Is it embarrassing for you to go to a sento (public
bath) or an onsen (hot spring) and be naked in front
of other people ?
Furo(bath) is indispensable to Japanese life.
Japanese people are so mad about bath (especially hot spring),
and TV shows and magazines are always busy introducing new
spa
resorts.
Japanese people often use the expression "hadaka
no tsukiai",
literally meaning "naked relationship", to
express deep friendship. If you take a bath with someone,
that means
you are already buddies.
Left
image is the symbol of public bath. You'll often
see this sign at the entrance of a public bath, or on street
maps. Maybe you can find one in your neighborhood.
Swim suits are usually not allowed.
It might be embarrassing for the first time, but it is sure
a shortcut to be friends with someone to take furo together.
This
page helps you to learn about taking furo in Japan,
and the basic manners.
Difference between a sento and an onsen:
Sento is
a public bath usually using tap water, and
located in residential area for people living in rooms or
houses without a bath. The number of sento is
in decline, but you
can still see them in old area or around universities.
Admission for a sento in Tokyo area is now 400yen.
Instead, we have more "super sento"s
now days. These are sentos with many kinds of bathtubs
and saunas for people who have baths on their own,
but want to have fun and relax in larger places sometimes.
You
can almost call it a spa, except it uses tap water. Admission
for "super sento" is usually 600~1000 yen.
Onsen is a public bath using hot water from a natural
hot spring. Since Japan is a volcanic country, we have onsens
all over the islands even in the middle of Tokyo. But usually
Japanese people prefer onsens in deep mountains with
an atmosphere. Some onsen have unique
water color or smell.
Japanese people have been taken baths at mineral rich hot springs
for medical purposes form ancient times. Famous onsens
generally have long history dating back to hundreds of years
ago.
Onsen is often part of a hotel or a ryokan (Japanese
style inn), but most of these places allow day travelers
to bathe, with admission around 1000 yen. Some public
onsens are free.
But for your memory in Japan, we suggest you stay at an onsen
ryokan (Japanese style inn with hot spring) at least once
during your stay in the country. A night's stay with a gorgeous
dinner and a breakfast would cost 10,000 yen ~ 25,000 yen per
person, or even more, but it would surely entertain your body
and soul, as well as your tongue.
Steps to bathe at public
bath and the basic manners :
1.
Bring a small towel, as well as a bath towel with you. Most "super
sento" and "onsen" have
free soaps and shampoos, but in places without, you'll have
to bring your own.
2. Undress yourself at datsuijyo (changing room).
Leave your bath towel with your clothes here. Usually there's
coin operated lockers to leave your things, but we recommend
you not to bring in valuable stuffs.
Take only the small towel,
and enter yokujyo(bathroom).
3.
If you have tattoos, people might see you with curiosity. This
is because western tattoo is still rare, and strictly
speaking, tattooed person in NOT allowed in public baths in
Japan. (Though, foreign people or small western tattoo is generally
OK)
4. Wash yourself at araiba(body washing area with
showers, taps, and small chairs). The small towel is to scrub
your body with soap.
Entering a bathtub without washing yourself is the least thing
you can do.
5. Shaving your face or brushing
your teeth is OK at araiba. But dyeing your hairs
or washing clothes or underwears are against the manners.
6. Now put yourself into a bathtub and relax. Don't put the
small towel into the water. Japanese people often put them
on their heads.
7. If there's a sauna and you would like to try it, be
sure to wipe your body with the small towel before entering.
After the sauna, be sure to take a simple shower to wash your
sweat off before entering bathtubs again.
8.
Before you leave, take a shower again, for the water in bathtubs should
be clean, but many people have entered it, and it is better
for you to wash yourself finally with running water.
9. Wipe your body simply with the small towel before going
back to datsuijyo (changing
room). People often do this at the entrance of yokujyo(bathroom).
10.
Go back to datsuijyo (changing room) and
wipe yourself well with your bath towel. Usually there's washstands
with hairdryers that can be used.
Put
your clothes on, and leave. Japanese people would spend around
an
hour at
a public
bath.
The rule of taking a shower and washing
yourself before entering a bathtub applies in home baths as
well, for usually a whole family uses the same tub of hot water.
After bathing yourself at a bathtub, be sure to scoop any hairs
or dirt that you have dropped to the water, for the sake of
next person.
Traditionally a guest, or if none, the father, has the right
to take the "ichiban-buro" (the first bath
of the day).
Japanese people usually take a bath at night before going to
bed to cure the day's fatigue. Some people believe that if
you sit up late after taking a bath, you will catch a cold.
Left
image is the symbol of public bath. You'll often
see this sign at the entrance of a public bath, or on street
maps. Maybe you can find one in your neighborhood. 
2. Undress yourself at datsuijyo (changing room).
Leave your bath towel with your clothes here. Usually there's
coin operated lockers to leave your things, but we recommend
you not to bring in valuable stuffs. 
4. Wash yourself at araiba(body washing area with
showers, taps, and small chairs). The small towel is to scrub
your body with soap.
The rule of taking a shower and washing
yourself before entering a bathtub applies in home baths as
well, for usually a whole family uses the same tub of hot water.