How to take an Onsen Bath in Japan

You’re in Japan and headed for one of their famous hot spring baths, the Onsen Bath. 

Onsens are renown for beautifying skin, with nutrients like Sulphur and Hydrogen Chlorides in the water.

If you’re not from a place with these natural wonders sprouting all over the place (Singapore’s claim to hot spring fame is a single tap from which people fill up their pails and stick their feet in), the concept might seem new. 

Here’s what you need to know to prep you for that awesome onsen bath experience, Japanese style.

How to Take an Onsen Bath in Japan

There are 3 parts to a typical Onsen:

1) The robing area: where you divest yourself of clothes and accessories, and there are baskets and lockers to keep your stuff in. Also, there’s usually a powder room of sorts where you can freshen up after a soak.

2) The showers: they’re usually next to the pool areas, but with a fresh water source. You need to rinse off before going into the pools, both for hygiene reasons as well as to prep your bodies for the hot water. You normally don’t shower when you emerge so as to preserve the nutrients from the hot springs on your skin.

3) The pool: the waters are typically around 40 degrees, and larger Onsens can have more than one pool, usually of varying temperatures, so you can soak in the one which you like best. These are usually shallow, and have slabs for sitting on so you can lounge and soak in peace.

Get Naked

Drop those drawers and your modesty, the Japanese style of bathing is to go stark naked. Most baths are segregated by gender so there’s really no need to be embarrassed. Generally they don’t allow any clothes or towels in the pools, so you can’t have a towel wrapped around you.

Remember to take out your accessories as well, especially the metal ones, as you never know how they might react with the nutrients in the hot spring water.

I was a little awkward about it the first few times, but soon realized that no one really takes any notice of anyone else, you’re all in the same (naked) boat after all.

Everyone pretty much goes about their own business, so follow that cue and as curious as you might be, try not to stare too openly at other people.

If privacy is an issue though, there is the option of finding private bath cubicles or hot spring hotels with private facilities where you can soak in peace.

Japan has some pretty awesome Onsen bath hotels and if you’re willing to pay, you can have a pool all to yourself, right in your room.

If you’re a tattooed woman, a private hotel might be your only opportunity to experience an onsen bath in Japan, as they restrict tattooed guests from entering public bath houses.

Take It Easy

Enter the baths in a relaxed way – don’t go in too fast or the sudden change in temperatures might make you faint. Start off by sitting at the edge and sticking your feet in first. Once that’s ok, slowly start lowering yourself into the pool until you’re comfortable. If you start to feel woozy or light headed, get out of the pool and let your body cool down before you try again.

Some tips I’ve had from seasoned bathers:

One way to counter the lightheadedness is to place a little towel soaked in hot water on the top of your head to ‘balance’ the temperature from head to toe.

While you can’t bring in big towels, you can usually bring a small towel with you to the pools, but refrain from using it like a washcloth. Another suggested keeping the chest out of the water (i.e. your lungs) so you don’t have difficulty breathing.

Have you taken an Onsen Bath in Japan? How did you like them?