel and soap in the shower area before rinsing the suds off yourself and the shower cubicle. Once you’re squeaky clean, you should be ready to take the plunge!
Once you are in and hopefully enjoying the steamy bath, don’t forget a few etiquette rules to ensure you have the best time. It’s important not to fully immerse yourself as it’s considered unhygienic to let your hair touch the water. The small towel you brought to provide a bit of modesty and helped with scrubbing yourself down should also not touch the water and remain on the side or carefully balanced on your head. Onsen are a sanctuary of tranquillity so please avoid talking loudly or splashing around to preserve the peace. Most hot springs will have multiple bathing areas and some may even be outside, so make the most of your visit by taking rests and trying out various baths. Once you’re relaxed to the utmost, make your way back to the changing rooms, patting yourself dry before entering and retrieving your larger towel and some dignity.
At this point you may think you’ve reached peak relaxation but that’s where you may be mistaken! Once you have changed into some comfy clothes, perhaps even a yukata if you’re staying in a ryokan, your journey to full body tranquillity continues. Most onsen will have a massage chair available for only a few hundred yen or a rest area where you can enjoy some food and a nap on the tatami floor. It is tradition to sip on an ice cold bottle of coffee milk or sometimes fruit milk after working up a sweat in the onsen. The sweet refreshing drink provides a much-needed pick me up.
If you’re not sure where the best onsen to visit would be, our team are all well versed in onsen areas and can introduce you to the location most suited to your trip. If you’re travelling off the main island into the mountains of Kyushu, there’s an abundance of hot spring areas – the most famous being Beppu and Yufuin. Whether it’s a dip into history with a stay in Dogo Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest hot spring towns, or wanting somewhere to unwind after a long day hitting the ski slopes of Nozawa – our team can guide you in experiencing onsen in the most authentic way.
We hope that this guide helps to demystify (pun intended) the steamy world of onsen. If you are still not sure if you have the courage to plunge directly into the full experience, we can arrange a private onsen hire as part of your trip. Speak to one of our experts today, who are all passionate about sharing their love of onsen with you.