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Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

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Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#41

Post by Aeolun »

jaipilot747 wrote: post #2

I thoroughly enjoyed this piece. Going to an onsen can at first be a bit daunting with all the rules and etiquette, but it was definitely worth it. Sitting in a hot onsen while it's snowing, peacefully in the middle of nature.. it was an incredible experience.

> Going to an onsen can at first be a bit daunting with all the rules and etiquette

It’s daunting only in that you are worried about them. As long as you wash yourself before you step in you’re not committing any crimes more atrocious than the Japanese visitors :) (and some of those barbarians don’t wash themselves either)

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#42

Post by Aeolun »

KingMob wrote: post #23

For anyone looking to experience this in Japan yourselves, be sure to research where to go before showing up. Some onsen will find a polite-sounding excuse to deny foreigners, and most onsen will not let anyone in with visible tattoos. The tattoo bias was originally intended to discriminate against criminals/yakuza and is now used to discriminate against foreigners. Source: My wife was kicked out of one onsen after u…

While I can’t speak to the tattoos, I have never found an onsen that rejects foreigners in my 11 years here.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#43

Post by Escapado »

I was in japan for the first time earlier this year for 6 weeks. I travelled around with my japanese girlfriend and the first night we spent at a traditional inn in Hakone were we booked a private onsen later at night.

In short: It was amazing. It smelled a little funny at first but it felt incredibly relaxing, my skin felt really good afterwards and it was perfect to recover from the 16 hours of flight earlier. At home I also regularly take hot baths in the bathtub but it can't compare at all with the night sky view and the whole ritual around it. I'll be back in japan this october for an extended amount of time and I will absolutely go to onsen every chance I get.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#44

Post by rwmj »

KingMob wrote: post #23

For anyone looking to experience this in Japan yourselves, be sure to research where to go before showing up. Some onsen will find a polite-sounding excuse to deny foreigners, and most onsen will not let anyone in with visible tattoos. The tattoo bias was originally intended to discriminate against criminals/yakuza and is now used to discriminate against foreigners. Source: My wife was kicked out of one onsen after u…

It's not used to discriminate against foreigners. I don't have tattoos and have been able to use all onsen in Japan just fine.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#45

Post by Aeolun »

lhl wrote: post #36
snowman56789 wrote: post #4

Anyone here been to an onsen? Does it really match the marketing or is this more of people falling over themselves with Japan fascination?

Onsen are great (being out in a starry night in a rotenburo (outdoor bath) with a light snowfall is a must-experience IMO), but a lot of what you're paying for will be the traditional ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) experience and kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner) that usually accompanies an onsen stay. Personally, I'm a big fan, and I'd recommend everyone to give it a try if they can (but to also…

You can find ‘just onsen’ in Tokyo too, no need to go far out of your way. Though you’ll be missing some of the experience of natural beauty.

It is however, significantly cheaper. I think we can enter for like 500 or 700 yen.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#46

Post by johnnyanmac »

yardstick wrote: post #37
deanc wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m sure the Japanese have many complaints about Western culture when travelling too. Ultimately these are their traditions and we should respect them. I visited an Onsen recently in Bangkok (artificial of course) and the locals were very vocal about any perceived lack of decorum.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t respect them. I’m just saying they aren’t for everyone and these items in particular weren’t really discussed in the article.

it's 3 parts, so they may or may not be covered.

But even as a westerner, I figure the whole "must be nude" was a given, public or not. It is still technically a bath after all, despite technically showering before submerging yourself. But that may just be the decades of Japanese media exposure making something seemingly obvious to me.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#47

Post by rwmj »

snowman56789 wrote: post #4

Anyone here been to an onsen? Does it really match the marketing or is this more of people falling over themselves with Japan fascination?

It took me a few years to get used to, but now when I'm in Japan I can't start my day (or end it) without 15 minutes in the onsen.

Best experience was going to one in the mountains, in the middle of winter, only person there, and sitting in the 40C water in a snowstorm.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#48

Post by Aeolun »

Klonoar wrote: post #8
snowman56789 wrote: post #4

Anyone here been to an onsen? Does it really match the marketing or is this more of people falling over themselves with Japan fascination?

Fun experiment, watch how many articles about Japan make it to the HN front page versus just about any other country (that's not America).

Japan is in the unique position of being very different from western countries, while still being extremely easy for westerners to come to and move around in.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#49

Post by smfugit »

snowman56789 wrote: post #4

Anyone here been to an onsen? Does it really match the marketing or is this more of people falling over themselves with Japan fascination?

Its marketing + the "conspicuous leisure" class over uses Japan all the time to signal/buy status. If you can afford it great. If you cant, its not the end of the world.

Re: Onsen: A Peek into Japan’s Hot Springs

#50

Post by Danieru »

boomboomsubban wrote: post #38
zztop44 wrote: post #29

Maybe this is covered in part 3, but some towns have a municipal onsen water service for private households. I was recently talking to a real estate agent in southern Kyushu who said that every household in his town could pay 3000yen per month to get unlimited onsen water piped into their home between 7am-10pm every day.

Do you know why 7AM to 10PM? That sounds like some employee is necessary to facilitate piping the water, but I can't imagine what role they would have that isn't automated with standard municipal water.

Municipal style "network" onsen will distribute onsen water but the broad distribution means the water cools down.

My guess would be the city does not wish to run the reheaters during low use periods.

Onsen piping requires maintenance, more than regular water systems, but not daily.

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