Can you drink alcohol in onsen?

A combination of alcohol and onsen may cause blood circulation to become too efficient and place strain on your heart. There is also a possibility of cerebral anemia due to changes in blood pressure upon exiting the water. Please avoid onsen while drinking or after becoming intoxicated.

Can you drink sake in an onsen?

There are also places where you can enjoy sake while having a foot bath in places like Shiobara Onsen's Kounso, or the Oita Onsen in Beppu Hachiyu which have become bars. Drinking alcohol while enjoying a foot bath is safe.

Is pubic hair allowed in onsen?

If you are a male, you aren't expected to have anything shaved except your beard. On the other hand, most young females in Japan have everything shaved except her head hair and pubic hair.

What are the rules of an onsen?

There are two major rules to take Onsen. First, you should now allow your wash-towel or any soap into the bathtub. Secondly, when you leave the bath, you do not drain the water. These manners come from the fact that you are not the only person to use the bath water in the tub.

What do you drink after onsen?

Today onsen bathers have a choice of coffee milk or fruit milk, per Live Japan — both are sweet drinks which seem to help the body re-energize quickly after a bath.

How to Use a Japanese Onsen (A rare look INSIDE one)

How long should you stay in onsen?

The recommended duration of soaking is not more than 15 to 20 minutes. It's important to note that immersing yourself in hot water for too long will excessively raise your blood pressure or heart rate, causing dizziness and discomfort.

Can you go to onsen everyday?

Even though onsen may be good for your health, bathing in onsen too many times on the same day places strain on your body and produces opposite results. As a rule of thumb, consider bathing in onsen two to three times per day. Be sure not to forget to rest and hydrate your body during the intervals between bathing.

Is onsen mixed gender?

The Japanese have perfected the art of onsen, or hot spring baths, for centuries. Traditionally, men and women would bathe together in the same facility, but these days the baths are segregated by gender. Today, konyoku (mixed-gender onsen) are hard to find, with places like Tokyo having bans on such establishments.

Can you wear swimsuit in onsen?

No one wears a bathing suit into a public onsen. You would feel more uncomfortable wearing that as compared to nothing at all. If you feel awkward, some places have private tubs that you can pay for by the hour, though those are often not onsen water, but rather just regular heated tap water.

Are tattoos allowed in onsen?

Traditionally, visitors with tattoos aren't allowed in Japan's onsen (natural hot springs) because of an age-old association with organized crime. However, times are changing, and more and more onsen have relaxed their policies—in some cases to accommodate tattooed foreign tourists.

Do you shave for onsen?

As a Japanese woman you're not supposed to have any hair on your arms or legs or armpits. As Japanese women have fair skin and dark hair, some of them actually seem quite hairy. However, they all make sure to shave, wax etc. However, it's not very common to shave the pubic hair (completely).

Should you shower after hot springs?

Don't take a shower after you have finished bathing

Medicinal components in the water will get washed off in the shower, and their effects will be reduced. If your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, please do rinse yourself off with fresh water.

Can I bathe in Sake?

You can enjoy the health benefits of Sake by bathing in it! Sake bath is enjoyed for beauty and health purposes even by some of the top actresses in Japan.

Do Japanese drink milk?

Japanese eat more dairy products today than they did thirty or forty years ago. They still eat and drink much less dairy food than Americans and Europeans, because dairy products were not part of the traditional Japanese diet. Japanese children drink milk, and both children and adults like ice cream.

Do you have to get naked in Japanese hot springs?

2: You Must be Completely Naked. There is no way around this one. In Japan, clothing, towels, and any other garment that may be worn are considered sullied or “dirty” and should never, ever be brought into an onsen. Nudity is thus expressly required, but really, it's no big deal.

Can you talk in an onsen?

It is perfectly acceptable to talk in the onsen. In fact many people go there with friends or family members to chat in a relaxed setting. Rowdiness, however, is not acceptable. So just be mindful of everyone's right to enjoy the facilities.

How hot is an onsen?

Moreover, most sources of Shima Onsen are natural seep, thus you can expose the whole body to fresh water with less oxidation. Temperature of onsen is 50-80 degrees Celsius. You can thoroughly warm up the core of your body and indulge in a moment of bliss.

Can couples go to onsen together?

You do not need to care about others' eyes, and can share sweet and lovely time only with your partner. In a quiet and elegant setting, you two can have a nice hot bath together. Couple onsens are special spaces where the two of you would never be disturbed by other people.

Is it normal to bathe together in Japan?

Yes, in Japan parents and children bath together fully naked. And that's culturally perfectly normal. From a Japanese perspective, together tub-time is good for family bonding. As children grow older, they'll start enjoying bath time separately.

Do you wear anything under a yukata?

To prevent sweating on and staining your yukata, you should wear something underneath, preferably cotton, which is the most comfortable and absorbent during hot weather. For women, there are dedicated yukata underwear known as the hadajuban, which can also come in an extended robe-like version.

How much do Onsens cost?

If you are staying at a ryokan with an “onsen” (hot spring baths), then there is an additional onsen tax of 150 yen per guest per night. The per-person prices of our ryokans range from about 7,000 yen to 110,000 yen per guest plus tax. At a ryokan some of the following factors determining prices are: room size.

Why are Japanese bathtubs so small?

Many ofuros come with built in benches so that you can sit in a comfortable position and enjoy your bath. In addition the smaller size not only tends to use less water but the reduced surface area keeps the water warm longer.

Are Onsens sanitary?

Onsen baths aren't very "still." There's hot water running in constantly and flowing out as people come and go. Whether it's a large (communal) or small (individual size) bath, one is always supposed to wash OUTSIDE the tub BEFORE one enters the tub, so technically, everyone is clean.

Why do I feel dizzy after onsen?

Many people report feeling dizzy or nauseous after their first few times after going to an onsen, and this is usually because of dehydration or overheating from staying in too long.

Should you eat before onsen?

Bathing affects your blood, skin, and kidneys, which can worsen digestion and absorption. After eating, make sure to rest for thirty minutes to an hour before getting in an onsen.