Going to an onsen ... today ..

[Suki-Yaki]

Well , I was eating all around it. delaying it on my list of to does just as often as possible. But now it's by time I'd get to it , and go into the so called .. onsen ..

I feel so nervous just thinking of it ! All that I am hoping now is I'll get some private space to atleast change ...

So , for those of you who have been there. What were your impressions of an onsen. Is it worth the humiliation, stripping naked infront of a dozen people you don't know ? Am I but doing another mistake.... ? :worried:

[ArmandV]

Well , I was eating all around it. delaying it on my list of to does just as often as possible. But now it's by time I'd get to it , and go into the so called .. onsen ..

I feel so nervous just thinking of it ! All that I am hoping now is I'll get some private space to atleast change ...

So , for those of you who have been there. What were your impressions of an onsen. Is it worth the humiliation, stripping naked infront of a dozen people you don't know ? Am I but doing another mistake.... ? :worried:

I have never partaken in an onsen, but I'd imagine it couldn't be any worse than showering in p.e. in high school. At least you can cover your "shortcomings" while walking to and from the bath.

[okaeri_man]

but I'd imagine it couldn't be any worse than showering in p.e. in high school.ewww. america sounds scary. i don't want to go there! haven't you heard of the australian way? after high school p.e. classes, use deodorant. embarrassment free, quick and easy. (also the trick is not to try so hard. wouldn't want to work up a sweat now would we?)

as for onsen, not something i'll be doing anytime soon. you would have to drag me in their kicking and screaming.

[kirei_na_me]

By the time I was in junior high school (1988), that showering after P.E. had been done away with. I don't know anyone who has had to do that since the 80's. At least, not around here.

I'm a little nervous about going into an onsen too. I would LOVE to try it, but I would want to go by myself, or at least just my husband and me. I'm just kind of modest that way.

[okaeri_man]

I don't know anyone who has had to do that since the 80's. At least, not around here.ok, i'm glad to hear that. i'll let america off with a caution :emblaugh:

[Faustianideals]

do you mean a warning?
Anyways, I want to go to an onsen and accidently fall into a girls boobs. :)

[ArmandV]

By the time I was in junior high school (1988), that showering after P.E. had been done away with. I don't know anyone who has had to do that since the 80's. At least, not around here.


I have a few years on you, since I graduated from high school in 1972. My junior high did not have a locker room/shower room available until the semester I started high school.

At the time I was in high school, anyone not showering after p.e. was considered a sweathog and were ridiculed.
:relief:

[ArmandV]

Our tour group stayed one night at hotel in Hakone, which had onsen facilities there. Some of tour members made use of them and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I was too dog-tired to join them, so I went immediately to bed. This was about 10:00 at night and we just finished seeing a fireworks festival at Lake Kawaguchi.

I am kind of surprised by the reactions of some of the posters here, though.

[kuntow]

Never been to a real onsen but I still miss going to the sentou (sp?). It was kinda funny the first time I went. One night, I was in Osaka and some of my friends were like "let's go to the sentou" and I being the dumb gaijin that I was, went along without knowing what it was. Upon arriving, they quickly explained to me what was required and I being a typical American at first refused to strip in front of any number of other people of my own gender. But, after about 30 seconds, I decided to get over it and have loved going ever since. There's just nothing quite like sitting naked in a steaming hot bath outside while it's raining.

[RockLee]

yeah when I went to onsen in hotel where we stayed I was the only one, together with a friend...was soooo relaxing....and I didn't really feel embarassed hehe....just stripped buttnaked and got my *** into the hot water :D ...kinda missed the mixed onsen tho ^_,^

[epigene]

Hi Suki-Yaki!

I assume that you're a girl and living in the Tokyo area. I understand that you are reluctant of undressing in front of strangers--to tell you the truth I am, too. You should start off with an "onsen" complex in Hakone, where you can go in your bathing suit! It's like a swimming playground with "onsen" instead of plain water. You can spend the whole day there! You can see it here:
http://www.yunessun.com/lang/en/english.html

After you get used to it, you can move on to try the traditional onsen with people of your own gender. Most onsen facilities separate men and women. There are "konyoku (mixed-gender)" type, but not many. Some hotels have private "onsen" tubs in each hotel room (although this is expensive).

I personally don't like very hot baths (which most Japanese do), so I'm not a real "onsen" lover. However, I like the "roten-buro" (outdoor bath), where you can enjoy the cool outdoor air and the water less hot than the indoor types. My best experience was in Kusatsu--an outdoor bath for women only and protected with high bamboo fences. It was early winter. It was already dark, and snow began to fall!! It was beautiful and refreshing!!

I urge you to try at least once. Looks like Nagashima-san is an avid "onsen" fan and has been to places all over Japan. You can ask him questions about places you like to go in Japan. :-)

[epigene]

Oh, I didn't notice that Suki has gone to an onsen by now...
Looks like the "end-of-fiscal-year" thing is getting to me now... :buuh:

Report back your experience!! :wave:

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

I urge you to try at least once. Looks like Nagashima-san is an avid "onsen" fan and has been to places all over Japan. You can ask him questions about places you like to go in Japan. :-)


If "Suki-Yaki SAN" returned, an impression of a hot spring wants to hear it. :wave:
By the way, there are some hot springs in Tokyo.
There is "AZABU-JUBAN ONSEN" in "AZABU". :cool:
It is hot water of a black color, but there is not danger. :okashii:

I was ashamed that I wore a swimsuit when I entered a hot spring of "Germany" and "New Zealand". :bluush:
海外で温泉に入ると水着を着なければならないので、違 和感がありました。
I love an unexplored hot spring. :love:

[Suki-Yaki]

Suki Yaki straight back and TOOAAAASTY !!!

At first of all , the onsen was a bigger attraction than I'd imagined. It was up in Oosaki , from where I live we had to travel for atleast an 80 minutes to get there.
My troubles started when we had to change into the Yukata. But I was glad we got to wear a Yukata , especially that we got to choose our own design and belt !

Later on we could explore an inner "village" looked very like a Japanese festival. I enjoyed a Japanese preformers' traditional dancing a lot!
everyone had to wear their Yukata's here , so it felt like "Japan old times". really pretty !
On the outdoors. You can enjoy low level hot water with only your feet and legs , all surrounded with a beautiful nature (dressed in a Yukata). I found this the most attractive place in the onsen.

Later on , everybody wanted to move to the hot water..

In the Yukata changing room , we had to just take it off , and move in. At the entrance they give us 2 towels , one big one ,and another really small one apparantly for head use. I managed (in the very crowded place) to take my Yukata off and rap my body with the big towel. My plan was to make it in ,then stay inside the hot water for until everyone is done.
BUT!
Before we could enter we were told we could NOT enter with anything other than the small towel ...

Bolt shocked , and just to remember my face at that momet, red like a tomato :lol:
My friends were easier going. They just took them off. I literally refused to take it off , so everyone headed to the bathrooms in attempts to convincing me .

To tell the truth , I did not at all enjoy looking at my friends naked. Neither did I enjoy looking at dozens and dozens of naked women. I do not mean any offence , but when I remember it , my stomach feels bad ...

Finally I just walked in with the small towel.

As time passes by , I don't know if I could say you get used to it. But seeing that nobody acually stared at me , and there were just too many naked people , I felt less tensed. I liked the outdoor spring the most. It gives a feeling like the one when you are very cold , and drinking hot cocoa. I found the indoor springs to be very hot , sometimes presuring on my chest.

In the outdoors there were also the "barrel" type water containers ,barely fits for two persons. but that was beyond the limits I could pass .. :D

Ok so I went over with a fully traditional onsen experience , what did I come back with ??

The hot spring has many attracting facilities. But I see no reason for banning modesty. It will make no less fun if everyone walked in with their swimming suits , rather, it could be a nice place to take photoes and show them to your friends and family.

I was ashamed that I wore a swimsuit when I entered a hot spring of "Germany" and "New Zealand".

huh :D it must be so true everyone has their own taste :D


Hi Suki-Yaki!

I assume that you're a girl and living in the Tokyo area. I understand that you are reluctant of undressing in front of strangers--to tell you the truth I am, too. You should start off with an "onsen" complex in Hakone, where you can go in your bathing suit! It's like a swimming playground with "onsen" instead of plain water. You can spend the whole day there! You can see it here:
http://www.yunessun.com/lang/en/english.html

Epigene san , thank you alot for the useful comment and link!
I think that was the right way to start off . But after going through the traditional onsen , I think I really prefer this swimming suit onsen.

"Most onsen facilities separate men and women. There are "konyoku (mixed-gender)" type, but not many."

Yikes , there are mixed ones ?! :shock: :bluush:


However, I like the "roten-buro" (outdoor bath), where you can enjoy the cool outdoor air and the water less hot than the indoor types.

Is that what it's called , "Roten-Buro" . I enjoyed it the most as well , so natural . :bluush:

[ArmandV]

Suki Yaki straight back and TOOAAAASTY !!!

To tell the truth , I did not at all enjoy looking at my friends naked. Neither did I enjoy looking at dozens and dozens of naked women. I do not mean any offence , but when I remember it , my stomach feels bad ...

Finally I just walked in with the small towel.


Yikes , there are mixed ones ?! :shock: :bluush:

:bluush:

Let me get this straight, you're a girl/woman and you went to an onsen with women only, right? I guess that you must be since you did not "enjoy" seeing "dozens and dozens of naked women." If you are a man, your reaction would have been like a kid in a candy store.

At least you tried it out. Would you do it again?

[Suki-Yaki]

yikes :p

I didn't specify my gender before , but what is it with everyone taking me for a guy?? Is it my avatar ??

..Or do I give a guys' vibe .. ?? :lol:

After the onsen I felt so exhausted , especially that the way back home was cold and tiring , today all I wanted to do was sit at my computer , and drink hot stuff :shiver:

I don't think I'm missing the onsen any soon .. :sorry:

[okaeri_man]

ya, it's your avatar. it has no hair... :p

Suki Yaki straight back and TOOAAAASTY !!!i'll stick to rock concerts to get that tooaaaasty feeling me thinks :relief:

[ArmandV]

yikes :p

I didn't specify my gender before , but what is it with everyone taking me for a guy?? Is it my avatar ??

..Or do I give a guys' vibe .. ?? :lol:

After the onsen I felt so exhausted , especially that the way back home was cold and tiring , today all I wanted to do was sit at my computer , and drink hot stuff :shiver:

I don't think I'm missing the onsen any soon .. :sorry:

Yeah, your avatar has no hair. :-)

With a handle of "Suki-Yaki" one could assume you're a girl. But one must not assume anything nowadays.

[RockLee]

I wanted to go to mixed onsen..I'm not really shy if it comes to get down buttnaked...but I guess I would get a lot of stares from the gals :relief: ...it's not that they see a naked caucasian dude everyday hehe :D

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

SUKI-YAKI SAN!
Congratulations on "an ONSEN" experience. :cool:
I want to know how you explain "ONSEN" for your parents and a friend of your country.
Your parents will be surprised :blush:

Than "ONSEN fan" :cute:
Did you drink coffee milk after bathing of "ONSEN?" :lol:
You must drink coffee milk (fruit milk or strawberry milk) if you left "ONSEN" as a ceremony of bathing of right "ONSEN".
When I drink coffee milk, I put a hand on a waist and drink it at a stretch.
Please do this ceremony by all means. :blush:
Did not the friend explain it? :clueless:

[Pachipro]

You must drink coffee milk (fruit milk or strawberry milk) if you left "ONSEN" as a ceremony of bathing of right "ONSEN".

Yes, there is nothing more refreshing to me than an ice cold can of コーヒ　牛乳 after a hot bath at an onsen or sento. A cold beer would be even better, but it's not always aavailable.

[think_too_mut]

Been to onsen with 23 colleagues from work (the bus we hired had 24 seats). It was a men/women separate venue.

Once there, we changed into "yukata" and went to the bath, about 5:30pm. There were about 20 other people.
Change rooms are like lockers anywhere, no changing cabins, taking the yukata off and a small towel to cover your privates while going to the spa. Many people walked without the cover, nobody cared.

A funny sensation, the way Japanese take nudity is somewhat different and more relaxed than in the West. I cant imagine seeing my former colleagues in Oz naked but somehow I felt it was simply acceptable in Japan.

Now, one month after the event, only this post reminded me that I had seen people walking and working around me naked and sat 30 cm from them in the same hot water.

I would go again.

[RockLee]

A funny sensation, the way Japanese take nudity is somewhat different and more relaxed than in the West.Yeah so different, I can't imagine people in Belgium do that.They would be way too embarrased hehe :relief: