- Taking bath in Japan

Taking bath in Japan :

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.

(See here for more)


Bathing at Japanese home:

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.