InsideOut Travel

by Helene Goupil

Taking a bath is a lot more fun than taking medicine, but, it's good for you and if you're living in Japan, is an almost mandatory cultural experience.

As awkward as it may sound, the best way to try a Japanese bath is to go to a public bathhouse or a natural hot spring. Yes, this means bathing with other people. It’s probably not what you had in mind but trust me, once you get used to it, you will want to go back for more!

In the past, many Japanese homes didn’t have bathtubs so families would go to public bathhouses every night. Today, although most houses are fully equipped; the Japanese have kept the public bath tradition. So, a family walking to the nearest bathhouse on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with a bag full of towels and a change of clothes isn’t a rare sight.


	All for One and O-Furo Onsen
	by Helene Goupil Taking a bath is a lot more fun than taking medicine, but, it's good for you and if you're living in Japan, is an almost mandatory cultural experience. As awkward as it may sound, the best way to try a Japanese bath is to go to a public bathhouse or a natural hot spring. Yes, this means bathing with other people. It’s probably not what you had in mind but trust me, once you get used to it, you will want to go back for more! In the past, many Japanese homes didn’t have bathtubs so families would go to public bathhouses every night. Today, although most houses are fully equipped; the Japanese have kept the public bath tradition. So, a family walking to the nearest bathhouse on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with a bag full of towels and a change of clothes isn’t a rare sight.				You can try two types of baths in Japan: "sento" and "onsen." The first one is the neighborhood public bathhouse in which they use heated tap water. Sentos are so popular in Japan that a lot of them are turning into super sentos. These are larger facilities that have literally become spa centers. They each offer several kinds of baths like an electric bath, some kind of medicinal bath and a jet massage bath. You can also sit in a sauna and watch TV (in Japanese of course), relax in the outside bath or get a massage for a few extra Yen. "The rules at a Japanese bathhouse may sound a little complicated but in reality, they aren’t. Observing the women around you (without staring!) will put you on the right track." Newly opened super sentos try to attract customers with websites and discounted entrance fees. They also play on eccentricity, such as Shomen-yu in Kyoto, which includes an elevator-ride to the roof-top, open-air bath. For a more authentic and traditional bath, try an onsen, or natural hot spring. There are over 2,000 in the country so you will have plenty to choose from. Many travel agencies specialize in onsen weekend deals and cities like Beppu and Yufuin, in Southern Japan, are great destinations for a weekend of soaking. more >> << home
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HEALTH

All for One and O-Furo Onsen

by Helene Goupil