InsideOut Travel—Health Cont.

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Because they are natural hot springs, most Onsen are in the countryside. Most of them offer are tucked away from big cities; you can enjoy a bath overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a river in the ancient capital of Japan or even at the foot of Mount Fuji. Finding the most secluded one is always the most rewarding. Even the onsen capital of Japan, Beppu, still claims to have hidden hot springs.

Bathing in Japan with friends. Guillaume Vignali.

In a sento the entrance fee is usually around $3 USD. Onsen are sometimes a little more expensive but most baths go for under $10. As with every thing Japanese, etiquette is most important some rules should be respected when soaking in Japan.

Your first public bath will probably be a little intimidating but knowing the dos and don’ts will help. The most important and frightening one is that the Japanese bathe naked. All clothes are lef t in the changing room. Don’t worry though, most sento and onsen are sex-segregated so look for the red curtain with the Chinese kanji for women. You can also buy a small towel for a few yens to cover up when walking around the baths.

Walk into the changing room and put all your belongings in the lockers or woven baskets in more traditional Japanese inns or ryokans.

Onsen, not just for humans anymore. Guillaume Vignali.

When you walk in the bathing area, you will notice showers and stools. Find a stool that’s available and wash thoroughly. Once you have rinsed off the soap, you are ready for your bath. Be sure to test the water before going in, as some baths are extremely hot.

You are then free to do as you please. However, keep in mind that the women around you are there to relax and probably wouldn’t appreciate it if you decided to jump around in the pool or sing and talk with your friends. Japanese women see bathing as a time to socialize with friends and family so you will see them talk quietly or just relax.

The proprietors might not have been happy, but it's not often you see a monkey soaking his tired old bones. Guillaume Vignali.

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.

The Japanese love their baths and once you try them, you will probably too.

But you don’t have to wait until your next trip to the Far East to try a Japanese bath. You can easily recreate the experience at home. Although it’s easier for the ones who live in a Kyoto apartment and have access to a Japanese style bathroom, it can still be done.

Just remember that the bath is made to soak in, not to wash so think about doing it in two steps. First take a shower. Then, slip on a Japanese yukata (a thin robe you see in all the Japanese movies) as you prepare your bath. To make it feel even more like back in the land of the rising sun, order some local onsen bath powders online. The mineral bath powders come from the best onsen areas in Japan, cost from $10 to $25 and can be delivered to your home.

Helene Goupil is the editor of InsideOut Travel Magazine.

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CONTINUED HEALTH

All for One and O-Furo Onsen

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