“Hadaka no tsukiai,” naked socialization, is the Japanese concept that asserts that the best way to get to know someone is to take a bath with them. The idea is that one sheds all their inhibitions, presumptions, and ranks when they undress. The warm and healing waters of Japan’s many hot springs, or “onsen”, provide the ideal environment for relaxing, immersing oneself in Japanese culture (pun intended) and forging “naked friendships” with one’s fellow bathers. Follow the proper onsen etiquette and those friendships will be all the easier to make:
1. Remove all articles of clothing before entering bathing areas! Unless otherwise specified, bathing suits are not permitted in onsen baths. Baskets and, more often than not, lockers are provided for bathers to store their clothes and valuables in.
2. Wash yourself completely and thoroughly before entering any onsen bath! Baths in Japan are strictly for relaxing and soaking, not for getting clean. Hot spring facilities are equipped with showers and a great number of them provide soap and shampoo (and sometimes conditioner and body soap). Be careful to minimize splashing and the spread of soap and shampoo bubbles while showering.
3. If you have long hair tie or pin it so that it does not fall below your shoulders while you’re soaking.
4. Do not bring anything more than the small “humility towel” (provided by most onsen establishments) into the bathing area and do not put it in the bath.
5. Eating or drinking in an onsen bath is prohibited.
6. Rinse your body off a second time in the shower when you are finished bathing and make sure to dry off as fully as possible before returning to the changing area.
7. Be aware! If you have tattoos you may be denied entry to some onsens. Tattoos are largely associated with the Japanese mafia (the yakuza) and many onsen proprietors may feel that their other customers will be intimidated if they admit people with tattoos. Cover your tattoos with a bandage (if possible) or check with the onsen before you go. A short list of onsen that allow bathers with tattoos can be found here: https://www.tsunagujapan.com/8-hot-springs-and-bathhouses-in-japan-that-even-those-with-tattoos-can-enter/ Alternatively, the website “Tattoo Spot” has a comprehensive list of onsen and other facilities that grant admission to those with tattoos. This is, however, all in Japanese.
Japan is home to an abundance of hot springs due to its location in one of the Pacific Ring of Fire’s more active zones. According to Japan’s 1948 Onsen Law, a hot spring or onsen is any spring with a water temperature of 25ºC or greater or a spring with a water temperature of 25ºC or more that contains one or more of 19 listed minerals at concentrations equal to or greater than those specified by the law. In order for a hot spring bath to be considered an onsen, the facility in which a bath is located, be it a bath house, hotel, day spa or traditional inn (ryokan), must use water that meets the Onsen Law’s guidelines. Facilities that use regular heated water are known as “sento” (public baths). There are 10 different types of onsen, based on the water’s mineral content, and each one has variously claimed or verified health benefits:
Simple hot springs, which meet the temperature requirement but not the mineral concentration requirements, are good for relieving fatigue, nerve pain, insomnia, hardening of the arteries, and high blood pressure.
Chloride springs (containing salt, calcium, magnesium or a combination of any or all three compounds) are conducive to the healing of cuts and burns, easing chronic skin disorders, some gynecological problems, and for reducing muscle and joint pains.
Sodium bicarbonate saline/alkaline springs are, like chloride springs, conducive to the healing of cuts, burns, and chronic skin disease, but they are noted for their ability to cleanse fat and other contaminants from bathers’ skin leaving it looking and feeling smooth and beautiful.
Sulfate springs (containing calcium sulphate, sodium sulphate, or magnesium sulphate) are also good for cuts, burns and skin disease, but they are also conducive to relieving arteriosclerosis and chronic constipation.
Ferruginous (iron) springs (containing either carbonated iron or melanterite) have reddish or rust colored waters and are good for replenishing one’s iron levels and for relieving anemia, rheumatism, menopausal problems, and chronic eczema.
Sulphur springs, the classic rotten-egg-smelling hot springs, contain hydrogen-sulfide (the source of the rotten egg smell) and are conducive to clearing up chronic bronchitis, cuts, diabetes, chronic skin disease, high blood pressure, and joint pain.
Acidic springs are strongly anti-septic, stimulating to the body and good for relieving symptoms of chronic skin diseases like athlete’s food and some gynecological disorders; those with sensitive skin are cautioned to regulate their exposure to the effects of the acidic water.
Carbon dioxide springs, that bubble and fizz like soda, cause bathers’ blood vessels to expand lowering blood pressure but maintaining one’s body temperature even if the spring is on the cooler end of the temperature scale, the symptoms of rheumatism may also be relieved by a soak in a carbonated spring.
Radioactive radium springs contain minute amounts of the radioactive elements radium and radon and are conducive to relieving symptoms of gout, circulatory disease, high blood pressure, rheumatism, and for relieving stress. The radiation present in radium springs is too low to cause adverse health concerns.
Historical records make note of Japanese society enjoying the benefits of onsen as far back as 2,000 years ago, and pottery shards discovered around Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture suggest that ancient people were making use of the hot springs there as far back as 3,000 years ago! In 2014 127,974,837 people1 continued that tradition by going for a soak at one or more of the 27,3672 hot spring facilities across Japan. Observe the above rules and join the ranks of natives and travelers taking a break from the pace of everyday life, or strike out off the beaten path and go on the hunt for one of Japan’s many hidden or lesser known onsen, known as “hitou”, and you might very well be the first person from your country to soak in their bath.
Works cited:
1. http://www.onsen-r.co.jp/data/cs.html#cssui (Japanese)
2. http://www.onsen-r.co.jp/data/sengen.html (Japanese)
Works consulted:
http://www.japanican.com/content/en/special/hitou/about/what_are_hitou/history.aspx
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/01/22/reference/japans-hot-springs-part-of-social-geologic-historic-fabric/#.V-N-_JN96Rs
http://www.japanzine.jp/article/jz/551/japan-and-onsen-a-naked-history
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/attractions/rest/onsen/onsen_p4.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onsen
http://japantraveleronline.com/theme/G20202/
http://www.japanvisitor.com/onsens/understanding-onsen-culture
http://blog.mrsteam.com/archive/bid/319337/Steam-Bathing-History-The-Onsen-and-Sento-of-Japan
http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia26/en/feature/feature12.html
http://www.onsenjapan.net/history.php
http://www.pureinsideout.com/onsen-japanese-bath.html
http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1593&context=cmc_theses
https://japaneseguesthouses.com/hot-springs/
http://www.spa.or.jp/category/onsen/
http://www.mogami-genki.net/touji-lab/en/06Springquality.html
http://www.jph-ri.or.jp/kenko_f/onsen_english/contents/donoonsen.html
Photo credits:
“Outdoor Onsen of the Nakanoshima Hotel on Nakanoshima island in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Onsen_in_Nachikatsuura,_Japan.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license.
“Dogo Onsen Building.” This Flickr image is from the user Arnaud Malon and is freely available at http://flickr.com/photo/65243150@N00/2009391148 under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.0 license.
“Unzen Jigoku Hot Spring.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chris 73 and is freely available at //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Unzen_jigoku_02.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license.
Kurokawa Onsen Rotemburo Outdoor Bath.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Igorberger and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Kurokawa-onsen.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license.
“Chinoike Jigoku of Beppu Jigokumeguri.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user 663highland and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Beppu_Chinoike-jigoku03n3200.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.5 or 3.0 license.
“ Ryokukeitouen of Eino-o Onsen in Kirishima, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user 663highland and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Ryokukeitouen_Kirishima_City_Kagoshima_Pref12s5s4592.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 2.5 or 3.0 license.
“Yumoto Gensen Thermal Springs in Nikko, Tochigi Pref. in Mid-winter.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons public domain image is from the user Daderot and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Thermal_springs,_Yumoto,_Nikko_National_Park,_Tochigi,_Japan.jpg
Oku-Yagen spa meoto-Kappanoyu.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons public domain image is from the user Soica2001 (talk) and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Oku-Yagen_spa_meoto-Kappanoyu.JPG
“Hotel Kaisenkaku in Asamushi Onsen, Aomori.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user 663highland and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Kaisenkaku_Asamushi_Onsen_Aomori_Japan02n.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license.
“Outdoor bath of the Kotan hot spring.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chatama (talk) and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Outdoor_bath_of_the_Kotan_hot_spring.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 1.0, 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 license.
“Hot spring River at the Kawayu spa.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Chatama (talk) and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Hot_spring_River_in_the_Kawayu_spa.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 1.0, 2.0, 2.5 or 3.0 license.
“Nakadake Hot Spring Daisetsuzan.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Miya.m and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Nakadake_hotspring_daisetuzan01.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license.
“Japanese Macaques bathing at the Jigokudani Hot Springs in Nagano.” This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the user Yosemite and is freely available at https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Jigokudani_hotspring_in_Nagano_Japan_001.jpg under the creative commons cc-by-sa 3.0 license.